Sharing personal stories is one of the most powerful tools we have to challenge myths about HIV and fight stigma.
Visit Terrence Higgins Trust website to book a talk with an HIV Ambassador
The HIV Ambassadors are educators and changemakers. By putting a human face to HIV, they foster empathy, understanding and action. Hear powerful stories from people living with HIV and get practical advice for delivering inclusive care. Book now for World AIDS Day and beyond.
Negative attitudes, beliefs and prejudice against people living with HIV lead to discrimination such as social isolation, abuse, unfair treatment and negative experiences in healthcare, housing, employment and more. It is often fueled by a lack of accurate information and moral judgments about how someone acquired the virus, even though advancements in treatment mean people on effective treatment cannot transmit it to others.
From July to September 2025, HIV Ambassadors spoke to 250 people at events, including talks to staff at the Home Office, to students at University College London and St George’s, and community organisations like Voluntary Action.
Watch the video series where Ambassadors shared personal stories around dating, disclosure, immigration, and ageing with HIV, created with Do It London and London Pride,
Ambassadors also appeared on podcasts and blogs, helping to raise awareness and reduce stigma – reaching around 14,000 people online.
In 2024–25, Ambassadors took part in speaking events and talks reaching over 3,400 people working in healthcare, education and community services – helping change perceptions, attitudes and behaviours.
The network of HIV Ambassadors is growing and evolving, including voices from across the community, such as the first South Asian woman, the first heterosexual man and the youngest Ambassador to date.
Book a speaker via Terrence Higgins Trust
Having an HIV Ambassador speak is a simple and highly effective way to strengthen your organisation’s culture. These sessions help teams build confidence, challenge bias, and create more inclusive, supportive environments for colleagues, clients and service users. Whether you work in healthcare, education, community services or any organisation engaging with the public, an Ambassador talk can make a lasting difference – book a session via Terrence Higgins Trust today.
Notes to editors:
Latest feedback from audiences
Survey feedback from Q2 (July-Sept 2025) participants shows a dramatic improvement in HIV knowledge and reduced stigma:
• 94% decrease in misconceptions about transmission via biting.
• 68% reduction in fear of needlestick transmission.
• 100% increase in respondents reporting no need for extra precautions when caring for people with HIV.
• Confidence in offering HIV tests doubled; and confidence in discussing HIV rose by 45%.
About the London HIV Ambassadors Programme
Terrence Higgins Trust is delivering the HIV Ambassadors Programme in partnership with Fast-Track Cities London – a bold initiative working to end new HIV transmissions, preventable deaths, and HIV-related stigma across the capital by 2030.
Funded by Fast-Track Cities London (2023–2026), this programme trains and supports people living with HIV to become Ambassadors – using the power of lived experience to challenge misconceptions, break down barriers, and promote understanding.
The HIV Ambassadors Programme aims to transform attitudes and awareness around HIV in health and community settings. It focuses on:
- Recruiting and training Ambassadors who are living with HIV to share their stories and experiences with compassion, strength and honesty.
- Delivering educational talks in a range of settings, including NHS Trusts, care homes, community groups, and non-statutory organisations.
- Raising awareness and reducing stigma within and beyond the HIV sector through personal connection, storytelling, and facts.
- Empowering communities by tackling internalised stigma and offering relatable role models to those living with HIV.
- Collaborating with partner organisations including the National AIDS Trust and Positively UK, ensuring the HIV Confident charter mark is informed by real experiences.
More about the HIV Ambassadors Programme
London’s HIV Ambassadors Programme Achieves Significant Milestones in 2024–25