FAITHWORKS - AIM STATEMENT
The project aims to increase faith leaders’ knowledge and understanding of HIV in order to improve their communities’ access to HIV education, prevention and testing, whilst also improving pastoral support for PLWHIV within their respective communities. We aim, ultimately, for faith leaders to drive their communities’ awareness and acceptance of HIV-related issues.
We recognise that these communities have often had limited intervention in this regard and the overall aim cannot realistically be met without significant lead-in work.
Committed to following the QI methodologies, we believe it is appropriate to set overarching aims for the project whilst setting annual SMART objectives - enabling flexibility and agility to adapt the project to ongoing findings, unforeseen barriers and emergent opportunities.
In broad terms:
Year 1: Increase awareness amongst faith leaders and ‘on-board’ them as to the importance of their roleby providing suitable tools, knowledge and skills - empowering leaders to play a central role in the HIV education and care continuum.*
Year 2: Continue and build upon Year 1 programme. Expand education programme and increase access to, and uptake of, testing and support services within faith communities *
Year 3: Consolidation and continuation of Years 1 & 2 meaning that HIV education, testing and support services is embedded within communities’ standard programme of pastoral and spiritual support. Best practice is celebrated, shared and implemented across all three faith communities. *
* Black Christian / Black Muslim / Jewish