HIV Testing saves lives. That means HIV awareness saves lives – so how do we raise awareness? This National HIV Testing Week, it’s easy: take and tweet a selfie with a message.

Help us Save Lives by taking a “Selfie” and posting it on Twitter or Facebook. It’s easy! This year, Saving Lives is making postal HIV Testing available across the country via HIVTestUK.com. We want to spread the word that an HIV test is a good thing, and nothing to be ashamed about. You can help. 1. Make your own message: All you need is a pen! People have written messages on paper, posters, mugs … even their own fingers. Whatever, take a “Selfie” and get the message out there! 2. Don’t forget to use the hashtags:  #HIVTestWeek , #HIV, #GetTested , @SavingLivesUK

---

Get People Involved Using Our Quick Download Ambassador Posters

Visit our Dropbox folder to download high-resolution posters for printing!

---

In Detail: How You Can Help

1 Educate yourself and others

[peekaboo name=”three”] [peekaboo_content name=”three”]

Knowing your stuff is so important. That’s why we produce educational material that makes sense and is fun to read.

You can download  our What is HIV booklet here. It’s full of Premiership footballers and other exclusive imagery! You can download our information sheets for volunteers, too.

• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C

[/peekaboo_content]

2. Raise Money

[peekaboo name=”four”] [peekaboo_content name=”four”] There are a variety of ways you can contribute to Saving Lives:

	Method 1: Use Our Virgin Money Giving Page You can visit our Virgin Money Giving Page by clicking here – just follow the prompts to donate to our latest campaign.
	Method 2: Text a Donation If you can spare a few pounds to help fund our campaign, please text SAVE14 to 70070. Add your preferred donation – £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. (You text might look like “SAVE14 £2”, for instance.)
	Method 3: Make A Money Transfer You can place money direct into our account via BACS – we are account number 10045454, sort code 40-27-39. We are happy to provide receipts.
	Method 4: Send a Cheque Cheques should be made payable to Saving Lives and address to Saving Lives, MIDRU Building, Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS.

Saving Lives is a national HIV awareness charity with the aim of improving the general public’s knowledge of HIV and HIV testing. We are registered with the Charity Commission as number 1144855, and you can read our entry in the Register of Charities here. Our aims are simple: by raising awareness and encouraging advocacy and education, we want to improve the take-up of HIV testing and in so doing save lives. If you believe in our message and want to support us, we are grateful for every donation, small or large. A few pounds will help us print leaflets for a clinic; £25 will pay for the graphic design of that leaflet; £100 will pay for the posters and banners we take on our roadshows. [/peekaboo_content]

3. Decide whether you need to Take the Test using our “Riskometer”

[peekaboo name=”five”] [peekaboo_content name=”five”] Our online Riskometer will help you figure out whether you should take the test – you may be surprised! Once you click submit, the page will reload – just click ‘show’ in this section to see your result! [wpsqt name=”HIV and Hepatitis Riskometer” type=”quiz”] [/peekaboo_content]

---

A Message from our Patrons

[peekaboo name=”letter”] [peekaboo_content name=”letter”]

Mr Dan Hartland Director of Operations Co-Founder Saving Lives	The Rt Hon Lord Hunt Shadow Deputy Leader of the Lords Founding Patron Saving Lives	Prof Jane Anderson Lead HIV Consultant Founding Patron Saving Lives	Curtis Davies Professional Footballer Founding Patron Saving Lives	Dr Stephen Taylor Lead HIV Consultant Medical Director Saving Lives

Reducing the late diagnosis of HIV is a key priority for the Health and Wellbeing agendas all over the country. Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne viruses like HIV and Hepatitis are silent killers. They can be symptom-free for years, and without taking a test people can live for many years without knowing they are infected – and by the time they do know it may be too late for today’s life-saving treatments to have their full effect. Furthermore they may have passed the viruses to their nearest and dearest. Did you know in the UK today:

• One in five of those living with HIV do not know they have the virus.

• One in every three hundred and fifty people in the UK have hepatitis-B.

• When it comes to hepatitis-C, half of those who have it are unaware of their status.

This year,  to promote National  and International HIV Testing Week we are funding a nationwide postal testing awareness campaign, encouraging people to “GET TESTED” and “GET TREATED” as  “EARLY  TESTING”  for HIV, HEPATITIS B and C really can “SAVE LIVES.” All of these viruses can be treated. Those living with them can live full, fruitful lives. But only if they know,  and only if they get tested and treated early. Please help us make National HIV Testing week a success. [/peekaboo_content]

---