COVID-19 (Corona Virus) Service Update

Covid–19 (Corona Virus)

Due to the current situation requiring social distancing, and protection of the most vulnerable, the Crescent drop in and in person advice services are closed until further notice.

Support and advice is still available via email to info@thecrescent.org.uk or postal testing via testing@thecrescent.org.uk

Phone support is available (but please bear in mind that we will have limited capability at this time) on 01727 842532 and 07904 812500. Please do leave a message if we are not onsite and we will call you back.

Please note that if we are calling you the number will be withheld to protect your privacy.

Thank you for your understanding at this time. Please do follow all advice on social distancing, self-isolation, and preventative measures such as regular and effective hand washing.

More information can be found at;

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

For those living with HIV there is currently no evidence to suggest you are at any greater risk of acquiring this virus if you are on effective treatment and have a normal CD4 count.

Please see the response from the British HIV Association (BHIVA) regarding this;

https://www.bhiva.org/joint-EACS-BHIVA-statement-on-risk-of-coronavirus-for-PLWH

https://www.bhiva.org/comment-from-BHIVA-and-THT-on-UK-Government-guidance-on-Coronavirus-COVID-19

With sensible precautions, time and consideration for others we will get through this.

Please do take care, look out for those less able, be kind, and consider others.

 

The Crescent Team

WEBSITE ISSUES

WEBSITE UPDATE Please bear with us, our main website has been corrupted, we hope to have it back online shortly… in the meantime please message us via info@thecrescent.org.uk or for testing enquiries please email testing@thecrescent.org.uk. Apologies for the inconvenience

World AIDS Day Events 2019

Hi All,

How time flies! It will soon be November and World AIDS Day is just around the corner!

To mark the Day we will be holding another of our famous “Busking Days” at the Clock Tower (adjacent to “The Boot” pub and High Street at the bottom of Market Place) from 11am to 3.30pm on Sunday 01 December. There will be a whole host of talented local artists performing on the day to raise awareness and funds for us, so please do come along to enjoy their music !

However to start things off we will be holding an awareness and fundraising event at St Albans City Station from 7am to 7pm on  Monday 25th November ,so you can all get a free red ribbon in readiness for World AIDS Day on Sunday 1st December! You can also find out more about HIV and our work in the community at the same time, as well as help us with any spare change you may have!

On the Monday following World AIDS Day (02 December) we will be holding a similar event at Harpenden Station from 7am to 7pm distributing red ribbons and information to all.

We very much look forward to meeting you at one (or more) of our events.

Thanks as ever for your continued support,

The Crescent Team

 

Gareth Thomas & HIV The Crescent talks to Roberto Perrone on BBC 3CR

Hi all,

Listen again to our Iain Murtagh talking to Roberto Perrone on BBC3CR last month after Gareth Thomas revealed he is living with HIV. Talking about awareness, stigma and how great it was to see Mr Thomas talking openly about the condition, and why it really is a very manageable condition now.

Listen from 1 hour 6 mins 30 here;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07l4bnk

Thanks as ever for your continued support,

The Crescent Team

 

Boots the Chemist Event St Albans 07 September 2019

Hi all

Last month the wonderful folk at Boots in St Peters Street organised a fundraising day for us on 07 September and donated hundreds of pounds worth of cosmetic goodies for us to raffle.

We are very grateful to Wendy, Elizabeth Arden Account Manager, Store Manager Amanda and her Assistant Manager Molly, for all their hard work.

We raised over £500 on the day and there is a possibility, we are told, that Boots will most likely match this with a donation of £500!

Huge thanks to all involved as well as those who came along to buy a raffle ticket, or make a donation as well as those who donated online via facebook or our website too

The Crescent Team

 

Busking Day Returns for World AIDS Day 01 December 2019

Hi All,

Apologies for being so quiet on here of late, but don’t worry we haven’t gone away. We are still busy supporting our members and raising aware ness of #HIV in the community.

You may have seen us over the last few months at Harpenden and St Albans railway stations or in Boots #StAlbans last month (see our twitter @CrescentSupport)

The good news is our Busking Day is back for World AIDS Day this year. Sunday 01 December we will be at the Clock Tower in St Albans High Street from 11am as usual with our lovely buskers all donating their time and talent to raise funds for us.

More details will follow shortly, including a list of artists performing on the day. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thanks as ever for your support,

The Crescent Team

July & August Sausage Sizzles with Bunnings Griffiths Way St Albans

The two “Sausage Sizzles” this month raised over £500 for essential services !

Our next “Sausage Sizzles” are on 07 July, then we have more on 04 & 05 August, and 18 & 19 August too, more dates to follow of course…

We hope to see you at one or more !

Thanks as ever for your continued support, and to our good friends at Bunnings too.

The Crescent Team

Fundraiser – Butterflies Are Free – By Leonard Gershe, 13 September 2018 7.30pm

Butterflies Are Free by Leonard Gershe – Charity Performance 13 September 2018 at the Abbey Theatre 7.30pm Tickets £15

A charity performance in aid of the Crescent will be held on 13 September 2018 from 7.30 at the Abbey Theatre of Butterflies are Free, a play by Leonard Gershe

“Don Baker, hero of his mother’s children’s book series “Donnie Dark” has been blind from birth. He moves to Manhattan to pursue his ambitions of being a songwriter, and he finds himself living next door to an extrovert actress, Jill – but when his mother comes to visit, she cannot help interfering, with hilarious and touching results”

Tickets are available from the Crescent at £15, (no booking or card fees) you can order by emailing info@thecrescent.org.uk or calling 01727 842532. You can also order and pay for tickets in person at our office, 19 Russell Avenue AL3 5ES during opening hours.

New Funding for Counselling Services

Hi all,

Apologies for not updating our blog recently, be assured we are busy working in the background to ensure those living or affected by HIV get the support they need.

We are very pleased to announce that we have received generous support from both the Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) and the Make A Difference Trust (MAD) to fund our afternoon and evening counselling services for those living with, affected by, or at risk of acquiring HIV.

The service was officially launched by our Patron, Alex Mayer MEP on Friday in time for World Health Day, a link to the coverage is here http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/16151356.new-hiv-support-group-at-the-crescent-st-albans/

We are now  in our 30th year supporting the community and are thrilled  to have received this support from both MAD and HCF, it will make an immeasurable difference to those accessing services at the Crescent.

There will be more to follow, dates for our next music event, a concert, a street collection and also our regular “Sizzles” with our wonderful friends at “Bunnings” will follow shortly.

Thanks as ever for your support,

The Crescent Team

 

The Crescent is Podcasting on Radio Verulam with Rob Pearman on Local Life

Hi all,

Last month Rob Pearman interviewed our Project Manager, Iain Murtagh for his weekly programme, Local Life, on Radio Verulam.

A podcast of the interview is now available, just click here http://www.radioverulam.com/podcast-list/ and then scroll down to select the file for the Crescent to listen to the entire interview about the Crescent, our history and services plus why Iain got involved with the Crescent over 25 years ago.

Thanks as ever for your support,

The Crescent Team