Thursday, November 19, 2009

THT Events November - December

Wednesday 4th November
Men’s Group Meeting
A social group for men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 10th November
LGBT Youth Group Meeting
A social and support group for LGBT young people aged 16 – 24 years of age. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Wednesday 11th November
‘T’ – Group Meeting
A support group for those who identify as transgender – in all its variety. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Thursday 12th November
LGBT Caithness
All LGBT people welcome to join at this open event held in Thurso. 7 – 9pm at Miller Academy, Princes Street, Thurso.

Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th November
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 17th November
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th November
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 24th November
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 1st December – World AIDS Day
Open Day at THT Highland
Would you like to know more about what Terrence Higgins Trust does and how we support people living with HIV in the Highlands? Why not come along and find out who we are. We will be providing a buffet with hot and cold soft drinks. 12 – 6pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 1st December
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Wednesday 2nd December
Men’s Group Meeting
A social group for men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Thursday 3rd December
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th December
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 8th December
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 8th December
LGBT Youth Group Meeting
A social and support group for LGBT young people aged 16 – 24 years of age. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Wednesday 9th December
‘T’ – Group Meeting
A support group for those who identify as transgender – in all its variety. 7 – 9pm at the Inverness Office.

Thursday 10th December
LGBT Caithness
All LGBT people welcome to join at this open event held in Thurso. 7 – 9pm at Miller Academy, Princes Street, Thurso.

Tuesday 15th and Thursday 17th December
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 15th December
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th December
THT drop-in
All LGBT people welcome to drop-in and meet with staff for a chat and a drink. Discuss issues you have; isolation, bullying, discrimination or confusion about sexuality or gender. 2 – 4pm at the Inverness Office.

Tuesday 22nd December
STI Testing Clinic
Free and confidential testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Please call to book an appointment. Clinic times 5 – 7pm at the Inverness Office.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Asexuality Inverness

Asexual people do not experience sexual attraction to either males or females. It is not through fear of intimacy, the inability to find a partner, a disorder, frigidity, pickiness or celebacy - it is a sexual orientation experienced by approximately 600,000 people in the UK.

People who identify as asexual have the same emotional needs as anyone else. They are capable of having relationships and falling in love, some may even be comfortable with having sex, either to please a partner or to express romantic attraction. Other asexual people are not at all comfortable with the idea of sex, and reject it altogether. Asexual people can be of any age, gender or background and can also be male or female, straight, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Asexual people are still likely to be attracted to others, but do not feel the need to act this attraction out in a sexual way. Many asexual people form purely emotional relationships and some aren’t interested in romance at all - it is down to personal preference.

If you identify with the above and seek the opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings with others, or simply want to find out more about asexuality, we would like to hear from you with a view to starting a group.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Newsletter

Late Summer 2009

Dear Friends,
The last couple of months have been an exciting time for me personally as I have got to grips with my new role. I thought it might be nice to let you know about some of the activities that I have been involved with over the last month.

One of the best things is working with the groups running from our centre in Inverness. As many of you will be aware, we have four strong groups here: the Men’s Group; the Women’s Group; the ‘T’ – Group for transgendered individuals and the Pink Castle Philosophy Club where members can stretch their minds in an atmosphere of peace and fun! If anybody is interested in attending any of these groups – and of course you’d be very welcome – then drop us a line or simply turn up!

In addition to the groups run from Inverness we also have LGBT Caithness which I was very pleased to visit in July and plan to visit again on 13th August. This group is currently based in Thurso and offers a ‘safe’ space fordiscussion of issues, experiences and peer support.

We have also been developing outreach in locations around Inverness and at the Gayness Event in town. This work has been a genuine eye-opener [!] but has offered me the opportunity to take our services out of the office and reach those who otherwise wouldn’t have the benefit of the safer-sex materials and information we are able to provide. HIV in the UK is still on the increase. Something that I try to remind people is that you can access free condoms and lubrication by post – just give us a bell!

The final thing to say is that we have had a really encouraging response to our appeal for volunteers but we can always use more help. In return for your time we provide the training and support you require to meet the needs of our service users while also developing your skills – and working for THT is brilliant, …but I guess you’d expect us to say that!


