The Birmingham HIV Living Archive is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is documenting the experiences of people living with, and affected by, HIV in Birmingham. The project will challenge the ignorance, stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and raise awareness of our HIV heritage, which will give hope to those currently living with HIV. The archive will present the challenges that were overcome to achieve where we are today and highlight the challenges that, as a society, we still face. It celebrates our heritage, tells our story, educates, and raises the profile of the Birmingham HIV sector, the work we do and the services that are available in the city.

From 2009 onwards we will be collecting the Oral Histories of HIV professionals, support workers, HIV positive people, and their friends and families, to build a representative archive for the people of Birmingham. As well as this website the project has created an Education Pack, an Exhibition, and will have a permanent Archive housed at Birmingham Central Library. We are also currently looking to create a theatre piece based on the testimonies in the archive.

For further information, to register as an interviewee, or to volunteer, please contact Catherine O'Byrne, Project Co-ordinator at info@livingarchive.org.uk or on 0121 4156681. All calls and emails will be held in the strictest of confidence.