NOTTINGHAM’S ONLY INDEPENDENT

VOLUNTEER RUN HIV PEER SUPPORT GROUP

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REGISTERED CHARITY 1129416

 © Tagadere

Registered Charity 1129416

December 2011

Tagadere’s togetherness Christmas Party

A very successful and fulfilling year culminated with celebrations at the Tagadere Christmas Party held at our Drop-in. The yuletide festivities were enjoyed by a record number of Tagadere friends and professionals who came along to enjoy the feast which was prepared by group members. In Tagadere tradition, all united to make it a day of elated togetherness. 

Tagadere would like to thank those individuals who have genuinely supported and encouraged us during the past year. We continue naturally evolving as a vital, local support group making a positive difference for people living with HIV in the Nottinghamshire region.

 

Tagadere Gay Men’s Group Christmas Gathering

The Yuletide limbo-land between Christmas and the New Year was festively filled with the December meeting of Tagadere’s Gay Men’s Group. This was undoubtedly the busiest meeting for the group since its inception in June; proving that we were correct in having the foresight to locate more suitable and accommodating premises as the popularity of the group grew rapidly after only a few meetings.

We were complimented for providing an opportunity for HIV-positive gay men to meet for non-scene social support during the past six months.

Many men spoke of how much they valued the opportunity to speak freely without being fear of being overheard as discrimination and stigma attached to HIV is still sadly prevalent on the gay scene. Tagadere would like to thank those many men who have attended and supported the Gay Men’s Group and made it so popular this year.

 

Heating and Budgeting workshop

The team from Metropolitan Support Services presented their third annual ‘Staying Warm In Winter On A Low Budget’ workshop held at our Drop-in during mid-December following an earlier postponement.

The valuable information supplied was augmented once more by their own heating and budgeting quiz which was vastly beneficial to the large group who gathered to attentively listen and learn.

We were updated on hints provided in previous workshops and learned new tips on how to reduce fuel bills via a wide variety of obvious and not-so-obvious methods of economising.

 

Tagadere World AIDS Day events a great success

The World AIDS Day 2011 awareness and fundraising events which Tagadere have been working towards came to fruition on Thursday 1st December. Our street collection in Nottingham city centre not only raised funds for our Notts. Hardship Fund but also importantly raised the awareness of HIV/AIDS to the city. 

We received many compliments when people learned that Tagadere is a local, volunteer-run group and that we provide social and practical support in a more intimate manner than by being a large corporate institution.

The feedback and interest we received by talking to people on the street was that by discovering Tagadere is a local group, people understood better that HIV exists in Nottinghamshire and that it is not something which occurs only elsewhere.

It was extremely encouraging and flattering that during the approach to World AIDS Day and on the day itself, we were chosen exclusively to be recorded and filmed several times for interviews focusing on Tagadere’s unique existence as a volunteer-run, user-led group operating at an approachable, welcoming local level.  To generate such interest and to receive genuine praise for the support which we provide was wonderful validation. 

Our awareness-raising success continued with our late afternoon and early evening presence at Broadway Cinema. The extremely popular venue provided a wonderful opportunity for us to publicly showcase our support for people living with HIV in Nottinghamshire. 

Tagadere would sincerely like to thank those who freely volunteered their own time to brave the cold weather to make the street collection and awareness-raising a reality and a great success. We would also like to thank all at St. Peter’s Church, St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Cathedral and Broadway Cinema for their valuable support and welcome on the day.

 

Tagadere World AIDS Day red balloon release

On a bright and sunny last day of November we marked World AIDS Day at our weekly Drop-in. There was hardly room to move as Tagadere group members, professionals and friends joined together in our customary atmosphere of support and unity. Several group members had organised their individual working schedules to enable each of them a day off to attend the lunch and ceremony. This was a wonderful testimony us as an inclusive group. 

Following lunch we held our World AIDS Day commemorative red balloon release. The balloons glowed a comforting deep red in the strong afternoon sunshine. Even with the large number people, the ceremony remained comfortably intimate as we gathered to release our balloons. Our day was a wonderful example of unity and friendship and thanks go to everyone who joined in to make it so welcoming.

