Panels from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail to be displayed across Greater Manchester

Date published: 16 November 2019

An exhibition of panels from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed in locations across Greater Manchester, including Rochdale, in the run up to World AIDS Day on 1 December.

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is a unique and powerful historical and social artefact and an irreplaceable piece of HIV history. It tells the stories of people lost to the virus in the early days of the HIV epidemic in the UK. Loved ones are honoured and remembered in panels made by partners, friends and families.

The Greater Manchester UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail will run from 25 November until 1 December at various venues, including Number One Riverside, the first time any of the quilt panels have been exhibited in Greater Manchester since 2007.

Each venue will display a panel, each measuring 3.6 metres by 3.6 metres, for members of the public to view.

Since the virus was identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV-related illnesses. Nearly 37 million people are living with HIV today with over 101,000 of those in the UK.

Despite huge medical advances in treatment, HIV remains a highly stigmatised medical condition.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity to remember those lost to HIV globally, to raise awareness and to educate people about HIV today.

Neal Sharpe, Joint Interim Executive Director of the Manchester HIV charity, George House Trust, said: “We believe that the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt can be used as a key resource to raise levels of awareness about HIV.

“By personalising those who have died from HIV related illnesses and by presenting information about people living with HIV today, we hope to break down barriers and challenge the stigma that still affects the lives of many people living with HIV.”

One of the longest serving HIV charities in the UK, George House Trust is co-ordinating and delivering the Greater Manchester UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Trail for the PaSH (Passionate about Sexual Health) Partnership as part of Greater Manchester’s World AIDS commemorations.

The PaSH Partnership is a collaboration between George House Trust, BHA for Equality and LGBT Foundation.

The quilt in Rochdale will be displayed at Number One Riverside from 25 November until 1 December.