IT’S a lifeline to thousands of HIV sufferers across Southampton.

But today the Daily Echo can reveal that a vital service to help those dealing with HIV is facing closure.

Despite soaring numbers being diagnosed with the disease Southampton City Council bosses plan to cut funding to just £33,000.

The two charities which rely on the cash have warned that could force their closure, leaving those most vulnerable isolated.

The proposed cut comes as part of plans to slash £20 million from the council’s budget next year.

Both the Groundswell Trust and Positive Action, which currently share a £66,000 grant, are appealing today, on World Aids Day, for councillors to rethink the cut before too many people suffer.

Their appeal comes after it was revealed that cases of HIV have soared by a massive 92 per cent across the south over the past decade.

More worryingly the number of young adults diagnosed with HIV/Aids in Southampton has increased by half over the last five years.

The charities believe that now more than ever their services are needed to stop this trend, to prevent avoidable transmissions through education and by offering vital help to those infected to improve their lives through counselling, support groups and training.

In the last three months the Groundswell Trust has prevented two possible transmissions of the disease, each of which has saved £3,000 in health and care costs. In one of the cases specialist advisers helped a new mum, who did not know that breast feeding would have passed the virus on to her baby.

Paul Woodman, chair of the charity, which provides one-to-one home-based care, said: “If we aren’t around to step in and offer advice to those at most risk cases will rise and treatment is very costly.

"These cuts just don’t make sense at a time when the numbers of HIV cases are rising. We will face closure.

“Some people may ask why we need specialist services but HIV and Aids isn’t like bowel cancer and other diseases, where people can go to their family and seek solace there.

"Many people with HIV and Aids can’t turn to their family, they are left isolated with no one to turn to and that’s where we come in.”

Latest figures show a total of 3,336 people within the South Central Strategic Health Authority area, which includes Hampshire, were accessing HIV treatment in 2011, compared to 1,156 in 2002.

Southampton currently has below the national average of sufferers but there are fears that this could change if the cuts go ahead as planned.

Largely run by volunteers a merger of the charities, which run deliberately different services, would not make significant savings.

Donna Bone, chief executive of Positive Action, said: “We are thankful for the support we have had from the council in the past but this puts us in a precarious situation in terms of our future and security for our service users.

“If these services are no longer available and we are not there to give the encouragement and information they need my concern is for the impact it will have on their physical and emotional well being.”

For the full council response click here

Click here for the full background and list of proposed council cuts