Patient group funding
GMFA - the gay men's health charity
GMFA’s mission is to improve gay men’s health by increasing the control they have over their own lives.
GMFA was established in 1992, at a time when there was a lack of specific HIV prevention resources provided specifically for gay men, even though gay men accounted for the majority of people in the UK who were contracting HIV and dying from the disease.
Originally named Gay Men Fighting AIDS, their initial remit was to campaign for more targeted HIV prevention work aimed at gay men, and to raise awareness of HIV amongst gay men. They have now grown into a highly respected, volunteer-led health promotion charity working to educate gay men in ways to improve their physical, mental and sexual health. They are a London-based organisation, although through a range of interventions their beneficiaries are gay and bisexual men of all ages throughout England and, through their online interventions, worldwide.
With just 11 staff, they use the knowledge and experiences of their 200 volunteers (mostly HIV-positive and negative gay men) to develop a range of health awareness campaigns, information websites, leaflets and group work sessions to give gay and bisexual men the information they need to live healthier lives.
We have supported this organisation since 2008.
During 2009:
- We gave £2,000 to support the printing of a small media leaflet for the HIV/HCV C Co-Infection Campaign.
Our support represents 0.3% of their overall income.
During 2008:
- We gave an unrestricted core funding grant of £5,000 for the benefit of patients.
- We gave an unrestricted core funding grant of £5,000 for the benefit of patients, as a result of GMFA winning the "Positive about the future" photographic competition.
Our support represents 1.5% of their overall funding.
