The lives of hundreds adults and children living with HIV have been transformed by the work of a small charity which is working to breakdown the negative stereotypes associated with the virus.

Wandsworth Oasis was founded more than 25 years ago and in this time it has handed out more than £250,000 to HIV charities and provided invaluable support to those affected.

The charity records that it has directly helped about 750 people in hte borough this eyar, as well as giving out 7200 condoms.

Donations for the charity come from their five charity shops as well as the fundraising events and donations received from local people and businesses, but with funding a constant preassure the group is currently preparing for its annual set-piece gala, including a host of celebrity faces.

Gill Perkins, chief executive, said: "There is still a stigma associated with HIV by some people with a complete lack of understanding of how people have contracted it.

"As a result more people are living with HIV than ever before and there are also more people living with it that are not aware, and this can put other people at risk." 

Latest figures show there were 67 new diagnoses in the borough in 2011, a 21 per cent increase since 2007.

The National Aids Trust records that gay and bisexual men make up 42 per cent of those infected, 35 per cent of men and women are from black African backgrounds, while prison populations also see an above average number of people carrying the virus.

Mrs Perkins added: "There is a lack of education where people do not think it’s an issue as they do not hear of people dying with AIDS. There are also cultural factors and a change of demographics in Wandsworth."

Oasis was set up in the late 1980s as a response to the global AIDS epidemic, by founder Richard Aldridge. At this time the Salvation Army funded the first charity shop in Battersea to help people suffering from AIDS and to help them go through the difficulty of disclosure.

Today, along with Mrs Perkins there is only one other full-time member of staff, Gill Carver, who manages the shops, while Mr Aldridge remains a charity trustee.

Mrs Perkins said: "It is a social environment with regular customers. We have loyal donors and we are never ceased to be amazed by people’s generosity and the things they give away."

She added many of her volunteers actually have issues themselves that need addressing.

"Some volunteers also have more support needs and there is a number of recovering alcohol and drug addicts volunteering with us," she said. "They may not have a relationship to the cause, but they need a framework to support their regime of recovery."

The charity funds small grants for organisations that help support HIV in Wandsworth and last year gave out £55,000 in grants including £12,000 to The Cara Trust for a health information service for older people with HIV and £4,000 to Children with AIDS.

The forthcoming World Aids Day event, Red Ribbon Fest 2013, will be held at the Grand Hall at Battersea Arts Centre onDecember 1 and is the highlight of their year..

Mrs Perkins said: "The idea came about to have a community event with an underlying serious message, so while the local community are buying things, they can also interact with people from local HIV charities so people can understand what the Red Ribbon stands for, which is to raise awareness and support for those living with HIV and for its prevention."

The family event will consist of a Christmas Fair with more than 50 stallholders including jewellery, books, and gifts as well as food and drink on sale, opening up to a Cabaret performance in the evening including Brixton singer Angie Brown .

Christmas Fair December 1, 12pm-5pm; free with all donations welcome; Cabaret Evening TBC; visit wandsworthoasis.org.uk/red-ribbon-festival/