Mansfield Place-based Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading charity for people living with HIV and Hepatitis C. This year it's using World AIDS Day (Thursday 1 December) to raise money for its important work, and to raise awareness of the issues behind it.
There are activities planned right across the city, but in Broughton the most obvious eye-catcher will be at St Mary's Parish Church on Bellevue Place.
The church has already been displaying an illuminated ribbon from a window on the front elevation, but on Thursday – from dusk until midnight – the whole building will be illuminated in red. The sanctuary within will be open as a place for quiet reflection; whilst downstairs in the Garden Room, refreshments will be available from 5.00pm.
Meanwhile, many shops and businesses along Broughton Street are hosting collection cans and dispensing Waverley Care's unique tartan ribbons. A full roll of honour will appear in December's Spurtle (Issue 201).
The local LGBT community are also getting involved, with a range of events planned:
Wednesday 30 November
- The Street – Quiz Night
Wednesday 30th – Friday 2 December
- CC Bloom - cloakroom takings & encouraging to pay double
Thursday 1 December
- Planet Bar – quiz, bingo, raffle
- Priscillas – raffle
- Regent Bar + Nom De Plume - candles for tables, buy a drink for a lost friend
- 50p from every pint of Regent Ale sold
- Frenchies – silent auction
- New Town Bar – 8.00– 10.00pm - Performance by 'Cadence' + mulled wine and mince pies.
Friday 2 and Saturday 3 December
- GHQ – collection cans & info on plasma screens
Sunday 4 December
- Habana - fundraising event and raffle
Tuesday 6 December
- Drama - £5 from each VIP card sold
Waverley Care's main Edinburgh event will be a Community Gathering at St John's Church on Princes Street, 6.30pm on Thursday 1 December. It's billed as an important opportunity to take time out of busy lives and reflect on HIV in a global and local context.
The stories of those who are living positively with HIV will be heard, and there will also be a time and space to remember those who have died of AIDS. The event will include music and readings, with refreshments available. Entry is free.
In this, the 30th year since the first cases of HIV were identified, Waverley Care's Director, David Johnson, writes: 'The challenges of prevention remain huge and we need to find new approaches and fresh ideas. We know from increases in other sexually transmitted infections that the safer sex message is far from embedded in our sexual culture. We’re grateful to everyone who is helping us in that ongoing task of raising awareness by supporting us on World AIDS Day.'
For further information contact Waverley Care: Tel. 556 9710 or email fund@waverleycare.org