Complementary Therapy

At Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, it is our aim to provide our service users with an holistic sexual health service. This includes complementary care.

A group of qualified practitioners are offering acupuncture, dietary advice, massage, metamorphic technique, reflexology and osteopathy.

Sessions are available every day of the week. Sessions last up to one hour. For each session a donation of £10 is welcomed. Cancellations need to be notified 24 hours in advance.

For more information telephone Alex on 01463 711585.

Counselling

We also offer a counselling service. Our team of counsellors can help you to reflect upon your life; help you to consider alternative ways of doing things and support you in making the changes that you feel you need to make.

Our counsellors are trained, experienced and are flexible in being able to apply a range of models to suit the needs of our clients. This is a fully confidential service and self referrals are welcome, so if you are interested in having a consultation please get in touch with us here at the Inverness office.

Contact Alex on 01483 711 585 for more details.

‘T’-Group

For those who identify as transgender — in all its variety. Meetings held in Inverness.

The ‘T’-Group generally meets every second Wednesday of the month, next group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 12th August @ Inverness THT

For more information telephone Alex on 01463 711585.

LGBT Caithness Group

All LGBT people welcome to join us at this open event held in Thurso. Meet new people and make new friends at the next meeting on Thursday 13th August, 6:30pm - 8:30pm.


Contact Alex on 01463 711 585 for more information.

Men’s Group
For gay men, bisexual men and queer men, meetings held monthly — first Wednesday of the month. Next meeting 5th August, 7—9pm @ Inverness THT

Contact Alex on 01463 711 585 for more information.

Chai and a Chat
For lesbians, bisexual women and queer women, meetings held fortnightly — every first and third Tuesday. August meetings 4th and 18th 7 — 9pm @ Inverness THT

Pink Castle Philosophy Club
Two dates for August!

Thursday 20th August 7—9pm at THT office in Inverness:

‘A life beyond sex — a follow up to the walk in Cawdor’

Followed by a nightcap at the Castle Tavern, Inverness. And…,

Sunday 30th August 3pm at the Old Station, Strathpeffer

‘Walk ‘n’ Talk’

Please join Morgan and friends at 2pm for a bite to eat at the Station Café. For more information call Morgan: 07745 930 383 or 01463 751 258 or morgan@tramstop.org

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Dear Friends

July is upon us already… just where does the time go? With many of our thoughts turning to the summer holidays and sunny beaches far from these shores the THT Scotland newsletter is back with all the sexual-health related news that counts in the Highlands and Argyll & Bute.
Firstly, it is with a degree of sadness that I have to tell you that Agnes Boes has left her role as Health Promotion Specialist for the Highland Region. In Agnes’ place, THT Scotland have appointed me, Alexander Howarth, to the role. I have been with Terrence Higgins Trust for around eighteen months, previously based in Oxford. I’m really happy to be here in the Highlands and am very much looking forward to meeting everyone over the next couple of months.

It really has been non-stop since I arrived, culminating in the recent Rockness Festival. For those of you who didn’t make it to the event itself, three volunteers and I were tasked with the distribution of twenty-five thousand condoms to revellers! The volunteers and I also distributed Safeness goodie-bags, torches, hand wipes, bottled water and banter as well as helping a number of ‘confused’ individuals. I’d like to say a massive thanks to Sarah, Jo and Phil for all their support over the weekend!

Changing tack, here in the Highlands we are always on the lookout for volunteers. Volunteers play a vital role in everything that we do from delivering services to helping with admin. Everyone who volunteers is valued beyond measure and it’s a great way of developing new skills — being able to put Terrence Higgins Trust on your CV is a real bonus!. If you or anyone you know of is interested in discussing this further please do not hesitate to contact us . We are particularly keen in recruiting people able and interested in supporting some of the groups which we have running, especially in the Highlands.

Finally on behalf of me, Katrina and the rest of the team here, we’d like to wish you all a very happy summer. All the best!

Alex and Katrina

Complementary Therapy

At Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, it is our aim to provide our service users with an holistic sexual health service. This includes complementary care. A group of qualified practitioners are offering acupuncture, dietary advice, massage, metamorphic technique, reflexology and osteopathy. Sessions are available every day of the week. Sessions last up to one hour. For each session a donation of £10 is welcomed. Cancellations need to be notified 24 hours in advance.
For more information and appointments, telephone Alex on 01463 711585.

