Crusaid, one the UK’s best loved HIV/Aids charities and the Terrence Higgins Trust have announced a merger.
Details as to why the merger was necessary and the future of Crusaid’s 15 staff are still unclear.
In a statement to thirdsector.co.uk Debbie Holmes THT’s executive director of fundraising said: “We have been open that we can’t guarantee that everyone will retain their jobs for the long-term.”
Jordan Hay , CEO of Crusaid said “We initiated this merger to ensure that our hardship fund can continue to make a vital difference to the ever-increasing numbers of people diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK.
“THT shares our vision and values and we are excited about the opportunities to support people with HIV that this merger presents.”
Crusaid independently administered the hardship fund since 1986 and has awarded over 45,000 grants: helping one in three people living with HIV and raised 33million in the fight against HIV/Aids.
In 2008-09 the Crusaid hardship fund distributed £381,385 to 2,106 people in England Wales and N Ireland and a further 69,829 in Scotland through Waverley Care.
Over the same period the organisation saw its income drop to £1.63 million compared to £1.93 million in the previous year. But with outgoings at 1.77 million, questions may be raised to the why the overheads of the charity were not brought into check.
The organisation had experienced a 15 per cent drop in income over the last two years due to the economic downturn: ultimately bringing to an end Crusaid as independent force.
The survival of ‘Walk For Life’- Crusaid’s premier fundraising event – will be viewed by many HIV organisations as vital: the 2008 walk had 35 teams participating raising £41,430 towards their own work.
In a recent interview in pinkpaper.com Deborah Jack, CEO of the National Aids Trust said: “My main concern is that we’ve lost a charity solely focused with HIV into an organisation which covers all aspects of sexual health. Crusaid always supported those in the greatest need.
“I am, however, pleased THT have made a public commitment to continue the hardship fund which provides a valuable lifeline for people living in poverty with HIV.”
Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of THT said: “The merger will preserve the Crusaid Hardship Fund in a very challenging economic climate and help ensure that people with HIV have the ongoing support that they so vitally need.
“We are also looking forward to combining our experience and research for a renewed anti-poverty strategy in support of people living with HIV in the UK.”
What do you think about this story? Click on comment and have your say.
Crusaid in Crisis
An HIV/AIDS charity that once enjoyed the support of Princes Diana and Sir Ian McKellan is in crisis. Crusaid, which has raised over £33 million pound since its conception in 1986 and claims to have helped one in three people living with HIV in the UK, is up to its ******** in ****.
It has been forced to shut down its Hardship Fund for a second time in the past year as it catches up with its own financial mismanagement. The rot first appeared when the previous Chief Executive, Robin Brady, left suddenly and unexpectedly last September after five years in the role.
On discovery of approximately £100,000 of unexpected debt, the charity was forced to go cap in hand to the Elton John AIDS Foundation to save them. This figure is now believed to be closer to £150,000 and even after permanently closing down their Scottish hardship fund and a restructure which resulted in redundancies, the board continue to consider ways to plug the deficit.
The problem, however, is more deep rooted.
The Hardship Fund was set up to help those in the UK living in poverty with HIV/AIDS supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since its conception it has handed out over 45,000 grants, in recent times many going to asylum seekers unable to claim benefits in the UK. The fund only accepts applications from referring agents such as social workers but is widely thought to be apallingly managed. Sometimes it is up and running, sometimes not and trying to actually speak to anybody that works on the fund is often impossible. They’re either not there, at lunch or you speak to a volunteer receptionist who is clearly embarassed that nobody will take your call. In the end, you just give up.
Crusaid is increasingly viewed as dying swan. What started as a charity with a clear vision, set up by gay men to help others when the AIDS virus was taking lives, has in recent years failed to keep up to date with the changing needs of the people it was originally designed to help. It’s annual Walk for Life, Europe’s largest sponsored walk for HIV/AIDS, last year raised approximately £380,000 but many walkers were unaware that the walk was contracted out to Limelight Events at costs exceeding £100,000. In an attempt to cut costs, they brought the event in house this year but there concerns from staff and volunteers that the management team would end up up making less money than previous years, were proved right.