BHA Leeds Skyline has recently appointed two Peer Navigators to provide support to people newly diagnosed with blood-borne viruses (HIV or hepatitis B and C) across the Leeds area.
Chiga Mubwanda and Robert Fieldhouse are available to offer peer support to individuals diagnosed in the Emergency Department in Leeds, within the HIV clinic at the Brotherton Wing, or through the Hepatology Department at St James’s Hospital.
This peer support is delivered in partnership with The Hepatitis C Trust in West Yorkshire and is funded through the Emergency Department Blood-Borne Virus Opt-Out Testing project in Leeds, which forms part of a national initiative.
On this page we share background stories about our new Peer Navigators and their experience supporting patients.
John Fox – Peer Programme Manager
John Fox has worked in the harm reduction field since 2004, beginning as a volunteer before moving into paid roles within drug and alcohol services from 2005. Over the years, he has developed extensive experience across a range of services throughout West Yorkshire, supporting both young people and adults with complex health needs. Work around blood borne viruses has been a consistent and important part of John’s career and remains central to his role today.
In May 2018, John joined The Hepatitis C Trust, where he established the Peer Project in partnership with the West Yorkshire Liver Care ODN and a wide network of local partners, supporting delivery across the West Yorkshire network. He has been proud to play a role in the Fast-Track Cities Leeds initiative, working collaboratively to improve outcomes for people affected by viral hepatitis and HIV.
Through this work, John has been excited to develop partnerships with organisations such as BHA, supporting peer-led approaches for people newly diagnosed with HIV and viral hepatitis. He values working closely with Peer Navigators, Robert and Chiga on this innovative project and remains passionate about collaboration, lived experience and improving access to care across Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Robert Fieldhouse – Peer Navigator
Robert has worked in the HIV sector since 1997 when he established the country’s first voluntary sector Treatment Advisory Service at HIV Peer Support Group Body Positive in London. This came shortly after the licensing of protease inhibitors; the medicines that revolutionised HIV therapy, heralding an era of potent, durable triple therapy that brought rapid and lasting health benefits to people diagnosed with HIV.
“I’m hopeful that having previous experience providing treatment advice to patients at Mortimer Market Centre, University College Hospital, London’s HIV clinic will serve me well in supporting people newly diagnosed and working together with Chiga we are confident to be able to provide culturally appropriate and tailored services to the diverse communities currently being diagnosed in Leeds.”
Robert spent three years as an editor with NAM, a charity that published the country’s flagship HIV information website www.aidsmap.com and after a short interlude with the Policy, Campaigns and Research Division at Terrence Higgins Trust was appointed Treatments Editor at Positive Nation, a monthly HIV magazine distributed across the UK for over a decade.
Diagnosed with HIV in 2004 and starting treatment soon after Robert told us, “The only joy greater than starting treatment and recovering your own health is helping others do the same.”
After working as Communications Manager for Body Positive North West in Manchester for three years, Robert returned to providing treatment support, delivering workshops and one-to-one sessions in support groups across the country as well as speaking at national and international HIV and hepatitis conferences.
Robert was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2006, struggled through interferon/ribavirin therapy and sailed through treatment with direct-acting hepatitis antivirals a decade later; experiences he feels will be most useful in ‘helping people start and stick with treatment ensuring they achieve a cure and are able to move forward positively with their lives.
“I published a magazine for seven years that whilst initially was focused on HIV it soon became clear it was necessary to provide more information about the new hepatitis treatments as they became more widely available a decade ago.”
Following a mid career break and moving to Sydney, Australia for three years, Robert began studying for a degree at Birmingham City University in Adult/Mental Health Nursing. With one year to remain before graduating the opportunity to work with BHA Leeds Skyline came up and Robert decided to step off the course for a year to play a part as a long-standing advocate with lived experience to support newly diagnosed people in the city.
“BHA Leeds Skyline has offered me an unparallelled opportunity, through the clinical networks it has established and its strong partnership working across the voluntary sector to make a real difference to the lives of people newly diagnosed with HIV or hepatitis in Leeds. I feel like I have come home to the voluntary sector and am confident in the abilities of the team at BHA Leeds Skyline to offer ongoing support to the people we are fortunate to encounter at a very significant moment in their lives. It’s really quite wonderful to be back in Leeds, some thirty years after leaving university here and I’m certain the experience will make me a better nurse when I qualify.”
Chiga Mubwanda – Peer Navigator
My relationship with BHA began two years ago when I joined the organisation as a volunteer peer mentor. In this role, I provided essential support to individuals living with HIV, offering encouragement and a compassionate presence during some of their most challenging moments. Drawing from my own lived experiences and a deep understanding of the community’s needs, I quickly became a trusted figure among clients, providing emotional support to help them navigate their healthcare journeys.
During my two years as a volunteer, I demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in building meaningful connections with those I served. My ability to listen without judgment, my knowledge of available resources, and my genuine commitment to empowering others made me a valuable member of the BHA volunteer team. I consistently went above and beyond in my efforts. I participated in training sessions, attended community events, and continually expanded my capacity to serve. Throughout this experience, I learned many well-being techniques.
Recognising my exceptional contributions and natural skills in peer support work, BHA offered me a position as a peer navigator when a vacancy arose. In this professional role, I will ensure that clients have smooth access to medical care, social services, and community resources. As a peer navigator, I will assist individuals in overcoming barriers to treatment adherence, coordinate with healthcare providers, and continue to provide the empathetic, peer-based support that has always been my strength.
My transition from volunteer to employee demonstrates BHA’s commitment to recognising talent within its community and investing in individuals who understand the challenges faced by people living with HIV. My journey reflects not only my personal dedication to service but also BHA’s mission to empower those with lived experience to become leaders in HIV support and advocacy.
As a peer navigator, I play a vital role in facilitating communication between clients and the intricacies of the healthcare system, ensuring that clients stay actively engaged in their treatment. Moving forward, I am dedicated to advancing my professional knowledge in the field of HIV services and expanding my understanding of Hepatitis.