Policy and commissioning must recognise we cannot end HIV cases without the voluntary sector

Bringing together 150 parliamentarians and leaders in the UK’s HIV response, the message from the room was as clear as the evidence in their new report. If we are serious about ending new HIV cases by 2030 - and ensuring that everyone with HIV can live well - the voluntary sector must be recognised and sustainably resourced.

The report paints a stark picture. Two-thirds of HIV charities have had to cut staff, close services, or dip into reserves to cover operating costs in the last three years. Only three out of 51 organisations surveyed felt they had been able to fully meet demand over the past five years. And as services are stretched, inequalities are growing. People in rural areas face a postcode lottery in access to support. We’re seeing increasing HIV diagnoses among underserved communities including women and black communities, and these groups face systemic barriers to care.

At the launch event, we heard personal stories that drove these statistics home. We heard from community leaders like Angelina Namiba, who spoke movingly about the impact of an HIV diagnosis, stigma and the transformative role that charity support services play. Voluntary sector organisations are more than just service providers: they are also often the first port of call, the safe space, and the link that holds people in care.

The crucial role played by peer support was a key theme at our event. Peer support can take various forms but at its heart is the ability for someone living with HIV to talk to, hear from, and discuss their life and needs with someone also living with HIV. Four in five people living with HIV who accessed support from HIV charities in the last three years reported improved wellbeing. These statistics were brought to life at the event through hearing about the cost-effective and life-changing peer support services run by organisations including the Terrence Higgins Trust, Africa Advocacy Foundation and Waverley Care. But despite this, we heard too many people still don’t know about or can’t access peer support when they need it.

The report also shines a spotlight on retention in care. We know there are up to 13,000 people in the UK who’ve been diagnosed with HIV but - because of health inequalities and barriers to care - are not currently in treatment. Everyone living with HIV should have the support they need to access care. The voluntary sector has led pilot programmes showing that with the right investment and partnerships, people can be re-engaged to care and achieve an undetectable viral load which means you can’t pass on HIV through sex. But these voluntary sector programmes remain patchy and underfunded.

With case studies from charities and people that have used their services, HIV Outcomes’ report makes a powerful case for why voluntary sector services must be safeguarded. The next UK Government HIV Action Plan for England gives us a critical opportunity to get back on track to achieving the Government goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 and ensure that everyone living with HIV is able to access essential support.

At our event, we heard that the UK Government and commissioners must renew their partnership with the voluntary sector in the delivery of the HIV Action Plan, set aside funding for the voluntary sector, guarantee access to psychosocial support, and expand investment in voluntary sector-led HIV prevention, testing and anti-stigma initiatives.

At a time when value for money is rightly a priority for the Government, NHS and local authorities, the report makes a compelling case for sustainable investment in HIV charities. These organisations consistently deliver exceptional returns in improved public health outcomes, long-term cost savings and social value. Their services prevent late diagnoses, help people who have fallen out of care to re-engage and prevent HIV transmission, and support people living with HIV to thrive in the workplace.

At the close of the event, I said what I’ll repeat here: this report cannot sit on a shelf. The HIV voluntary sector has changed thousands of lives and always stepped in where others haven’t - reaching communities others can’t and tackling stigma head-on. But without urgent action, we risk losing ground and leaving communities behind. The crossroads where we now stand are clear. Now is the time to choose the path that puts people - and the charities that support them - first.

Michael Payne is Labour MP for Gedling and Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and Sexual Health

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