 

 

November 2011

Tagadere World AIDS Day awareness raising begins

With World AIDS Day less than one month away, Tagadere started their activities ball rolling by holding not one but two HIV/AIDS awareness-raising stalls at Nottingham Playhouse on November 3rd and 11th.

The result of these events was a fantastic opportunity to increase the profile of HIV/AIDS to a wide and varied audience who showed a genuine interest in the work and services which Tagadere provide. At the end of both successful evenings the lobby was awash with theatre-goers wearing red ribbons on their clothing and clutching our own information sheets. 

Tagadere would like to sincerely thank Nottingham Playhouse for their warm welcome and generosity in providing the opportunity for us to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

 

October 2011

Notts. Pride supporting Tagadere

Tagadere is extremely honoured to be amongst the few local charities which Nottinghamshire Pride are supporting. A fundraising event at Jongleurs comedy club in Nottingham promises to be an evening of mirth and laughter! Please support Pride to support others!

Happiness Is Vital awareness event 

The ‘Happiness Is Vital’ HIV/AIDS awareness event in Mansfield on Thursday 13th October was a great success. Tagadere’s information stand was well visited which resulted in a great amount of networking being achieved with groups from the county.

The day was topped by a delicious feast of Asian and Caribbean culinary delights which was complimented by live music performed by double MOBO nominated artist Freddie Kofi. Congratulations and thanks to Courtney Nangle of Disability Nottinghamshire for his hard work in organising an event unique to Mansfield.

 

September 2011

Matlock Bath excursion

In mid-September, the sun shone on a party of happy Tagadere members who travelled by train to Matlock Bath for our final day out of the year.

Basking in the one-day Indian summer which seemed to only bless a couple of square miles in the region, we spent a pleasant few hours relaxing in the picturesque spa town, gently exploring its comforting delights.

As always, a good time was had by all and we gratefully boarded the train to return to Nottingham to enjoy a cup of tea before heading home.

July 2011

Tagadere at Pride

A glorious mini-heatwave bathed the thousands celebrating at Nottingham Pride on the Forest Recreation Ground. The hugely popular festival was a definite success for Tagadere as we were able to reunite with old friends and make many more new ones.

Our stall was constantly crowded with interested visitors, meaning that we were able to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and simultaneously inform a huge amount of people of the support which Tagadere provides in the local community.

Everyone at Tagadere would like to thank the people who volunteered to help and also those who generously donated items to the tombola to make it a great event.   The unique star prize was a full MOT provided extremely generously by Barn Garage in Keyworth and was gratefully received by the astonished winners.

 

Gay Men's Group

Due to many requests, the Tagadere Gay Men’s Group will be holding an introductory evening meeting on Thursday 30 June from 7 - 9pm.

This will enable Nottinghamshire’s HIV Positive gay men to socialise in a relaxed, non-scene environment; to discuss their life experiences as a gay man living with HIV and rest assured that it’s not going to be ‘a casual pick up joint’ which has already been alleged from a

 city location!

The meetings will then be held on the last Thursday of each month. Refreshments will be provided.

Further details: e-mail simon@tagadere.org.uk /phone 07766 800 514

 

Skegness excursion a great success

In May, group members of Tagadere enjoyed the East Coast air on our excursion to Skegness. We wisely chose to visit in May to avoid the very heavy crowds which cram into this seaside town in the peak season of July, thus allowing our members a more sedate and physically unchallenging day than if they were in the middle of huge numbers of people.

The weather was so extremely clement that paddling in the sea was possible, provoking much laughter and mirth. These watery activities were followed by a traditional fish & chips lunch.

It was a very touching visit as one of our African members had never seen the sea before; we were very pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for this first experience. The day was voted a huge success and a happy group returned to Nottingham in a very satisfied and relaxed mood.

 

Sewing Class

The first Tagadere Sewing Class was held at Drop-in with excellent results. So many members attended which resulted in a deafening buzzing of sewing machines in action. Many had never experienced using machines before and were eager to learn. The class was a great success with one Tagadere member who had never previously considered sewing took to it like a seasoned professional and produced an amazing creation.

