Charity
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s
leading HIV and sexual health
charity, providing a wide range of
services to more than 100,000
people a year..
The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater
political and public understanding of the personal,
social and medical impact of HIV and sexual ill
health.
How did the charity get its name?
Terry Higgins was one of the first people in the UK to die
with AIDS. He died aged 37, on 4 July 1982 in St
Thomas' Hospital, London. By naming the Trust
after Terry, the founder members, who were partner
and friends, hoped to personalise and humanise
AIDS in a very public way.
When was the charity set up?
In 1982, I set up the Terry Higgins Trust with Terry’s
partner, Rupert Whitaker, with the intention of
preventing others from having to suffer as Terry did.
It focused on raising funds for research and
awareness of the illness that was then called Gay-
Related Immune Deficiency (GRID).
In August of that year the Trust was reborn as a formal
organisation, the Terrence Higgins Trust, with a
constitution and a bank account. By November 1983
it was a limited company with a Board of Directors,
and by January 1984 had gained charitable status. It
provided direct services immediately, including
buddying/home-help,
counselling, drug- and sex-
education.
The Terrence Higgins Trust was the
first charity in the UK to be set
up in response to the HIV
epidemic and has been at the
forefront of the fight against
HIV and AIDS ever since.
Celebrating 30 years
When Terry died I looked around
so see if I could help, someone to
follow, and quickly realised I had to
step up.
Terrence Higgins Trust, which marks its 30th anniversary
with a reception at City Hall on 19th November hosted my
Mayor Boris Johnson.
I can hardly believe its 30
years since my dear friend
Terry Higgins died, The shock
that what was emerging in the
US had arrived on our shores,
I put my career on hold, and
worked day and night to
develop a health education
programme targeted at high risk groups, Appearing
on Breakfast TV, Panorama, Newsnight, Horizon
being treated with suspicion, and often hostility I
never doubted for a moment that if we failed there
would not be a second chance.
I am so proud of everything the Terrence Higgins
Trust has achieved and very happy to have this
opportunity to say THANKS TERRY.
Read my Thanks Terry letter to our supporters.
© 2014 davidhewett David Hewett is seeking a position as a Cinema Manager in your organisation
Dr Rupert Whitaker Sir Nicholas Partridge
The Mayor's HIV Ambassador Annie Lennox
and of course as founder and first chairman me (Right)
Sir Nick Partridge,
Chief Executive of Terrence
Higgins Trust, said: 'Terrence
Higgins Trust was founded by a
handful of people in a flat in
London 30 years ago. Today we
provide services for thousands of
people every year and London
remains at the centre of the HIV
epidemic in the UK.
'We are delighted that the Mayor
and his Ambassador are backing our campaign to
encourage more Londoners to get tested and to drive down
rates of HIV in the capital. We are determined to work
together with the Mayor’s Office and local councils, to
strengthen the capital’s response to HIV
Prime Minister David
Cameron's message
for World Aids Day
2012
David Cameron has used his
World Aids Day message to pay
tribute “to all those who are working so hard to raise
awareness of AIDS, to challenge stigma and to support those
living with HIV to have full productive and happy lives.”
The Prime Minister called on more people to come forward to
be tested for HIV and AIDS, saying that “some 25,000 people
in the UK do not know they have it, are not benefiting from
treatment and are increasing the risk of passing the virus on.”
He also called for the nation to “work together to fight the
stigma associated with HIV and AIDS,” thanking the work of
the Terrence Higgins Trust.
See the Video message here
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge,
and Prince Harry have kindly written to to
celebrate 30 years of our fight against HIV.
Read the Letter Here
After82 A feature length documentary at a screen near you Trailer
THT Founder and first chairman
David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, shares his message of support for World AIDS Day 2012
David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, shares his message of support for World AIDS Day 2012
As we mark World Aids Day I want to add my voice once again took all those who
are working so hard to raise awareness of AIDS to challenge stigma and to support
those with living with HIV to have full productive and happy lives. Thanks to effective
treatment and the brilliant care of our NHS an early diagnosis means the outlook for
most people today with HIV in the UK is a good one but some twenty five thousand
people in the UK do not know they have it, are not benefiting from treatment and are
increasing the risk of passing the virus on and this means up to six hundred people a
year could be dying from a preventable treatable condition so we need to use this
Worlds AIDS Day to urge people to get a test and to know their HIV status. We must
also work together to fight the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.
Thirty years ago young man who'd worked in politics lay dying in a hospital bed his doctors didn't know
what was wrong with him and his partner had the hospital bed curtain shut in his face as he wasn't
considered next-of-kin.
A group of his grieving friends came together and created a charity that bears his name the Terrence
Higgins Trust together with the National AIDS Trust and The Food Chain which both celebrate that
twenty-fifth anniversary is this year British charities and not just challenge prejudice in the UK they've
been at the forefront of developments around the world, as a nation we should be proud of their work
and this World AIDS Day let us pledge to work with them and redouble our efforts to win the fight against
HIV and against AIDS in Britain.
