Collective Coping and Resilience: Adapting the Provision of HIV Support Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown led to HIV-specific Voluntary and Community Service Organisations (VCSOs) adapting the way they deliver their interventions to ensure the needs of people living with HIV. Our study, through focus groups and a survey, investigated the experiences of people living with HIV who accessed remote befriending and companion calls, telephone and distance advice, food collection and doorstep food delivery services from a small VCSO in Brighton and the impact of that organisation on its beneficiaries during the lockdowns. Findings identified that people living with HIV appreciated the work of this VCSO pre-lockdown. With the COVID-19 lockdowns in England resulting in social isolation and social disconnectedness, this VCSO in Brighton became a key engager in addressing isolation and food insecurity problems, promoting collective coping and resilience during the pandemic. Participants felt valued, reassured, saw a glimmer of light and appreciated the commitment from the VCSO in providing a welcoming and non-judgemental service where people living with HIV felt able to approach and seek help without reservation. This study offers some insight into the impact of a small VCSO in the area of Brighton and Hove, England, and adds to emerging research on the importance of VCSOs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Practice
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: University of Sussex
OpenAlex ID: W7162391858