 

May 2011

Things progress in wonderful style for Tagadere

Following almost twelve months of negotiations, discussions and abundant hard work on both sides, we are very proud and honoured to announce that Tagadere has now taken on board the management and administration of The Notts. Hardship Fund.

This is a very important step in our development as the only User-Led HIV support group for Nottingham and widens the assistance we are able to offer. We fully intend to continue the excellent crisis support which has been so tirelessly provided by Armorel Young over the years.

Tagadere second anniversary party

Friday 6th May marked two years since Tagadere was awarded status as a Registered Charity. To acknowledge this occasion and to simultaneously commemorate our acquisition of The Notts. Hardship Fund, the obvious thing to do was to hold a joint celebratory party!

The day was a fantastic success where over fifty people were joined by a wide and varied amount of specially invited guests and friends from the professional and voluntary sectors, all of whom came together to enjoy a day of festivity.

We were delighted when the previous Hardship Fund chairman Rod Beadles interrupted his busy schedule to travel from London specifically to attend the event. Rod gave a touching and very flattering speech on the success of Tagadere which was rewarded by a huge round of applause.

HIV Health Forum by specialist nurse

On May 18th HIV Specialist Nurse Sue Pennant from Nottingham City Hospital hosted her HIV Health Forum at our drop-in.  Nurse Sue shared the results and findings from her earlier consultations with members of Tagadere and updated us with new information.

April 2011

Nottingham City Council Commissioner visits Tagadere

On Wednesday 11th April the Tagadere drop-in welcomed a visit from Nottingham City Council Commissioner Gary Nutall who came to lunch and to witness the vibrancy and unique diversity of Tagadere.

The focal point of the visit was for Gary to engage with a large number of local HIV positive people in order to consult with them on a variety of service provision issues.

Once more Tagadere is able to facilitate such a meeting and we’re very glad that Gary was able to finally make the meeting after getting lost on his previous attempt.  This is a great illustration that of our wisdom in choosing a discreet and relatively anonymous location for Tagadere to operate our weekly drop-in days; thankfully we don’t receive many SOS phone calls from people wandering around looking for Tagadere!

HIV Awareness & information forum

HIV Specialist Nurse Sue Pennant from Nottingham City Hospital gave an informative Q&A presentation which incorporated myriad facts surrounding HIV. It was an opportunity for local HIV positive citizens to discuss HIV in a calm, confidential and relaxed environment.

January 2011

Looking back at 2010 and forward to 2011

Tagadere enter the New Year following a hugely successful 2010 which saw us gather strength as individuals and as a group. 

World AIDS Day arrived amidst some of the worst snow this country had seen for some time. As this meant that a lot of people were unable to leave home to come to the Drop-in, we postponed our first (but not last) Grand Tagadere World AIDS Day Red Balloon Race until our Christmas Party on 22nd December. 

By this time, the weather was still rather grim, the snow made a rapid reappearance but despite this, we all pulled together and had a wonderful Christmas Party attended by over fifty group members plus professionals. The atmosphere was celebratory and after lunch we were finally able to release our WAD balloons, each with an individually numbered tag stating the reason of the event.

Amazingly, as we braved the bracing winter air, the snowfall ceased, the grey clouds dispersed to reveal a perfect turquoise sky and almost as if ordered, the sun blazed down as we released the balloons and watched them begin their soaring, sunlit journey to who knows where.

At the time of writing, we have had one notification of a deflated balloon and tag found in a garden in Reigate, Surrey, some 160 miles from Drop-in!)  The balloon release was a very unifying and highly emotional moment for all of us. 

We are delighted that January 2011 sees the beginning of two new Drop-in activities. To compliment the already popular weekly individual appointments, our Post-Graduate Counsellor is now able to facilitate monthly Personal Development Workshops on the second Wednesday of each month. The first was held on 12th January and from the feedback we received, it was a huge and beneficial success.

The Tagadere Ladies’ Club arrives

Our second recent activity is the formation of our much-requested Tagadere Ladies' Group. This is something which we have been planning for some considerable time and it is wonderful to see it reach fruition.

It has already proved to be so successful that we are in the process of extending the amount of opportunities for HIV positive women to meet in a secure, confidential and friendly environment.

The group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at our drop-in. More information: 07766 800 514 or info@tagadere.org.uk

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