HIV Peer Support Programme for Wales C072/2025/2026

Contract Details Notice for the Welsh Government tender for the provision of a national Peer Support Programme for those living with HIV in Wales, with an initial two-year contract to commence from 01 April 2026.

The requirement has been guided by the research commissioned from Cardiff University (Planning a new peer support service for people living with HIV in Wales: The first steps - News - Cardiff University. The research sets out high level bullet points on ‘‘How to make peer support a success in Wales’ and these have been replicated below for reference:

Organisation

Build a team involving people living with HIV and key people from the community and clinical services

Ensure the team understands the community

Fresh start but learn from lessons of past

Steering group that reflects all stakeholders

Robust governance and accountability

Community

Community commitment to peer support

Diversity of mentors

Require a mix of experience among representatives

Service

Clear fit with other services

Integrate evaluation into the service

High quality training

Sensitive matching process

Slow growth and flexibility

Clinical Services

Champions of peer support in clinic

Ensure buy-in from clinical staff

Processes

Open communication

Sustainability

Create links between NGO and NHS

Mutual understanding between clinicians and mentors

Not funded by NHS due to budgetary pressures

The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government set out ambitious commitments to both develop an HIV Action Plan for Wales and tackle the stigma experienced by those living with HIV. In March 2023, the HIV Action Plan for Wales 2023-2026 was published and contains 30 actions aimed at eliminating HIV transmission within Wales and achieving zero tolerance of HIV-related stigma by 2030.