Following their recent merger with HIV charity Crusaid, Terrence Higgins Trust have vowed to re-open the hardship fund "as soon as possible" in a bid to tackle poverty in the gay community.
The fund gives vital financial assistance to those living with HIV and AIDS and was the main reason why Crusaid formed the union with the sexual health organisation, last month.
After addressing the thousands of people in attendance at Pride London's Trafalgar Square stage, Lisa Power - Corporate Head of Policy at THT - told PinkPaper.com: "The most important thing I have to say today is that we are going to re-open the hardship fund as soon as we can within the next few months.
"After that, we're going to make sure it has a long-term future. And that it helps people to help themselves.
"We've just done a big research project with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which shows that older gay men with HIV are in far more poverty than their peers, so we know that there's a real issue out there. As people survive longer with HIV, it's not just about the pills keeping you well, but also the quality of your life".
When asked about the criticisms surrounding THT's recent merger with Crusaid - which was reported first by PinkPaper.com - Power quashed rumours that they are exercise a monopoly on the health scene.
"We merge with people who approach us, which is what Crusdaid did. The issue is about making sure services survive.
"We represent economies of scale. We represent a whole load of stuff that is available, which smaller organisations can't do alone."