March marks the end of the financial year for The Food Chain and we are approaching that landmark in a much stronger financial position than we could possibly have anticipated just six months ago. Everyone knows that this in only due to the tremendous effort and dedication of the hundreds of people who mobilised and supported The Food Chain at the time we needed it most and made all the difference in the world.
We would not be here today if that hadn’t happened.
I have often written about what difficult times these are for HIV support charities like The Food Chain, and as I write, and as many of you will already know, another unique and valuable service for people living with HIV is at serious risk of closure.
Mildmay is the only specialist hospital in Europe providing neurological rehabilitation for people with HIV.
It is a charitable hospital and has been caring for the people of London for over 153 years, and for the last 35 years, Mildmay has led the field in HIV and AIDS rehab and care.
I remember visiting friends who were admitted to Mildmay back in the 1990s. Then, as now, it was providing care and support for some very vulnerable people who were facing complex and difficult health conditions, and for many who needed kind and compassionate end-of-life care.
The Food Chain has a long association with Mildmay. We provided a Saturday and Sunday meal service there in 2011 and we regularly receive referrals to this day, often at the time when people are being discharged after a period of rehabilitation and in need of groceries to help re-establish their lives at home.
If we lose Mildmay, we lose a specialist service that provides invaluable help and support to those who need it most.
It would be a great loss to the sector and another sign that people who are not living well with HIV are being forgotten and left behind in the race to end HIV.
If you would like to support our colleagues and friends in trying to #savemildmay, please follow the link below