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To: Jeremy Hunt MP, NHS England

Save 'outstanding' flagship HIV charity the Sussex Beacon from cuts to services

An announcement has been made that due to cuts in funding from the NHS, a flagship HIV charity called the Sussex Beacon based in Brighton will be forced to close services. The Sussex Beacon provides essential services to people living with HIV from across the entire UK. The Government must please ensure that sufficient funding is provided to the Sussex Beacon to enable it to continue providing all of its services both now and in future

Why is this important?

In a recent article by GScene Magasine, it was advised that Brighton based HIV charity The Sussex Beacon faces the prospect of closing services, including its ten bed inpatient unit, following a reduction in funding it receives from the NHS.

The Sussex Beacon provides specialist support and care to people living with HIV through inpatient and outpatient services. It helps hundreds of people living with HIV each year and was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in September.

Changes to local commissioning arrangements have led to a reduction in funding from some statutory funders. The Sussex Beacon has already lost funding with further cuts likely to follow in the near future.

The charity costs over £2 million a year to run and the Charity Trustees say they cannot continue to absorb these cuts.

While many people living with HIV are now able to live long and healthy lives, there are still many who need specialist services.

Last year The Sussex Beacon’s inpatient unit had 233 admissions and was full for the majority of the year. It provided over 2,000 bed nights, relieving pressure on both health and social care services in Sussex.

Please use #SaveTheSussexBeacon when sharing to help build momentum and to let the Sussex Beacon staff see what you are doing to help

How it will be delivered

We are planning on delivering the petition along with the 3 MPs from the Brighton and Hove (being Conservative MP Simon Kirby, Green MP Caroline Lucas and Labour MP Peter Kyle) in person to the Houses of Parliament.

The Sussex Beacon, Bevendean Road, Brighton

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Campaign Facebook Page Campaign Website

Updates

2017-04-27 11:20:37 +0100

Dear #SaveTheSussexBeacon Supporters

I want to share with you an article published today in GScene magasine about the positive effect our petition and campaign has had on the future of the Sussex Beacon.

There is a link to the article here:

http://gscene.com/news/campaign-to-save-the-sussex-beacon-is-going-strong-after-incredible-support-from-community/

The full text of the article is also copied and pasted below.

I'm sure you'll all agree this truly uplifting news. However there is still the risk that further funding cuts may come in the future so we cannot be too complacent.

Saying that, progress is progress, and it feels important to acknowledge the role that your support has had in helping prevent the Sussex Beacon from imminently making widescale redundancies and closing its services - at least for the time being.

Many thanks again for your continued support!

All the very best

Adam Betteridge

2017-03-23 10:59:46 +0000

Wow we've managed to raise £4615 so far via the JustGiving page set up to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon. If you add Gift Aid that's getting on for £6000! THans everyone for your support. Here's the link if you want to check it out and/ or donate :) https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/SaveTheSussexBeacon

2017-03-23 10:57:52 +0000

Ian Palmer from the BBC South Today TV news team came along to talk to me about the campaign on the finish line of the Brighton Half Marathon. There's a link to the interview here https://www.facebook.com/brightonadam/posts/10154279785510976

2017-03-23 10:53:53 +0000

Norman Cook aka DJ FatboySlim agreed to sign our petition and said to me that "anything he could go to help with the campaign just to let him know". What an awesome man! Here's some photos including of me and a buddy running the Brighton Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness for the Sussex Beacon https://www.facebook.com/brightonadam/posts/10154290707470976?pnref=story

2017-02-25 11:52:03 +0000

Interview with Mark Carter on BBC Radio Sussex this morning

Got to talk about the petition, half marathon, and also my buddy Pablo who committed suicide at Xmas after experiencing many challenges with his HIV status.

Poor Pabs. Makes me sad to think he was quietly suffering.

Thanks for all your support everyone. Feeling quite emotional right now xx

2017-02-24 15:36:48 +0000

Dear #SaveTheSussexBeacon supporters

I've decided to run the Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday in aid of the Sussex Beacon. And I'm hoping you might find it in your hearts to sponsor me.

I wasn't going to do it. I'm 43 years old, 15 stone 5 lbs, barely average fitness and did a 7 mile run last Sunday which I'm still feeling sore about today. Unprepared feels like an appropriate word...

Then a friend said he'd run with me and suggested we do it in mixed up stages of running and walking. He's given me some encouragement which has got me thinking. We'd be slow but we'd most likely make it around.

This also got thinking about how it could be a great opportunity to raise awareness about the #SaveTheSussexBeacon petition and campaign, and hopefully raise some money for them too.

But, I have a very strong inclination, OMG it's going to hurt..!

The link to my sponsorship page is here: http://www.justgiving.com/SaveTheSussexBeacon

Please give generously, if you can

Adam x

2017-01-27 10:51:42 +0000

10,000 signatures reached

2016-12-24 12:13:58 +0000

Here's a link to the interview on Latest TV where I talk to Mike Mendoza and Geoffrey Bowden about the #SaveTheSussexBeacon petition, amongst other things https://youtu.be/nlDc9uIwEpI

2016-12-24 12:10:12 +0000

#SaveTheSussexBeacon Update:

Heart slightly in mouth this morning

With nearly 7500 signatories on the petition, I've been asked by BBC South East to appear in an interview today to tell people why this issue is so important

I'm told it should be broadcast on TV this Saturday evening at 6.30 (but if not it will be on over the Xmas period). Wish me luck please!

2016-12-19 12:52:11 +0000

And this morning we reached 5000 signatures. Great result everyone!

I also just appeared on local Latest TV with Mike Mendoza and ex-counsellor Geoffrey Bowden to talk about the importance of petition amongst other things. Turns out our interview was shortly after an interview with Simon Dowe CEO of the Beacon, whom was talking about how important the petition is amongst various other measures they are considering to prolong the life of the Beacon

I'll post more about when the interviews are being broadcast here when I know

2016-12-19 11:12:02 +0000

5,000 signatures reached

2016-12-17 09:37:33 +0000

#SaveThe SussexBeacon Update: 38degrees have agreed to help!

Exciting news! I got a call yesterday from 38degrees themselves who are so taken by the speed at which the petition is growing that they wanted to let us know that they are now planning to email all their contacts in the Sussex area to ask for their support.

This is particularly exciting news. 38degrees get so many petitions set up on a daily basis that they cannot normally do this for all of them. Further, an email out to their database could provide a huge boost to our efforts!

2016-12-17 09:35:39 +0000

#SaveTheSussexBeacon Update: We've made it to 4000 signatures!

I'm delighted to announce that in under 48 hours, we've managed to hit over 4000 signatories to our petition to Government. There's been a huge amount of support from all over, so clearly this a cause dear to many people's hearts.

2016-12-15 18:22:25 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2016-12-15 15:03:24 +0000

500 signatures reached