Planning an event

Events take place all over the world to mark World AIDS Day. If you would like to do something you could get involved with a local HIV organisation, you could find out what's happening in your area – or you could arrange an event yourself!

You don't have to hold your event on December 1st – you could organise something in the week before (or after) World AIDS Day itself.

People are drawn to doing something on or around World AIDS Day for many different reasons. Thinking about what you want to achieve with your event will help make it a success.

Maybe you want to remember a loved one who has died – arranging to share a meal with friends, or lighting a candle in their memory are simple ways to honour them.

Maybe you want to raise awareness of HIV, in order to educate and protect those who might not know all the facts. You could arrange a colourful wall display, a training workshop, a party or a concert at your place of work, your school, your college, or a local community centre.

Maybe you'd like to raise money for an HIV charity – for NAM, or perhaps for another organisation local to you. You could hold an auction, organise a sponsored event, or simply have a collection among your friends or colleagues.

The possibilities are endless!

Look out for organisations producing posters and other resources that you could use to create a display, or to give out at your event.

The UK's National AIDS Trust World AIDS Day website (www.worldaidsday.org) has a shop where you can buy red ribbons.

If you want to encourage people to come to your event, it's important to publicise it in plenty of time. There are lots of ways you could do that – you could contact your local newspapers, put up posters, spread the word among your family and friends, and use any online networks you belong to.

You can also add your event to online World AIDS Day listings pages, so other people can find them. Events in the UK are listed on NAT's World AIDS Day website: www.worldaidsday.org/events and in other countries there is often a similar system run by national HIV organisations or health websites.

If you would like to use your event to raise money for NAM, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at our fundraising pages for more ideas of ways to raise money or contact us on info@nam.org.uk for more information.