LASS win GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award

GSK and The King’s Fund announced that Leicestershire AIDS Support Services (LASS), a member of One East Midlands, has won a GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award for its contribution to improving health in Leicestershire, at an award ceremony held at London’s Science Museum on 16 May.

LASS provides rapid HIV testing, support, information and advocacy to people affected by HIV and AIDS in one of the most diverse areas in England. Leicester has many different communities and an above average population of HIV positive people.

To slow down the spread of HIV and help people to access treatment, LASS invests in rapid testing services in community settings. There is particularly low uptake in some African communities, so LASS trains volunteers from these communities to carry out testing and provide information. They provide testing at a range of events and venues including African football tournaments to reach people who otherwise wouldn’t be tested. LASS also provides services for people with the virus and maybe coping with other issues like poor mental health, and they provide healthy living training.

The GSK IMPACT Awards, GSK’s flagship UK corporate responsibility programme organised in partnership with The King’s Fund, is considered a seal of excellence in the sector. As well as receiving £30,000 in funding, LASS and the other winners can take part in a training programme hosted by The King’s Fund that provides training, development and networking opportunities.

This years’ judging panel for the awards included Professor Steve Field, Deputy National Medical Director at NHS England (health inequalities); the journalist, Fiona Philips; Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of The Big Lottery; Gilly Green, Head of UK Grants at Comic Relief; Sir Christopher Gent, Chairman of GSK; and, Sir Chris Kelly, Chair of The King’s Fund.

For further information about LASS visit www.lass.org.uk, the King’s Fund visit www.kingsfund.org.uk and FlaxoSmithKline visit www.gsk.com.