Elaine is a patron for TheatreMAD which is the UK Theatre’s response to HIV and AIDS, facilitated by The Make A Difference Trust.

The charity has been going for over 20 years when it was established in 1990 as West End Cares. In 2003 it became Theatrecares, and in 2008 TheatreMAD was established as one of four members of the newly founded charity, The Make a Difference Trust, further expanding our activities and aims. TheatreMAD, FilmMAD, DanceMAD and MusicMAD all make up the Trust, though for the moment our main focus continues to be theatre-based.

The aim of The Make A Difference Trust is very simple – to bring together the British Entertainment industry and its supporters to raise awareness, and funds to help those who are living with HIV and AIDS, and those members of the entertainment industry, on and off stage, backstage and front of house, who are unable to work as a result of a long-term medical condition.

The Trust were incredibly proud this year to make their first grant to the theatre industry, upon whom they rely so much for their fundraising events – in April 2010 Elaine presented a cheque on behalf of the charity for £25,000 to The Theatrical Guild. They are also proud to support the fantastic work delivered by the Crusaid Hardship Fund, which is the Trust’s largest HIV/AIDS beneficiary.

Outside of the UK, The Trust also supports a number of incredible projects, all centred around promoting understanding of HIV and AIDS. These include: The Ubuntu Education Fund, transforming the lives of children in South Africa, the African Pulse; an interactive online HIV/AIDS education project connecting pupils across Southern Africa as well as over 1000 schools in Europe; and MADaboutART, an arts-based HIV education and empowerment programme in Southern Africa.