The Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK sexual health charity, has been boosted by the appointment of three leading campaigners to its Board of Trustees.

The appointments include Ben Roberts, deputy chief executive of the British Film Institute, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2012. Roberts and his husband Chris were already both passionate advocates for the charity, supporting the message that people living with HIV and on effective treatment can’t pass the virus on to their partners.

Roberts said:

When I was diagnosed in 2012, my friends and family knew very little about living with HIV and Terrence Higgins Trust’s resources were a vital source of knowledge and reassurance. I look forward to helping ensure its vital services and messages reach those who need them most.

Roberts is joined by Antonia Belcher who is a leading voice for the trans community, having transitioned to being a woman in 2000, and Delroy Corinaldi, an equality champion who has previously worked with MPs such as David Lammy and Diane Abbott.

Belcher has been particularly vocal on LGBT issues within the construction industry, where she has more than 40 years’ experience – in an industry which historically has had no visible LGBT influences to draw on.

Belcher said:

For my generation, HIV was so catastrophic and at the time I didn’t help. Now is my chance and I’m hugely motivated to do what I can to support Terrence Higgins Trust’s work. I know trans women are disproportionately affected by HIV, which is a statistic I would like to understand better and find out how to lower.

The Terrence Higgins Trust says the new appointments will play a crucial role in its vision to end HIV transmissions in the UK, enable people to live well with HIV and ensure that good sexual health is available to all.

Image provided by Terrence Higgins Trust