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry have
kindly written to us to celebrate 30 years of our fight against HIV
Thirty years old today and a royal message.
Our generation has never known a world without HIV. We
have grown up knowing of the devastating impact this virus has on
lives, on families, on communities. We know, too, that HIV can be
treated and the lives of sufferers extended by many years. However,
there is still a stigma which blights sufferers of the disease, even
today.
Terrence Higgins Trust, founded thirty years ago by friends of
Terrence Higgins, one of the first people in the United Kingdom to
die of AIDS, has been the other constant in this story of our
generation. Every day, its inspirational staff and volunteers work
ceaselessly to turn the lives of HIV sufferers around. They have
prevented countless new infections, supported thousands of people to
live healthy lives with HIV, and campaigned tirelessly to gain a
greater public understanding of the personal, social and media impact
of HIV.
Terrence Higgins Trust is a fantastic source of advice and
support on HIV related matters, always making sure those it cares for
are treated with kindness and understanding. Terry Higgins has done
so much to help so many people. The wonderful legacy he inspired
lives on today in his Trust.
The fight against HIV started 30 years ago. Our generation
must pick up the sword and continue the fight. There is still no cure
or vaccine. However, we know it is possible to prevent HIV from
spreading further in the future. Terrence Higgins Trust will be to the
fore in this, and for that reason, and because our mother believed so
passionately in the work of the Trust, we wholeheartedly congratulate
you on thirty years of selfless service to others.
Dear Supporter
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Terry Higgins and the founding of
Terrence Higgins Trust in his memory. My name is Martyn Butler – I had the privilege of
being one of Terry’s close friends, the main instigator and a founder member of Terrence
Higgins Trust back in 1982. I’m writing to you today to say thank you for supporting the
work of the Terrence Higgins Trust which is continuing to help people living with HIV.
If it wasn’t for the legacy left by Terry Higgins 30 years ago, I wouldn’t be here today
telling you how proud I am of everything that Terrence Higgins Trust has achieved, and
continues to achieve, for people living with HIV in the UK. That’s why I am supporting this
Terrence Higgins Trust’s Thanks Terry Campaign which is commemorating 30 year’s since
Terry’s death and saying thank you for inspiring 30 years of better sexual health.
This is the year to say thank you Terry, for the legacy you have left behind for all suffers of
HIV. However, everything Terrence Higgins Trust has achieved would not have been
possible without the support of people like you. And the Trust thank you so much for being
there, supporting Terrence Higgins Trust over the years enabling the Trust to provide vital
services and support to anyone affected by HIV in the UK.
When my friends and I set up Terrence Higgins Trust in my London flat 30 years ago, HIV
had not even been identified ! We just wanted to make sure that no one had to die like Terry
– all alone and with no support. In those early days our first thought was to set about
educating the gay community on the dangers of unsafe sex, and providing direct services to
people affected by HIV such as buddying, home-help and counselling. As I’m sure some of
you will remember, it was an incredibly difficult time. We lost many friends in those early
days, but the solidarity and support of the community helped us through and gave us
strength.
Today, thanks to the awesome support of people like you, Terrence Higgins Trust has
grown from its humble beginnings to become the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health
charity, and one of the largest in Europe. The charity has evolved and widened it’s services
substantially along the way in response to the ever changing face of the epidemic. 30 years
ago Terrence Higgins Trust was helping people to die in a dignified way. Today they are
helping people to live.
Terrence Higgins Trust has come a long way since my friends and I founded the
organisation 30 years ago. They have directly helped thousands of people who have been
affected by HIV and poor sexual health, and none of it would have been possible if it wasn’t
for Terry Higgins and for you continuing to keep his legacy alive – thanks Terry and thank
you.
With warm wishes,
Martyn Butler
Terrence Higgins Trust Founder
Our Patrons include:
Professor Jane Anderson
Sir Richard Branson
Simon Callow CBE
Julian Clary
Martin Clunes
Dame Judi Dench
Tracey Emin
Stephen Fry
Paul Gambaccini
Lord Glendonbrook CBE
Charles Hart
Sir Elton John
Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
Lord Morris of Handsworth
Canon Doctor Paul Oestreicher
Professor Anthony Pinching
Caroline Quentin
Danny Rampling
Gaby Roslin
Sir Antony Sher KBE
Reverend Nicolas Stacey
Dr Miriam Stoppard OBE
Dr Rupert Whitaker (patron
and co-founder)
Tony Whitehead MBE
Johnny Wynne-Williams
Ps. If you’d like to get involved and help Terrence Higgins Trust say thanks
Terry this year, we have a number of exciting events coming up that you can get
involved with. From joining the London to Brighton Bike Ride team, to hosting
a table at the glamorous Supper Club. For more information on how to get
involved, please visit www.tht.org.uk/Fundraise or call us on 020 7812 1612.
Terrence Higgins Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (reg. no. 288527)
Company reg. no. 1778149 and a registered charity in Scotland (reg no.SC039986).
Worlds AIDS Day December 1st 2012