Counselling

We at the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland also offer a counselling service. Our team of counsellors can help you to reflect upon your life; help you to consider alternative ways of doing things and support you in making the changes that you feel you need to make. Our counsellors are trained, experienced and are flexible in being able to apply a range of models to suit the needs of our clients.

This is a fully confidential service and self referrals are welcome, so if you are interested in having a consultation please get in touch with us here at the Inverness office.
Contact Alex on 01483 711 585 for more details

HepC+ support

In the past a group to meet other people who are HepC+, whether receiving treatment or not has run. Due to lack of numbers this service has been suspended. If anyone is interested in this group restarting please let us know.

Contact Alex for more information on 01463 711585.

‘T’-Group

For those who identify as transgender —in all its variety. Meetings held in Inverness.
The ‘T’-Group generally meets every second Wednesday of the month, next group meeting scheduled for Wednesday 8th July For more information telephone Alex on 01463 711585.

LGBT Caithness Social Group

All LGBT people welcome to join Jon and friends at this open event held in Thurso. Meet new people and make new friends at the next meeting on Thursday 9th July, 6:30pm - 9pm.
Contact Jon on 07749 517 826 for more information.

The Pink Castle Philosophy Club

‘Walk ‘n’ Talk’ Event, 3pm on Sunday July 12th: ‘A life beyond sex?’

Meet outside the Village Green store and coffee shop in Cawdor. The group will walk for approximately one hour before finishing off with refreshments, again at the Village Green store.
For further info contact Morgan on 07745 930 383 or 01463 751 258 or morgan@tramstop.org

Research

Simon Taylor of Scott Porter Research [Edinburgh] will be at THT Inverness on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th July to gather views of gay men [scene and non-scene] about a proposed campaign to combat HIV infection among MSM in Scotland. Cash incentive offered.
If you would like to take part, please contact Simon on 0131 553 1927.

Chlamydia Screening

We’re now providing an exciting new postal and community Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea testing service in Argyll & Bute, aimed at young men under 25. About 1 in 10 sexually active young people have Chlamydia, but most have no symptoms. If it's left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems, but luckily it's easy to diagnose and treat.

It's really easy to use the service and you can get your result by text, phone or email.Check out www.tht.org.uk/free to order your testing kit and read more, or get in touch with Katrina (details overleaf). We’ll also be out and about in the community asking guys to take the test—look out for us down your way!

Homophobia Workshop

We would very much like to run the following workshop for our LGB friends in the Highlands:
‘Challenging Homophobia’

We are looking at Saturday 22nd August 10am – 4pm. If you are interested in attending please let us know on 01463 711 585. Minimum number of eight required.

Consultation Event

‘Tackling isolation amongst the LGBT
Community in the Highlands’

We are looking to run the above consultation event on Saturday 15th August at the Inverness office, 12pm to 4pm. This will be an opportunity for our LGBT friends to help us define and better address the issues facing the community in the Highlands. We are looking to invite around a dozen people with a range of backgrounds to this event.

If you are interested in supporting the development of our services please contact Alex at the Inverness office for further details.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Newsletter

Dear friends,
To celebrate LGBT History month a story telling event focusing on the lives of elderly lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in Scotland was organised on the 26th February 2009 in
Inverness. It was a joined initiative of Help the Aged and THT. Twenty five LGBT people from Highland and Grampian attended the event. The moving and varied life stories were told by five lovely people, their age ranging from sixty one to mid seventies. They illustrated what it meant to grow up as an LGBT person in Scotland, highlighted the positive changes which have happened in recent times and honoured the groundbreaking lives they have all lead. 'High tea' was savoured and all participants commented on what an enjoyable night it had been.
Aged together with Terrence Higgins Trust hope that this event will be the start of a longer term project around LGBT issues of elderly people in Highland / Argyll & Bute. Get involved and come along on 9 April, 6.30 pm at the Dunbar Centre, 86 Church Street, Inverness.

