Since 1985, the dedicated team at Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) has been committed to making a meaningful impact to the lives of people living with HIV across Berkshire and North Hampshire.
TVPS is the only charity offering HIV support across these areas.
Meet the team
Jessica Harding
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Joined December 2008
Sue Amer
Client Support Manager
Joined January 2018
Zoe Coates
LGBT Service Manager
Joined September 2023
Chantelle Kingsbury
Client Support Manager
Joined April 2022
Sarah Macadam
Chief Executive Officer
Joined TVPS August 2004
Supporting people with HIV since 1985
We’ve proudly supported Berkshire’s HIV-positive community for over 30 years. While significant advances in HIV treatment mean that our work today looks very different from the 1980s, the experience we’ve gained over the years continues to shape and guide everything we do. Our history, beginning with the merger of several HIV and AIDS-related charities, is an important part of who we are today. Below is a brief overview of our journey and the work we’ve done over the years to support our community.
1980s:
The AIDS Support Group is established for people living in the Slough/Windsor area.
Reading Area AIDS Support (RAAS) is formed by a group of people living in the area, providing an AIDSLINE telephone help line, hardship funding and a Buddy support service.
Reading Body Positive is officially launched by RAAS by two volunteers, with four HIV positive clients, later changing its name to Thames Valley Body Positive (TVBP).
1990s:
The Thames Valley AIDS Network (TVAN) is officially launched. TVBP sets up its first educational training for local statutory and voluntary agencies, focusing on what is like to live with HIV.
TVBP establishes a hardship fund and moves to what is now known as the Burnham Support Centre.
Members of TVAN merge to create a new organisation, Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), becoming the first Body Positive and AIDS Service provider in the UK
2000s:
TVPS consolidates and focuses on post-diagnosis support
An increase in clients needing support results in a drive to increase the volunteer team
Lottery funding is secured which helps to increase our staff team and enables us to open a new drop in centre in Reading to complement our existing centre in Slough.
TVPS move into new larger premises in Reading and extend our opening hours and range of services to cater for our growing client base.
2010s:
TVPS secure two big sources of funding, one from Children in Need to recruit a Youth Worker, and one from Comic Relief to recruit an Older Persons Worker.
We are awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2013
TVPS introduce free HIV Testing in 2014
We are shortlisted for the National Sexual Health Charity Awards in 2015
Sarah Macadam, our CEO, is shortlisted in the Sue Ryder Women of Achievement Awards in 2016
Our 750th HIV test takes place in 2018
2020s:
TVPS start a podcast, HIV Hope & Charity
A living HIV Memorial is planted in Reading, a cherry blossom tree in Christchurch Meadows
The success of the podcast continues and in 2022 it’s rebranded as The HIV Podcast
TVPS brings Beyou, an LGBTQIA+ social group, over to Slough where there are currently no groups of this kind
The HIV Podcast has grown in popularity, being listened to in 179 countries and being nominated for an ARIA, British Podcast Award and Independent Podcast Award
Beyou expands to offer emotional support and LGBTQIA+ community training sessions
TVPS forms an unlikely partnership with a wildlife organisation and this unlikely collaboration features in over 200 national publications
Beyou expands to offer emotional support and LGBTQIA+ community training sessions