Positively Women aim to empower women living with HIV to make informed choices and to ensure that the voice of HIV positive women is heard. There are now over 15,000 women living with HIV in the UK. However the majority of positive women are reticent to actively participate in forums, consultation events and campaigns because they do not want to openly disclose their HIV status and fear others will discover it through their actions or words. The results are services and policies that fail to meet the needs of women living with HIV, and in so doing compound the discrimination experienced by an already vulnerable group Training will be provided to all participants to develop personal skills and ability to “take part”. Workshops will include: presentation skills, communication, sealing with conflict, negotiating and understanding policy making. All participants will be assigned a mentor, who will be member of PW staff or senior member of the Taking Part programme. Participants will be supported to become actively involved within local HIV voluntary organisations in representing their views and those of other service users. Personal development will also equip women with the skills to participate and inform working practices, policy and strategies. Areas for participation include providing testimonies and presenting evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS; membership of LINks forums; contributing to consultation into standards of care within local hospitals and Primary Care Trusts; campaigning for issues such as development and availability of new treatments, affordable childcare, and social care policies and procedures that fully support children and parents living with HIV. As one previous participant put it, “It helps in developing my skills, but most importantly it gives me a platform on which to air my views on issues affecting women and people living with HIV…our voice is stronger because we share a common purpose.” Project funding of £50,000 per annum enables the organisation to engage a full-time Policy and Involvement manager and provide intensive support and training to 25 women living with HIV.