Here at HART we provide a diverse range of services for the boroughs of Hillingdon and Harrow which have developed through the years to meet the needs of our members. These services are delivered by HART Staff, Volunteers and visiting Professionals. Any service we provide is totally confidential.
Some of the services we offer are detailed below, To find out more about them, click on the + to the right of each service below.
Information and Resources
HART is somewhere where you can access the latest up to date information on any issue related to HIV. We have information based on the knowledge of specialist staff, printed materials and access to the internet. We also have extremely good networks with our partners in Health and Social care.
Further to this we are able to provide information on wider issues which affect the lives of people living with HIV. These may be about organisations or services which are not specific to HIV but nevertheless could offer something positive to our members. Of course, you may wish to do your own research into a particular issue in which case we offer free internet access. If we do not have the answer, we will know someone who does. Details of other local and external external resources can be accessed here.
Advice
There are many times in any person’s life when you need to seek out some advice. This can be hard when it involves HIV because you need to know that you will be approaching an organisation that you will be able to trust and that will not judge you. At HART we understand this and always aim to be sensitive to any situation you present, whilst offering you the most relevant advice.
We will not tell you what to do. We will tell you what you can do and what your options are so that you can make informed choices for yourself. Hopefully we will be able to assist you to find the best solutions to your particular situation and of course, should you need us to help you in this process we will be happy to work with you or on your behalf.
Support
It’s easy to get stressed over an issue or situation that is causing problems whether it is about health, relationships, money…. Sometimes even small things can seem difficult, particularly if you feel isolated.
We are very happy to offer our ears ! Sometimes just sharing a problem with someone else can help to get a different perspective. There may even be a solution we can work out together, whether you need a one – off conversation or more regular support, we are here to help.
Welfare, Benefits and Housing:
Many of our members rely on public funding for their financial and housing needs. Unfortunately the benefits system can be very complicated and difficult to understand, particularly as we are in a period of significant changes.
We can help with applications, appeals and housing issues. For specialist help and advice we have a CAB trained welfare adviser who comes in once a week with whom you can book an advice session. If you have any difficulty reading, writing or understanding communications regarding your benefits we can explain what is required, write letters and make telephone calls on your behalf.
Trips and Events
We know that coming to HART for the first time can feel like quite a big step but it is surprising how quickly most people feel at home and start to meet other people, many of whom will be sharing very similar situations to you. This is one of the key benefits of being part of HART.
For those who enjoy getting together regularly we organise different groups and events the most popular this Summer have been the Women’s group and our 4 trips to Kew Gardens, Thorpe Park, Brighton and London Zoo. These were all totally free of charge and children were welcome.
We encourage suggestions of Groups we could host, what you would like do with the groups and places we could organise trips to. HART is your organisation so please take an active role and give us some ideas!
Tuesday Lunches
Our most popular day! Staff and volunteers cook up a storm. A hot meal from our own kitchen every Tuesday. Just turn up, dish up and eat up. Always a vegetarian option available. £2 for those who can afford to pay, free to those unable to pay. Children are welcome.
Complimentary Therapies:
Here at HART we have 2 fully equipped therapy rooms from which we offer Massage, Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy. These are one of the most popular services we provide. We operate a booking system and the therapies are provided on weekdays and evenings. For those unable to attend for a session at HART, we can in some cases make home visits.
Complimentary Therapy session costs £5 for those who can afford to pay and are free by arrangement for those unable to pay. There are very few organisations in the current economic climate that are able to offer services such as these, delivered by fully qualified professional therapists.