This HIV Organization Just Shut Its Doors After 30 Years

HIV Scotland, which has supported thousands of HIV-positive patients in Scotland over the last 30 years, is shutting its doors.

In a post, the organization noted that their teams have worked on behalf of those living with and at risk of HIV to ensure Scotland has everything needed to support HIV-positive patients and allow them to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

“However,” they wrote, “due to a number of significant challenges, the Board has taken the incredibly difficult decision to wind-up the charity.” They then thanked all of their staff, volunteers, and communities who have supported them since they started in 1994.

Although proud of the work they’ve done, they noted they have been “operating within a complex and challenging environment.” This included a new Chair and Board, along with an entirely new management and staff within the last two years.

“While this brought some stability to the charity, there have been some recent changes within the organization’s governance which have caused concern,” they wrote. “This has led to the Chair and a significant number of the Board resigning from their positions.”

Elsewhere, they noted ongoing issues faced by HIV Scotland, including the funding climate and maintaining the support of external stakeholders.

Although their HIV self-sampling and self-testing services are now closed, they recommend Waverly Care and Terrance Higgins Trust as other options for information on HIV prevention and treatment within Scotland.

“We are proud of our achievements and legacy of work to improve the lives of those living with, or at risk of HIV, as we all look toward a Scotland where we can eliminate HIV transmission by 2030,” they said.

NHS, the United Kingdom's health care system, reports there are over 6,000 people in Scotland living with HIV.