Our counselling services
At THT we consider counselling an integral part of a good quality sexual health service. Individuals and couples are welcome to talk through any issues or concerns that may be impacting on their sexual health and wellbeing such as sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, sexual assault and rape, childhood sexual abuse, post termination, miscarriage, transgender, gender dysphoria and sexual offending. Our counselling services are strictly confidential and non judgemental. It is free of charge although donations are welcome. Available to people living in Highland and Argyll and Bute.
For appointments, please ring 01463 711 585

THT Scotland is consulting on a new version of our campaigning document HIV and Sexual Health: 20 things Government in Scotland can do. Between now and May 1st we are looking for suggestions. on the issues you think we should be prioritising. Any idea that would have an impact on the lives of people with HIV, or would improve Scotland's sexual health, is welcome.
Please send your ideas to
catherine.murphy@tht.org.uk.
And look at
http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/publications/policyreports/20thingsscotland803.pdf

Volunteers wanted
Are you interested in sexual health and LGBT issues? Do you have some free time and would you like to do some volunteering? If your answer is yes and yes again, then please do not
hesitate to contact us on 01463 711585 or email agnes.boes@tht.org.uk
for more information and to receive the application pack.

Complementary Care at THT
At Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, it is our aim to provide our service users with an holistic sexual health service. This includes complementary care.
A group of qualified practitioners are offering acupuncture, dietary advice, massage, metamorphic technique, and osteopathy at THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness.
Sessions are available every day of the week. For more information please ring Agnes Boes. Sessions last up to one hour. For each session a donation of £10 is welcomed. Appointments can be made by phoning 01463 711585. Cancellations need to be notified 24 hours in advance

Contact us!
Agnes Boes

Health Promotion Specialist: Highland
Email: agnes.boes@tht.org.uk
34 Waterloo Place Inverness IV1 1NB
Tel: 01463 711 585

Katrina Mitchell
Health Promotion Specialist: Argyll & Bute

Email: katrina.mitchell@tht.org.uk
134 Douglas Street Glasgow G2 4HF
Tel: 0141 332 3838


Social Gatherings

T GROUP
For those who identify as Transgender - in all its variety.
8 April 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT CAITHNESS SOCIAL GROUP
All LGBT people welcome. Contact John on 07749 517826 for more information.
Thursday 9 April 7-9pm
Community Learning & Leisure Office, Princess Street, Thurso, Caithness

MEN EVENING
A social group for men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer..........
Wednesday 1 April and 6 May 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

HEP C POSITIVE SUPPORT GROUP
A group to meet other people who are HEP C+, whether on treatment or not.
Tuesday 7 April 5pm - 6.30pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT LOCHABER SOCIAL GROUP
Group meets every other month. Contact Agnes on 01463 711585 for further information
No activity in April

HIV POSITIVE SUPPORT GROUP
Friday 24 April 12 noon - 2pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

WOMEN EVENING: CHAI AND A CHAT
A social group for women who are lesbian, bisexual, queer..........
Tuesday 7 and 21 April 7pm - 9pm
THT. 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

THE PINK CASTLE PHILOSOPHY CLUB
Discussion around question: 'Civil Partnerships - a chance to add to the problems made by marriage over millennia?'
Tuesday 14 April 7pm - 9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness
Walk and Talk: A 1 hour gentle walk followed by tea and talk around a 'philosophical question'
Sunday 10 May

Sexual Health

Free, anonymous and confidential testing:
STI Screening: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis
Hep B and Hep C Testing: with direct referral to Hep C Clinic
Hep B Immunisation
HIV Testing: Lab test or Point of Care Testing
Family Planning advice, prescribing of oral contraception
Pregnancy Testing
Emergency Contraception
Drop In: Monday – Friday from 1.30pm - 4.00pm
Every Tuesday from 5 - 7pm
Appointments can be arranged by calling 01463 711585

Needle Exchange
Monday – Friday from 1.30pm - 4.00pm

Drop In for Sex Workers
Monday 6 April 2009 from 3.30pm – 5.00pm
Monday 20 April 2009 from 3.30pm – 5.00pm

Film

MOVIE EVENING: Third Man Out
Gay private detective Donald Strachey (Chad Allen) finds himself in over his head when he takes on a complicated case involving the 'outing' of politicians in this terrific, fast-paced adaptation of the popular mystery by Richard Stevenson. Sean Carey and Jack Wetherall co-star as Strachey's lover and client, and porn star Matthew Rush has a memorable cameo.
Wednesday 22 April 7-9 pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Friday, February 27, 2009

March 2009



Dear Friends,

Let’s hope you have enjoyed the snow, the ice and the really cold weather and are ready for the month that announces spring, March.

