We welcome new Sophia board members

The Sophia Forum are very excited to announce our two new trustees; Juno Roche and Kath Charters.

A few words from Juno;
“I see myself as a long term Thriver with HIV. A women defined by her struggle to surmount the stigma which society places upon women who are HIV positive.
I am also a proud trans women who has learnt to navigate the conjoined discriminations of being trans and HIV. My place at this intersection has shaped and informed my campaigning work within the fields of employment, education, gender and sexual healthcare.
Trans women worldwide are an incredibly high risk group, current data estimates that around 19% of all trans women are HIV positive. This is a scandalous figure when you consider the absolute absence of core funding to support and educate the transgender community.
I have long admired the work of The Sophia Forum and their commitment to women living with HIV, all women.
As a patron of CliniQ I understand the challenges ahead and am delighted and energised to become a Trustee on the board.
I am eager to ensure a proud trans presence.”

Kath has been working and delivering wellbeing and therapeutic services in Liverpool for 30 years to a diverse community in various locations, she has been living with HIV for just over a decade.
Kath is part of a few national networks advocating for women living with HIV. She was on the steering group of Between the Sheets which addresses women’s sexual health and wellbeing. She currently sits on the board of trustees at STOPAIDS and an active member of the UKCAB forum for community treatment activism.
Kath was elected as the community representative for the recent BHIVA psychological guidelines audit.
Kath is passionate about working collaboratively and on community empowerment and engagement in decisions that will affect us.
Kath is delighted to be in a position now to be involved with the empowering team at The Sophia Forum