Steve Paske, was a former team leader for sexual health promotion and a much valued member of the Eyes Open Steering Group. Although sadly no longer with us, in his memory the Paske Award is presented annually by Eyes Open. It is a prestigious award for HIV innovation and celebrates the most forward thinking approaches in raising awareness of HIV and is nothing short of the gold standard in schools and community based sexual health and HIV work. It is awarded for outstanding contribution towards raising awareness and reducing the stigma of HIV.
The 2016 Paske Award – HIV Awareness Campaign of the Year
The Paske Award was presented at Eyes Open 2016 World AIDS Day Conference on Thursday 24th November 2016.
The outline for the award was:
HIV Awareness Campaign of the Year – The Paske Award will be awarded to the most innovative awareness raising campaign, project or piece of work aimed at reducing stigma around HIV.
Campaigns can be organised and run by individuals, community groups, friendship groups, school classes, school year or even a whole school.
The winner was the PPT (Patient Participation Team)
The PPT is a group of HIV – positive people who have worked together in Newcastle Upon Tyne since 2003. Offering the opportunity to talk privately with another positive person about living with HIV. The service is confidential and non-judgmental. You can access 1-2-1 support from another HIV+ person, share stories and concerns with medical students and professionals, join the self – management program to help you take care of your health and needs, communicate with the NHS in meetings and feedback groups, join in regular social events and meetings. To make an appointment, ask your doctor, nurse or other health care professional at your clinic or contact the PPT at the phone number or email address below.
Call: 07855 375 773
For 1-2-1 support call: 07854 807 220
Email: ppt.newcastle@gmail.com
Website: http://pptnewcastle.co.uk
Previous Paske Award Winners
2011 The Changing Face of HIV Art Exhibition by Jonathan from The Martyr Church
2012 South Tyneside French Knitting Project
2013 Gateshead #pep@international women’s day
2014 Red Ribbon Necklace by Abbey Telfer
2015 Funk Your Ribbon Artwork by Blue Sky Trust Youth Group
2016 The PPT - Patient Participation Team
Steve Paske was regarded by many as the elder statesman of North Tyneside’s LGBT communities and was a stalwart member of the Northern Pride committee until 2010 when his health took a turn for the worse.
Steve was HIV positive, and although he was involved in all aspects of Pride: committee meetings, satellite events and the main Newcastle Pride event, his particular passion was health awareness.
Newcastle Pride's health zone was proudly renamed the 'Steve Paske Health Zone' in Steve's memory thanks to all the hard work and dedication Steve gave.
Steve was a member of the Pride Health Zone Working group which aims to provide health and wellbeing options to our communities – disproportionally affected by some health issues – and he was full of novel and entertaining ways to give information to people visiting the Health Zone.
He was also determined that Pride event should be totally inclusive and was staunchly supportive of the need for equality, acceptance and the true meaning of finding pride in yourself whether you are lesbian, gay, bi, trans or straight.
In the first year that Newcastle Pride held a parade it was Steve – a small, very dignified gentleman wearing a rainbow waistcoat and carrying a rainbow umbrella – who led the 2000 paraders along Northumberland Street.
Behind him, carried by members of our communities, was a Newcastle Pride banner, which Steve himself had made.
Although he, sadly, is no longer with us – his legacy lives on in the Steve Paske Health Zone.