About The Manchester Gay HIV Meet Up Group

ABOUT US:

We are purely a Social Group for individuals in similar situations, who want to meet and establish new friendships in a Social and Positive Environment.
An environment which is both a support and social group, where you can really get to know your peers and be able to openly and freely discuss how you feel, or just relax and socialise with others who understand your circumstances.

WHAT WE DO:

We organise and arrange a wide and varied range of social events throughout the year. It could be dining out at restaurants, which so far has proved to be the most popular meet up yet. We have also had social gathering at different venues such as bars, occasional clubs, and trips to the cinema, museums, galleries and exhibitions; including picnics, barbeques, and in the near future we plan to organise weekends away. The list is endless!
As this is voluntary and self-funded group, every event is optional and members will have the choice of which events they wish to attend. As all our events are organised to suit every individual?s budget!!!

WHO USES THIS SITE:

Our members are gay men who are HIV positive and come from all sorts of different backgrounds. All of whom, are looking for a group which offers something different from the normal support groups out there.

FUNDING:

As our group is purely a social support group which is entirely voluntary and self-funded by each individual member, at no time, now or in the future, will the groups? organiser seek any form of funding what so ever from any outside establishments to help fund or subsidize any of our events or meet-ups.

We feel those funds remain the key source of income for other charitable organisations that provides a greater service within our community, which is invaluable.

MEMBERSHIPS:

At present, the group organiser is funding the running of this group with the help of a volunteer, so membership is free.

THE ORGANISER AND REASONS FOR STARTING THE GROUP:

My name is Michael and I am the founder and organiser of the HIV Gay Meet Up Group in London. Currently I based in Manchester for work, so though it would be a great idea to start a group in Manchester as it's been very successful in London.

I would like to take this opportunity of telling you why I started this group.

I was diagnosed as HIV positive in October 2005. Like most people I was completely lost and unsure of what to do next. My consultant recommended that it would be beneficial for me to try out some of the support groups that were available for people in my situation. So I went along to the newly diagnosed group, which I found to be very informative, as it helped me to understand HIV a little better and what sort of an impact it would have on my life. I went along to other support groups all filled with people I did not know just sitting around a table. THERE I WAS EXPECTED to discuss how I was feeling,coping or dealing with life. Personally it was not for me. I wanted to be able to talk about how I was feeling, but only when I was ready to do so.

The whole set up made me feel very awkward and extremely vulnerable and uncomfortable. Especially as I still had to come to terms with my diagnosis as yet. I was not ready to confide in my close friends let alone a room full of people that I did not know.

Yet I still wanted to be around people who were in the same position as me, this was why, I started the HIV meet-up social group.

For people who felt the same as I did and wanted the support, but only in a different setting which was more proactive and offered a more positive and encouraging environment. Which provided a more relaxed atmosphere which enabled individuals to discuss how they were feeling, if they so wished or just to know that they were not on their own, especially if it involved meeting and making new friends in similar situations, in a more positive environment.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER?:

If the HIV meet-up group appeals to you than please feel free to join MEMBERSHIP IS FREE !!! And if you feel a bit uncomfortable about turning up at an event because you might not know anyone there, than please feel free to contact me. I will be more than happy to meet up with you outside of the group and introduce you to a few of our members.


You will find my details in your welcome email once you've joined

GROUND RULES FOR MEMBERS:

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE ETHOS OF OUR SOCIAL GROUP IS TO MEET AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.

WE ARE HERE TO HAVE FUN WHILST ESTABLISHING A FRIENDLY SUPPORT NETWORK FOR EACH OTHER.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE STRIVE TO DO THIS IN A POSITIVE MANNER.
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT OTHER MEMBERS DIRECTLY, HOWEVER THE ADMINISTRATOR WILL USE THE MONITORING OPTION ON THE SITE TO ENSURE THAT ANY EMAIL SENT DIRECTLY TO THE WHOLE GROUP IS SPAM FREE?. AND ALL RELEVANT EMAILS RELATING TO THE GROUP WILL BE FORWARDED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS NO CONTROL OVER EMAIL SENT DIRECTLY BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

THEREFORE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF MEMBERS COULD RESPECT THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES AND BE CONSIDERATE TOWARDS EACH OTHER.

REASONS FOR BEING HERE:

THERE ARE MANY! BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT AND RESPECT EACH OTHER IN A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT.


CONFIDENTIALITY:

PLEASE BARE IN MIND THAT ALL MEMBERS HAVE DISCLOSED THEIR STATUS TO EVERY ONE.

POSITIVE SUPPORT:

TREAT OTHER MEMBERS THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

BE ABLE TO LISTEN:

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT EVERY ONE IS AT A DIFFERENT STAGE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH:

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT VIEWS CAN BE CHALLENGED, JUST NOT THE INDIVIDUAL. BUT FEEL FREE TO OFFER CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IN A POSITIVE MANNER.

PATIENCE:

BE FLEXIBLE AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE NECESSARY.

POLITENESS:

IS A GREAT GIFT THAT COMES NATURALLY SO WHY NOT SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.

SENSITIVITY:

WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND WE ALL HAVE FEELINGS. SOME OF US CAN BE HURT EASIER THEN OTHERS.

PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS VARY, AND THE GROUP IS PURELY VOLUNTARY AND SELF FINANCED BY THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. HENCE GIVING MEMBERS THE OPTION OF WHICH SOCIAL EVENTS THEY WISH TO ATTEND.

SUBSIDIES:

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS NOT A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION OR A HEALTH PROMOTION AGENCY, BUT PURELY SELF FUNDED BY IT'S MEMBERS. THE GROUP IS NOT IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO ANY HEALTH PROMOTION AGENCIES. MEMBERS PAY FOR EVENTS THEY CHOOSE TO ATTEND.

PROMOTION/SPAM:

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DIRECTLY EMAILING MEMBERS ON THE SITE ADVERTISING OR PROMOTING SERVICES, HOWEVER MEMBERS ARE VERY WELCOME TO USE THE MESSAGE BOARDS TO ADVERTISE OR PROMOTE ANYTHING THAT OUR MEMBERS WOULD FIND USEFUL .....eg if you looking for a positive flatmate or a room to rent etc... THIS WAY OUR MEMBERS INBOX WON'T GET FILLED WITH JUNK AND THOSE ACCESSING THE MESSAGE BOARDS WILL PICK UP YOURS MESSAGES THERE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL THE GROUP WITH ANY SUGGESTION OR IDEAS YOU MIGHT HAVE, THE GROUP IS VERY DIVERSE AND IS ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW SUGGESTIONS.

ALSO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO START A POLL ON THE POLL PAGE IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ANY ISSUES OR ARRANGE A PARTICULAR MEET UP, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET FEED BACK FROM MEMBERS

THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE MEMBERSHIPS OF ANY MEMBER FOUND TO BE ABUSING OR MISUSING THE SITE IN ANY FORM OR WAY.

MEMBERS CAN FREELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROUP IF THEY FEEL IT WOULD BENEFIT OTHER MEMBERS
IF ANY MEMBER IS UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE GROUP IS RUN OR HAS ANY INPUT, YOU WILL FIND THE ADMINISTRATOR DETAILS IN YOUR WELCOME EMAIL