Positive East, an organisation dedicated to supporting residents affected by HIV, has secured £184,000 in benefits and hardship funds over the last financial year. This vital funding was obtained through the organisation's advice service, which assists Barking and Dagenham residents facing challenges related to HIV.
The achievement was highlighted during a Health Scrutiny Committee meeting where Mark Santos, Executive Director of Positive East, provided an overview of the charity's work. The advice service plays a crucial role in addressing the wider determinants of health, with 82% of presenting issues at Positive East relating to poverty and poor housing.
Mr. Santos explained that these issues of poverty and poor housing are real issues
that make up about 82% of the presenting issues that we deal with at Positive East and in Barking and Dagnum
. He added that 51% of people living with HIV surveyed did not always have enough money for their basic needs
, which is considered crucial for having a foundation to engage with care and self-care.
To address these challenges, Positive East provides an advice service
and highlights initiatives like the Big Heart Food Hub
and facilities like Showerbox
for food preparation for those in hostels. The organisation's vision is to create a future where people living with HIV live full and healthy lives, free from stigma, with no new transmissions, and where good sexual health is realised for all
.
In the last financial year, Positive East engaged with 1,285 people in Barking and Dagenham. Of these, 113 people were living with HIV and 122 were tested for HIV and STIs. The meeting information does not provide a further breakdown of the remaining individuals engaged.
Positive East measures the success of its advice service by tracking the funds secured, as well as new diagnoses and epidemiological data, and use surveys and impact reports
. They also note that a third of people tested by Positive East have never tested before, and significant numbers have not engaged with any services, including primary care
, indicating success in reaching new individuals.
Positive East has worked across northeast London for over 30 years, conducting approximately 50 pop-up testing clinics a month across the region. While there are no specific plans mentioned for future expansion to other boroughs, their operational history suggests a broad reach within northeast London.
Further details on the organisation's work can be found in the Public reports pack for the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 14 September 2026. Public reports pack