World AIDS Day Organising Committee [WADOC] (Lothian)

Fonds

Identifier: GD53

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection reflects the formation, activities and initiatives of WADOC Lothian, documenting its functions in organising WAD events, through minutes of meetings, correspondence, financial accounts, and publicity material such as promotional items, leaflets, printed ephemera, and photographs. The collection also includes papers relating to the dissolution of the organisation.

Dates

Jan 1998 - Jun 2006

Creator

World AIDS Day Organising Committee (Lothian) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Public access to these records is governed by UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the current Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland).

Whilst some records may be accessed freely by researchers, the aforementioned legislation and guidelines mean that records conveying sensitive information on named individuals may be closed to the public for a set time.

Where records relate to named deceased adults, they will be open 75 years after the latest date referenced, on the next 1 January. Records of individuals below 18 years of age or adults not proven to be deceased will be open 100 years after the latest date recorded, on the next 1 January. Further information on legislation and guidelines covering medical records can be found here: https://bit.ly/2CXB4V8.

LHSA encourages the use of these records for legitimate clinical, historical and genealogical research purposes, and records that are designated as closed can be consulted by legitimate researchers if certain conditions are met. Please contact the LHSA Archivist for more details regarding procedures on how you can apply for permission to view closed records. Telephone us on: 0131 650 3392 or email us at lhsa@ed.ac.uk

Biographical / Historical

World AIDS Day Organising Committee (Lothian) was an Edinburgh-based organisation set up in November 1999. The aim of the organisation was to advance the education of the public, particularly in relation to World AIDS Day and HIV and AIDS issues.

WADOC Lothian committed itself to ensuring World AIDS Day [WAD] was commemorated in Edinburgh on 1st December every year, and to promoting understanding surrounding HIV and AIDS. As part of this, the organisation ensured to provide a WAD indoor event for participants, to display and distribute information on HIV and AIDS services available in the area, organise a candle-lit march to an outdoor location for the placing of candles and standing remembrance, and provide post-vigil hospitality for participants. WADOC was responsible for launching a publicity campaign through the issue of press releases to Scottish media, and publishing and distributing posters and information to various entertainment venues, schools, health centres, libraries, and community centres amongst others, for the purpose of publicising events relevant to WAD. The organisation was responsible for raising sufficient funds to meet the costs of organising and providing the annual WAD events in Edinburgh.

WADOC also encouraged other organisations to plan events around WAD, and was able to award small grants to appropriate agencies, groups and individuals for promotion, educational, and the support and care of those people living with HIV in the Lothians.

WADOC operated until June 2006, when the dissolution of the organisation became official, after it was felt the charity had served its purpose in promoting and educating the public on the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.