The first women’s evening was a very
productive evening as it resulted in a new initiative: 'Chai and a chat'. With ‘Chai and a chat’ we want to offer women (however they identify themselves: lesbian, bisexual, queer…) a cosy space to meet other women, to have a cup of tea (chai) and a chat. This may lead to themed evening
discussions around topics, to evenings where a speaker is invited to give
information around a chosen subject, or just to an evening that gives women the opportunity to socialise with other women. What will happen is decided by the women themselves. Carrie, Eveline or Agnes will be facilitating the group which will meet
fortnightly, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7-9pm at the Terrence Higgins Trust office in Inverness.


Volunteers wanted

Are you interested in sexual health and LGBT issues? Do you have some free time and would you like to do some
volunteering? If your answer is yes to both questions, then please do not
hesitate to contact us. We always
welcome volunteers.

In Highland we are particularly looking for people who would like to do reception and administration work, a coordinator for health promotion activities at this year’s festivals, and people who are
interested in outreach.

Please email agnes.boes@tht.org.uk
for more information and to receive the
application pack.

Free condoms by post!

If you’re interested in this free service, just get in touch and let us know what you need. And if you’re not exactly sure what to order, call us to discuss it, or just ask for a variety pack!


Social gatherings

T Group
For those who identify as Transgender
— in all its variety. 11 March 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT Caithness Social Group
All LGBT people welcome. Contact John on 07749 517826 for more information.
Thursday 12 March 7-9pm
Community Learning & Leisure office
Princess Street, Thurso Caithness

MEN EVENING A social group for men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer ... Wednesday 4 March 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Hep C Positive Support Group
A group to meet other people who are HepC+, whether on treatment or not.
Tuesday 3 March 5pm-6.30pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT LOCHABER SOCIAL GROUP
Group meets every other month. Contact Agnes on 01463 711 585 for more
information No activity in March

HIV positive support group
Friday 27 March 12noon-2pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness
WOMEN EVENING: Chai and a Chat
A social group for women who are
lesbian, bisexual, queer
Tuesdays 3 and 17 March, 7pm-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

THE PINK CASTLE PHILOSOPHY CLUB This month: Walk and talk
It's a walk for those terrified at the prospect of climbing a Munro. Sunday 8 March at 3pm meet at the Dores Beach car park and we do a 1 hours gentle walk around the Torr.
After the walk we talk while taking tea in the newly revamped Dores Inn. Question: 'What good comes from
being gay?' For people who might not have transport, please call 07745 930383. Lifts can be organised.

MOVIE EVENING: Fire
1996, Canada, Deepa Mehta
Powerful family drama and the first
Indian film to deal explicitly with
lesbianism. Despite generating a storm of controversy, it's actually an even-handed portrayal of two women's search for freedom in contemporary New Delhi
Wednesday 25 March 7-9 pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

February 2009


Dear Friends,

Welcome to the February newsletter.

Lat month it was great to see so many people turn up for the new groups. Our sitting room was filled with people
discussing and having a great time at Pink Castle and at the social group for men who have sex with men.. I hope that these new activities will continue to flourish. It is too early to comment on the women’s social group as it meets completely at the end of the month, after this editorial is written.

Argyll and Bute has now its own online social groups and we are sure that they
will be as successful as the ones in
Highland. They are really great for people to get in touch with each other and to create a sense of community in rural
settings.

Further we would like to encourage
everyone to attend the LGBT History events. Let’s remember, get to know our own history but also let’s broaden our
horizons and look at what it means to be LGBT in the developing world.

