Highland

Rapid testing

Waverley Care’s services in the Highlands and Argyll & Bute are changing. You can find more information about these changes here.

Due to these changes, this testing service closed on the 25^th of November. If you have any questions, please contact us.

One to one support

If you are living with HIV and need support, our Health Improvement Coordinators can work with you to develop a support plan to best meet your needs.

Our services are completely confidential and flexible to your needs. We can arrange an appointment over the phone, online or meet you somewhere that is comfortable for you.

What to expect

One to one support can help you with:

• Coping with a new diagnosis,
• Understanding and accessing treatment,
• Improving mental health and wellbeing,
• Attending appointments and talking to your doctor,
• Telling your family, friends or colleagues about your HIV status.

As well as offering emotional support, our Health Improvement Coordinators can offer practical support like attending medical appointments and can signpost to other organisations that may be able to help with a specific issue, such as homelessness or support accessing benefits.

Get support

Peer support

At Waverley Care, we can put you in touch with one of our trained peer mentors who have lived experience of HIV and can help you work through some of the challenges you may be facing in your day-to-day life.

What to expect

If you need support with HIV, peer support can help you in a variety of ways including:

• Thinking positively about the future,
• Disclosing your HIV status to family, friends and others,
• Increasing your confidence and self-esteem,
• Feeling less isolated,
• Living well with HIV and managing treatment.

If you would like to access peer support or become a peer mentor, get in touch.

Join us for our monthly ‘tea and a blether’

If you are living with HIV and are based in Highland, this relaxed, welcoming event is a great opportunity to meet and chat with fellow people living with HIV in a supportive and informal setting. No need to book, everyone is welcome!

Next dates:

November 8^th – 1pm until 2pm – @ 6 Ardross Street, Inverness IV3 5NN (our office)

December 6^th – 1pm until 2pm – location to be confirmed

Please get in touch using the button below if you have any questions or if you would like any further information on these groups.

Get in touch

Sex, health and wellbeing

We offer support to all gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men who want to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to take control of and make informed decisions about their sexual health.

We promise you a welcoming, confidential and supportive service, free from judgement and discrimination. Our Health Improvement Coordinators are well equipped to support individuals who face discrimination because of their identity, sexuality, gender, sexual health or HIV status.

Who is this service for

This service is for anyone who identifies as a gay or bisexual man. This includes trans men, non-binary or gender-fluid people who want to access spaces for men. This service is also open to men who have sexual and/or romantic relationships with other men, but do not identify as gay or bisexual.

What support we offer

We offer one to one support where you can speak to one of our Health Improvement Coordinators about your sexual health and wellbeing in a confidential and non-judgmental space.

One to one support is tailored to your needs and can be provided in person or online. We can discuss a broad range of topics, including:

• Sex, relationships and sexual health,
• HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,
• Coming to terms with your sexuality,
• Coming out,
• Making social connections within the LGBTQ+ community,
• Reporting hate crime.

We also run clinics in community venues across Scotland, offering rapid HIV and syphilis testing as well as advice and education about HIV and sexual health.

Peer support

We want to provide opportunities for gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men to meet up, socialise and get support from each other in a confidential, relaxed setting. We can put you in touch with our trained peer mentors who have lived experience of HIV and can help you work through some of the challenges you may be facing in your day-to-day life, either one to one or as part of a group.

Get support

Our Wave service

Through our Wave service, we provide sexual health information to young people aged 12 – 25 living in Highland. We deliver education programmes to groups within schools and within the community, as well as providing Highland-specific information online.

If you have questions or concerns about your sexual health, our Health Improvement Coordinators can help you sort the facts from fiction, and point you in the direction of services that can help.

Get support

Condoms by Post scheme

Waverley Care’s services in the Highlands and Argyll & Bute are changing. You can find more information about these changes here.

Due to these changes, this condoms by post service closed on the 25^th of November. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Free infant formula milk

To prevent the transmission of HIV to newborn babies, official guidelines recommend that people living with HIV do not breast/chestfeed and instead exclusively formula feed their babies.

However, formula milk is an expensive option that some parents struggle to afford. Commonly available powdered formulas can cost anything from £30-£60 per month depending on the brand and that’s before you factor in the additional costs of bottles and sterilisers.​

To overcome this barrier, Waverley Care can provide free formula milk for babies from birth up to age one.

We provide

• 4 tins of formula a month for the first year of baby’s life,
• Free bottles and sterilising equipment,
• Flexible collection and delivery options,
• Free and confidential support services.

How to access

If you are living with HIV and are pregnant, speak to your HIV specialist nurse about a referral or get in touch with us for information and advice.

Get in touch

Sexual Health Key Messages 

This session is a fantastic starting point for a variety of professionals working in education, health, and third sector/voluntary organisations. Working well as both a beginner’s guide, or a refresher of key information, the session covers: 

• Condoms; why use them, how to use them, and where to get them 
• Sexually Transmitted Infections, Blood Borne Viruses, testing, and stigma 
• Contraception; options and access 
• Communicating with Service Users 

This session is generally 2.5 hours long.
For a more in depth understanding, it can be combined into a longer session with HIV & Hepatitis Awareness or Working With Young People: Sex & Relationships.

HIV & Hepatitis Awareness 

This session provides an understanding of Blood Borne Viruses (HIV, Hep C and Hep B) and how they affect the people who live with them. We will cover the following: 

• Explanation of HIV and Hepatitis B & C, including transmission and treatment 
• The social impacts of living with a Blood Borne Virus including stigma and discrimination 
• Working with service users to reduce harm – including through prevention and testing 
• Support services and signposting 

This session is generally 2 hours long. Additional content on condom use can be integrated for a longer session. 

Working With Young People: Sex & Relationships 

This session will provide an increased confidence for professionals working with young people in addressing issues and exploring attitudes around sexual behaviour and relationships. We will cover the following: 

• The experiences young people have today, and what influences them, regarding their sexual health & relationships 
• Barriers, issues, and worries that young people face when talking to professionals or accessing services 
• Barriers, issues, and worries that we may have as practitioners 

• How to address these barriers and communicate in a positive, inclusive, and safe way 

This session is generally 3 hours long, with multiple options for tailored content.
It works well combined into a full day session with Sexual Health Key Messages, or can be supplemented with additional content on Sex & The Law, or LGBTQ+ Young People’s Sexual Health.

Team Talks 

Do you have a spare slot in your team meeting, and want to find out more about the work of Waverley Care and Wave Highland? We are happy to come along to discuss our service and answer any questions. 

To Book 

Training runs throughout the year online, and at rotational sites throughout Highland, Argyll, and Bute. 

You can book via Eventbrite here.

Alternatively, to discuss specific training for your organisation, or if you would like to combine options and create a bespoke session, please contact hello@wavehighland.com.

You may also join our newsletter here to be informed of future training dates.