Our History

In 1988, two sero-positive ex-drug users, Ian Palliser and Stuart Menzies, realised there were no facilities specifically for people affected by HIV and drugs.  They decided to develop a self-help group for the growing numbers of people affected.  With support from staff and residents at Phoenix House, Southwark Drugs Misuse Unit and the CADA drug project in Southwark who generously provided office space, Mainliners was born. 

Mainliners rapidly gained recognition in the HIV and drugs fields and moved into their own premises in Brixton in autumn 1988, thanks to financial support from various sources including the National AIDS trust, Thames regional health authorities and the London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, and Southwark.  A wide range of services were launched, including a small grants scheme, a national newsletter, an outreach needle exchange service, individual support, information and advice and training and consultancy services for primary care workers.

Unfortunately this original group was unable to develop the organisational structures necessary to secure further funding and was forced to close down in September 1989.  At the same time members of the original advisory panel were joined by representatives of other major drug and HIV organisations to form the Board of Directors of a newly incorporated company; Mainliners Limited.  Grazyna Kowszun who had joined Mainliners in March 1989 became Acting Co-ordinator, and interim funding was obtained from the London Boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea and Southwark, and the Department of Health.

In February 1990 new employees were appointed and since then Mainliners has developed to its current structure, providing a range of services to help people overcome the problems associated with addiction and blood borne viruses.