Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) supports people living with HIV across Berkshire and Hampshire.Since 1985 we have been offering HIV support services and are the only charity dedicated to providing HIV support across these counties, offering practical help, emotional support, advocacy, information, peer connection and education.While HIV is now a manageable long-term health condition for those diagnosed and treated early, stigma, fear and misinformation continue to have a profound impact on people's lives.Thousands of people in the UK are currently living with HIV without knowing it. Across Berkshire and Hampshire, too many people are still being diagnosed late, missing the opportunity to start treatment early and increasing the risk of serious health complications.At the same time, our local area has one of the highest rates of HIV prevalence outside London's major boroughs. Reading and Slough both have higher HIV prevalence rates than many larger UK cities, including Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle.Behind every statistic is a person.Someone coming to terms with a new diagnosis. Someone worried about telling their family. Someone facing stigma at work. Someone struggling with loneliness, mental health challenges or the practical impact of living with a long-term condition.No one should have to face HIV alone.Every day, TVPS helps people access support, build confidence, improve their wellbeing and connect with others who understand their experiences. We also work across our communities to challenge stigma, improve understanding and encourage people to test for HIV.Demand for our services continues to grow, but funding is not keeping pace.Your donation will help ensure that people living with HIV across Berkshire and Hampshire can continue to access the support, information and community they need.Together, we can tackle stigma, improve health outcomes and make sure nobody has to face HIV alone.

BeYou provides social and emotional support, community connection, advocacy and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people across Reading, Slough and the surrounding areas. For many of the people we support, BeYou is not simply a social group, it is a lifeline, a source of friendship, understanding and belonging.While more people than ever feel able to openly identify as LGBTQ+, many continue to face discrimination, isolation, poor mental health and barriers to accessing support.The need for services like BeYou has never been greater.Nationally, around one in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced a hate crime or hate incident linked to their identity, while suicide rates among LGB+ people are more than double those of heterosexual people.At the same time, the UK's position as a leader in LGBTQ+ equality has declined significantly, with growing concerns about the wellbeing, safety and inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities.Locally, these challenges are often compounded by housing pressures, stigma, isolation and a lack of dedicated support. In Slough, cultural and religious factors can make it difficult for some people to openly discuss their sexual orientation or gender identity. In Reading, growing demand for LGBTQ+ support services reflects the need for safe, welcoming spaces where people can connect and be themselves.That is why BeYou matters.Following the success of our Slough group, TVPS relaunched BeYou in Reading in 2026, bringing LGBTQ+ community support back to the town where the service first began over four decades ago.With your support, we can continue providing safe spaces, tackling isolation, improving wellbeing and ensuring LGBTQ+ people across Berkshire have somewhere they can be themselves safely, openly and without fear.

The HIV Podcast is proudly produced by Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), an HIV support charity that has been supporting people affected by HIV since 1985.What started as a tiny DIY podcast has grown into something much bigger: a multi-award-nominated podcast with a global community of listeners, advocates, healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, allies, friends and family members who believe that normal conversations about HIV can change lives.Together, with our wonderful podcast community, we're changing the conversation around HIV.With every episode, we're helping to challenge stigma, share accurate information, celebrate progress, amplify lived experiences and create a space where people feel informed, supported and connected. We've laughed together, learned together and tackled subjects that don't always get talked about openly.The podcast has reached listeners in 183 countries, received multiple award nominations, and become a trusted source of information and community for many people. But at its heart, it's still a small, independent podcast produced by a charity that believes everyone deserves access to knowledge, support and a place where they feel seen and heard.If you've enjoyed an episode, learned something new, felt less alone, or simply appreciated having us in your ears on a walk, run, commute, or while doing the washing up, we'd love your support.Your donation will help us continue producing new episodes, sharing important stories, covering production costs and growing the incredible community we've built together.Whether it's the cost of a coffee or something more, every donation helps us continue changing the conversation around HIV.Thank you for listening, for sharing the podcast, and for being part of this community. We couldn't do it without you.With love,Sarah, Jess and The HIV Podcast community ❤️