The Brigstowe Project aims to enhance the quality of life for people living with HIV by providing directly managed appropriate housing and support; working with people living with HIV and other agencies to provide support, information, advice, advocacy and training.

The Brigstowe Project is a housing organisation and charity established in 1991 working exclusively with people living with HIV. They have a voluntary management committee and a small number of paid staff. Brigstowe grew out of the 'Bristol HIV & Housing Group', which comprised representatives from Bristol City Council (BCC) Social Services HIV Team and the Housing Department; Avon Health, Bristol Churches HA, Bristol Drugs Project and the Aled Richards Trust. The group's aim was to identify and plan for the housing needs of people living with HIV in the area.

Following a research report commissioned by the group, BCHA obtained capital funding to build 8 new purpose-built houses on scattered sites. A development worker was appointed in 1994, and after consultation with local HIV-positive people (who expressed a strong preference for independant, HIV+ specific housing management) Brigstowe registered as a charitable company in 1995. In 1996 - our first year of operation - we won the national Sir Roy Griffiths Award for excellence in housing & community care.

They exist to give support and advise for anyone who is living with HIV who:

• lives in Bristol
• needs housing related support
• wants help to maintain a tenancy

They can try and help you if:

• you need additional support
• you have a housing problem

Confidentiality
Brigstowe respect your right to confidentiality and we will not give information about you to anyone else unless you want us to. Everything you tell us will be treated as confidential.

If you want to call them for some advice anonymously, or get a friend to call us on your behalf, please do.

The Brigstowe Project aims to enhance the quality of life for people living with HIV by providing directly managed appropriate housing and support; working with people living with HIV and other agencies to provide support, information, advice, advocacy and training.

The Brigstowe Project is a housing organisation, established in 1991, which grew out of the 'Bristol HIV & Housing Group', which comprised representatives from Bristol City Council (BCC) Social Services HIV Team and the Housing Department; Avon Health, Bristol Churches HA, Bristol Drugs Project and the Aled Richards Trust. The group's aim was to identify and plan for the housing needs of people living with HIV in the area.

Services

Directly Managed Accommodation with Support
Brigstowe have a small amount of housing (ordinary flats and houses which belong to housing associations) which they manage themselves. They let this housing to people who need the most long-term support.

Housing Related Support - ('Floating Support')
If they cannot offer you housing managed by the project, they may still be able to offer you support in your own home. They can:

• visit you regularly to
• provide informal counselling & emotional support in your own home
• help you fill in forms i.e. benefit applications
• write letters on your behalf
• help you apply for grants for things you may need and/or short breaks
• help you budget
• provide debt advice
• provide specialist advice on HIV services & housing
• make referrals to other agencies at your request  

Information, Advice & Advocacy
Brigstowe can also offer information and advice on housing & HIV and they can advocate on your behalf.

Training
They also offer training to other organisations to raise awareness of the issues around HIV and housing.

Contact Details:

Jill Turner	Project Co-ordinator	Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri
Kim Woods	Project Worker	Mon, Tues, Weds
Kate Stobie	Project Worker	Mon, Tues, Weds, Thur, Fri
Vicky Green	Project Worker	Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri
Sarah Saunders	Administrator	Mon,Thurs,Fri (9am-2:30pm)

e-mail Enquiries: info@brigstowe.org

Website: www.brigstowe.org

Tel: 0117 941 5188

Fax: 0117 941 5189

Brigstowe also manage the HIV/AIDS information Website Westaids, previously run by the Living Room a charity which had to close due to lack of funding support. By clicking here you can visit this excellent Website initiative.