Services
Open access is available at our offices in Ware and Watford, 37.5 hours per week. Evening and weekend appointments are available on request.
In addition to appointment and drop in services, we can also offer appointment at pre-arranged venues within the community for anyone who is unable to travel to our offices.
Some of our services and our office addresses can be seen below. For more information about any of our services, or to find out how we can help you, please contact us. Click here to download an information booklet
Referrals:
If you are a professional and would like to refer someone to us, please complete the attached referral form and email the completed form to admin@hertsaid.co.uk. One of our staff will contact you at the next opportunity regarding the referral. If you would like to access Herts Aid services yourself, please complete as much information as you can and email it to us, or call us on 01920 484784.
Information and support
Herts Aid offers information and support to anyone with questions about HIV and AIDS, or anything relating to sexual health. Our HIV information pack – “My Life With HIV”, will provide you with all the information you need, whether you are newly diagnosed or have been living with HIV for some time, and contains a DVD called “HIV, my story” that explains what it is like to live with HIV from a patient perspective. We can also help with referrals to other agencies for assistance with benefits, immigration and housing. Herts Aid also has an up to date collection of information booklets and publications on Sexual Health and HIV
Outreach Services
Outreach services are now available at service delivery sites across Hertfordshire including, Ware, Stevenage, and Watford. We can also meet service users at other points in the community, or at home if preferred. We also offer a satellite service in GUM clinics in Hertford and Stevenage.
Red Cross
Red Cross open surgery for Refugees in Watford. Click here for details
Education and Prevention
Herts Aid offers Sexual Health Training to schools and other organisations, which can be specifically tailored to be age appropriate. We also have two Theatre in Education Productions – “It Wont Happen To Me” and “Love, Lies & Lullabies”, which are aimed at year nine students and above and focus on issues such as aspirations, safer sex, STI prevention, teenage pregnancy and the affects of drugs and alcohol on decision making and unsafe sex.
Itext
Our text messaging service enables young people to seek confidential information and advice by texting their questions to 07813 684 294. They will receive information back by text. Texts are charged at their standard network rate
Positive Self-Management Programme
Click here for information
Volunteering
Our trained volunteers provide a range of support activity to compliment our work, including working with people on a one to one basis, providing transport, catering for lunches and events, fundraising, administrative support and education/promotion events.
Support Groups and Social Activities
We offer monthly support groups aimed at meeting the needs of anyone living with HIV and AIDS. These include a monthly Pizza night at our Watford office, mixed support groups at both offices and separate men’s and women’s groups at Ware.
Lunch is provided and guest speakers are specially chosen to address a range of issues relevant to people living with HIV. Service users can access up to date information and peer support in a comfortable, safe environment. We also arrange regular social activities which allow you to socialise with other service users in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Transport is subject to availability.
We also hold quarterly service user forum groups in Watford and Stevenage, which are led by service users and facilitated by an external facilitator who is a trained counsellor. Service users have the opportunity to give feedback on how they experience both our services, and any other clinical or social care service in Hertfordshire.
Counselling
Our counselling service is an opportunity for you to explore living your life in a more positive way. Sessions with a qualified counsellor can be booked through Herts Aid. All our counsellors are bound by the BACP code of ethics.
Hardship Fund & Children’s Fund
Herts Aid can offer small grants for those who are suffering financial crisis as a result of HIV infection and can make referrals to other agencies for hardship grants. We also have a separate fund specifically for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. All grant applications are subject to meeting both fund and financial criteria.
Clinical Services
Herts Aid offers a confidential Rapid HIV testing service using a finger prick test, which gives results in minutes.
Any positive result is fast tracked to GUM clinics in Hertfordshire for clinical support and further testing. Testing is also available at all offices delivery sites and at all educational and training events.
Herts Aid also offers Chlamydia screening through postal kits and onsite testing kits for anyone aged 15-24 years. It is a simple urine test and results are texted to the individual personally within 7 days. Condoms and lubricant are available at events and Herts Aid offices.
CAB Advice Service
In conjunction with the Citizens advice service, Herts Aid can offer appointments with a trained advisor regarding issues such as: debt, financial advice, benefits, housing, relationship breakdown and other issues which require professional advice. The Advisor is available either in person by appointment, or by telephone or email.
Would you like support to be in work, volunteering or studying? If the answer to this is yes, why not contact us to find out more?
Access to Food Hub.
Herts Aid is now a registered food hub, The foodhub is a ground-breaking concept designed to help individuals and families in crisis by providing free emergency food to people when they are most in need. Our aim is to engage with communities, and provide support to enable marginalised people to break through their cycle of poverty.
Tinned and dried food is collected from the public at supermarkets, churches, schools and other local groups and “banked” in our foodbank. If you are experiencing financial hardship and would like to access the food hub then please contact us for further info.
Radio and TV scheme.
We can make provide assistance if you are on a low income and need assistance with accessing a TV or Radio. Televisions and radios seem such small things but can help people who are on low incomes, and experiencing isolation. If you would like to learn more about this service then please contact us.
Herts Aid Offices:
Ware Office:
York House, 45 Baldock Street, Ware, Herts, SG12 9DH
Open 37.5 hours per week Please telephone 01920 484784 to make an appointment.
Watford Office:
Watford Wellbeing Centre, 501 St Albans Road, Watford, Herts, WD24 7RZ
Open 37.5 hours per week Please telephone 01923 803440 to make an appointment.