1. Peer support group activities HOPE GATE peer support services take place in a safe, confidential and supportive environment where people living with HIV/AIDS can: Get practical help and emotional support when and where needed; Be integrated into some cohesive social network to help fight isolation and stigma; Have access to knowledge and culturally appropriate information in relation to sexual health in general and to treatments, side effects and  compliance in particular; Be helped to access mainstream community care, welfare benefits, respite services and other needed services; Learn from others’ experiences and coping strategies; Be helped to access education, volunteering opportunities, employment, recreation and creative activities and maximise their potential.         2. Befriending &  buddying For close personal and one to one support to people affected by HIV and especially the newly diagnosed and those facing some immediate HIV related crisis. Trained and then carefully matched with service users our buddies help in reinforcing efforts to live positively,  building self confidence, reducing isolation and integrating into the HIV social network making it easier to know which services they need and how to access them.. Buddies visits clients in hospital, accompany them to hospital visits or to social activities/ other services appointments.          3.  Advice, advocacy and referrals services for specific referral and direct services towards enhancing clients’ quality of life and ensuring that they access appropriate services to meet their needs. The service is about helping individuals in decision making processes involving treatment and access to services. It is delivered as both a drop in and community outreach providing culturally appropriate advocacy support. Typical clients issues dealt with include: help with applications to Crusaid for hardship fund, referrals to solicitors for immigration, advice on social welfare issues, freedom pass, housing, etc.         4. Information & Signposting services As well as providing information on HIV related issues and signposting services our information campaigns aims to raise the profile of HOPE GATE as an organisation for PLWHA by PLWHA and  the role that people living with HIV in AIDS play in care and support, and in the design and implementation of activities towards a successful response to HIV/AIDS. We pro-actively include positive people in the responses to HIV/AIDS, in order to help reduce stigma and discrimination.       5. Positive speakers training & support We are continually developing a pool of trained HIV positive speakers in order to intervene in HIV primary prevention and harm reduction information campaign and sexual health awareness and education.  Meeting a positive person significantly improves people’s attitudes to AIDS and help to reduce HIV related stigma. Positive people challenge many myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS.       6. Workshops on assertiveness/ self confidence and other trainings for PLWHA To assist HIV positive people to plan and manage transitions and realise their potential.  With various network partners HOPE GATE runs professional and formal as well as peer-led motivational programmes to promote option appraisal, career planning and skills development.       7. Partnership working and policy advocacy The way forward in delivering high quality services for people living with HIV lies in stronger network links with other service providers.    Our advocacy work operates  on two levels: (i) the level of individuals in need of specific support regarding their HIV status; (ii) the level of local and national policy arrangements that affect directly or indirectly people living with HIV/AIDS and in particular Africans. As an organization run by PLWHA for PLWHA HOPE GATE has a unique insight into the problems facing PLWHA. HOPE GATE has always provided confidential and practical help to PLWHA and used clients' experiences to influence local regional and national services and policies.       8. Volunteering opportunities Volunteers are the backbone of our services.  Not only do they support our administration work they also assist others living with HIV in many aspect of their health, personal and social life and support them to successfully deal with issues of isolation, stigma, treatment adherence and healthy living, illness exacerbation, getting into employment or training and navigating the support and care services and welfare system.       9. Positively Seniors Project The aim of the Positively Seniors Project is to improve the quality of life of older people or senior citizens living with and affected by HIV, especially those in BME communities, by integrating them into a cohesive social network and providing them with opportunities for social, physical and intellectual activities, and peer support and advice that is appropriate, mindful of their culture and experiences, non judgemental, independent and confidential.