WHERE DID RIVER HOUSE COME FROM AND WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT ?
River House evolved from a pilot project called 'The Meeting Place' which was established in Hammersmith & Fulham in the mid 80's. River House, in its present form, opened in February 1988 as a result of a unique co-operation between St. Paul's Church, Hammersmith and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham's Social Services Department.
The project was set up on the belief that what was needed in supporting individuals with HIV and AIDS was not yet another voluntary agency but a concerted way of harnessing the resources of individuals to offer an integrated range of services under a single roof.
It was already becoming clear at that time that the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham was home to large numbers of people living with the virus. Sadly, such people were being denied access to necessary services due firstly to a lack of appropriate and sensitive provision and, secondly, to active discrimination and neglect experienced as a result of their HIV status. It was the desire to challenge such injustice and reach out to these most vulnerable individuals which led to the establishment and subsequent development of the Project.
At River House we seek to offer support to those who are most isolated and devastated by the potential consequences of their HIV status, who often face multiple discrimination and who feel marginalised, rejected by, or rejecting of the various agencies, groups and individuals offering an HIV response.
Recent changes in our funding provision has meant that River House is now only able to offer support to men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS who are residents of Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Ealing, Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster. River House will, nevertheless, still be open five days a week.
all text and images: copyright RIVER HOUSE TRUST 2008