Wales is where our story starts. Our namesake Terry Higgins, who was first named person to die of an AIDS-related illness in the UK, was born and raised in Wales. His friend and fellow-Welshman, Martyn Butler, co-founded Terrence Higgins Trust in his memory.
Today, we deliver sexual health services in south Wales and campaigns on issues around sexual health and HIV. We’re working with the Senedd and Welsh Government to end new cases by 2030 in Wales and ensure people living with HIV live well.
To mark this long-standing connection, we launched our 40th anniversary year by hosting a special event at the Senedd with keynote speaker First Minister Mark Drakeford. Together, the event reflected on forty years of HIV in Wales: the past, present and future.
Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, introduced the event and spoke about both the story of Terrence Higgins Trust and Terry Higgins himself.
The First Minister launched the public consultation on Wales’ HIV action plan at the event.
Ian Green, our Chief Executive, welcomed the plan and added some points we’d like to see included within it.
Mercy Shibemba and Gian Molinu – who were both featured in 21 Century HIV, a photo essay produced by our friends at Fast Track Cardiff and Vale – spoke about their experience of living with HIV in Wales today.
Martyn Butler, our co-founder, spoke about his friendship with Terry Higgins, and unveiled a new portrait of him by Welsh artist, Nathan Wyburn.
At the event, the First Minister invited those who share our vision of no new cases of HIV by 2030 to feedback on the draft HIV Action Plan. We need your voice to be heard in that consultation – and we have made it easy with our ‘recommended response’.
