AIDS charity and magazine close
UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS (UKC) has ceased operations.
The charity was founded in 1993 as a national patient group charity run by and for people living with HIV.
UKC’s magazine, Positive Nation, has ceased publication in May after 133 issues.
The coalition and the magazine were praised for the meaningful way in which they engaged with people with HIV.
It aimed to ensure the voices of people living with HIV were heard through lobbying for improved care and welfare and by offering support and services that provide information.
An announcement on their website reads:
“The board of directors of the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS Limited regret that the organisation ceased operations at 5pm on Friday 25th July 2007 and is now working towards winding up the organisation due to insolvency.”
Terrence Higgins Trust, a leading UK AIDS charity, paid tribute to their work.
“We were very sad to hear about the closure of the UKC which has done great work over many years,” THT’s chief executive, Nick Partridge, told PinkNews.co.uk.
“Both the organisation and Positive Nation will be missed by many people living with HIV as well as those working in the sector.”
Stonewall, the gay equality organisation, expressed sadness that UKC has closed.
“It is hugely important that there are as many effective organisations as possible in the HIV sector,” said chief executive Ben Summerskill.
“In the light of the work that the coalition has done in recent years it is distressing to hear it has ceased operations.”