Have a great month, Agnes and Katrina
LGBT Storytelling

To celebrate LGBT History Month, we hope you’ll join us for an evening of sharing our
stories as lesbians, gay men bisexual men and women and transgendered people. 6 older speakers will share their experiences and then others will be invited to join in. High Tea will be served and an opportunity to discuss possible future events or plans for intergenerational LGBT work. If you are an older person who requires transport please let us know.
Thursday 26th February, 6 - 9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Dangerous Living

At our monthly film evening we’ll be screening Dangerous Living: Coming out in the Developing World - the first documentary to explore the lives of gay and lesbian people in non-western cultures.
25 February 2009 at 7pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness
Complementary Care at THT

At Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, it is
our aim to provide our service users with an holistic sexual health service. This
includes complementary care.

A group of qualified practitioners are
offering acupuncture, dietary advice,
massage, metamorphic technique,
reflexology and osteopathy at THT, 34
Waterloo Place, Inverness.

Sessions are available every day of the week. For more information please ring Agnes Boes. Sessions last up to one hour. For each session a donation of £10 is
welcomed. Appointments can be made by phoning 01463 711585. Cancellations need to be notified 24 hours in advance.
Argyll & Bute

A&B now has three online groups - for LGBT people, people living with HIV and people living with Hep C. Check them out—they’re a fantastic, easy way of
keeping in touch if you’re geographically isolated - they’re quiet just now as they’re new, so as Agnes says, get involved and make them bubble! Later in the year we’ll have some real-life events in A&B, so why not join the online communities now to discuss what you’d like to see happening. You can find the web addresses for the groups on the middle pages.

We’ll soon be offering screening for
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea by post
and in community settings. To begin with, it’s particularly aimed at young men aged
15-24, but anyone can test, so if you’re interested in a postal test, get in touch!
Online groups

We have increased our online peer social / support services with groups for people living with HIV and / or Hepatitis C and for the Transgender community. Join these groups and reap the benefits: create contacts, communicate, share your concerns. These groups are here for you:

People living with HIV http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HighlandHIVpos
People living with Hepatitis C http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HighlandHepCpos
Transgender community http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HighlandTransgender
LGBT community http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lgbtnorthscotland
Information blog http://thtscotland-highlandservices.blogspot.com
LGBT Argyll & Bute http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/argyllandbuteLGBT
HIV Argyll & Bute http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/argyllandbuteHIV
Hep C Argyll & Bute http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/argyllandbuteHepC
Sexual Health

FREE : CONFIDENTIAL : ANONYMOUS
We are now able to offer you a much greater variety of testing and sexual health services:

STI screening: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea
and Syphilis
Hep B and Hep C testing with direct
referral to Hep C clinic
Hep B immunisation
Fastest: HIV test results in 20 minutes
Prescribing of oral contraception
Pregnancy testing
Emergency contraception

Testing
Drop-in Monday—Friday 1.30-4.00pm
Tuesday 1.30-7.00pm
(Appointments only 01463 711585)
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Needle exchange
Monday to Friday 1.30pm-4pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Drop-in for sex workers
Mondays 2 and 16 February 3.30-5pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness
Social gatherings

T Group
For those who identify as Transgender
— in all its variety. 11 February 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT Caithness Social Group
All LGBT people welcome. Contact John on 07749 517826 for more information.
Community Learning & Leisure office
Princess Street, Thurso Caithness
Thursday 12 February 7-9pm

MEN EVENING A social group for men whether they identify as gay, bisexual or not. Wednesday 4 February 7-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

Hep C Positive Support Group
A group to meet other people who are HepC+, whether on treatment or not.
Tuesday 3 February 5pm-6.30pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

LGBT LOCHABER SOCIAL GROUP
Group meets every other month. Contact Agnes on 01463 711 585 for more
information No activity in February

HIV positive support group
Friday 27 February 12noon-2pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness
WOMEN EVENING A social group for women whether they identify as lesbian, bisexual or not.
Wednesday 18 February, 7pm-9pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

THE PINK CASTLE PHILOSOPHY CLUB New monthly club! Talk, stretch your mind within an atmosphere of peace and fun. Topic of the month: Are my feelings my friends?
Tuesday 10 February 7-9pm.
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness

MOVIE EVENING Dangerous Living:
Coming out in the Developing World
This is the first documentary to deeply explore the lives of gay and lesbian
people in non-western cultures.
Wednesday 25 February 7-9 pm
THT, 34 Waterloo Place, Inverness