Marseille 2007
| Abstract #505 - Developing a pre 'return to work' programme for long term unemployed PLWHIV in London by transferring learning from developing countries. | ||||
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Session: 31.1: Quality of Life (Parallel) on Tuesday @ 11.00-12.30 in HC Chaired by Adinani Amidu, Wendee Wechsberg Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Andrew Little - UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS, United Kingdom |
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| Aim: Issue: Previous return to work projects had been shown not to attract the most socially excluded and marginalised plwhiv, those who dont self identify as work ready or who dont want to return to work. The challenge was to reach long term unemployed plwhiv and how to set up a programme that would be both attractive and meet their needs. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Project Inspired by examples from developing countries where people are taught how to grow their own food, the Healthier Lifestyles Gardening Programme creates an opportunity for people to develop horticultural skills. It allows them to develop skills and improve self confidence by being involved in a team, while also improving their health through outdoors physical activity. Linking with existing community gardening projects, plwhiv are have given a safe non threatening place that allows them to develop at their own pace. The project offers individuals to receive professional and peer support in a non traditional environment. When participants are ready they can move to other elements of the back to work programmes on offer. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Lessons learned. UKC has found that many people need support to take the first steps towards potentially re engaging with the work force. By providing this sort of pre back to work support, clients learn new skills and start to rebuild their confidence and sense of self esteem. Many have progressed to other elements within the back to work programme. Those running or considering back to work projects need to be aware of the needs of the most socially excluded and shape their programme to meet individual needs. The presentation will detail the lessons learned, focussing on the challenges and pitfalls; it will also demonstrate how easy to replicate it would be to any community; and importantly expand on the personal development experienced by participants. | ||||
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