10,000 back campaign to save flagship HIV charity
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More than 10,000 people have backed a campaign to save a flagship HIV charity.
Funding cuts by central government mean the charity could be closed by June.
The Sussex Beacon, a leading HIV charity based in Brighton, say their service costs more than £2m a year to run.
They’re now calling on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to fill the gap, after government grants were cut for another year.
Charity bosses say the service “is facing the very real risk of closing its services which, if it happens, is likely to occur next June”.
More than 10,000 people have now signed a 38Degrees petition to stop the closure.
Simon Dowe, CEO of The Sussex Beacon, said: “Since we announced that these funding cuts are threatening our services, we’ve had an outpouring of support, which we’re incredibly grateful for.
“Service users, colleagues in the health and HIV sectors, MPs, local people and over 10,000 38 Degrees members have given us their backing as we try and find a way to keep our services open.”
The Sussex Beacon helps around 500 people, and provided more than 2,000 bed nights last year.
It was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in September.
