Supporting local activity
We fully support local engagement across the region, not only with the voluntary and community sector, but with statutory partners, community networks and private businesses.
This section of the website is intended to showcase examples of the work that The Lesbian & Gay Foundation has supported, or is currently involved in, within specific local areas.
We work in partnership with other agencies in order to make positive changes in areas where specific support is required, or where there is a need to take action, or where partners invite us to support inclusion and development for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people living in a particular area.
NHS Tameside & Glossop launch equality delivery survey
All public sector organisations are now required to publish data to show what they are doing to meet their equality objectives.
NHS Tameside and Glossop have published their data here:
http://www.tamesideandglossop.nhs.uk/templates/Page____807.aspx
We want to ensure all parts of our local communities have fair access to NHS information and services at the points in our lives, when we need to use NHS services. Different people will need different services, and at different points in our lives those needs will vary. We know that not all people access or take up services in the same way and we want to try to take reasonable steps to accommodate these different needs, particularly for local protected groups.
NHS Tameside and Glossop have also launched an online survey to gather evidence on help them understand their performance around equality and diversity and how well they provide inclusive services to all communities – including patients, carers and staff.
If you use NHS services in the area please complete the survey and have your say on the organisation’s approach to equality:
http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=17d58cd8-df13-41eb-a138-f4fafd3f3b8e
Get involved with the new GP led groups in South, North and Central Manchester that are deciding services in these areas
The GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups in south, north and central Manchester are looking for public representatives to act as a ‘voice’ on behalf of patients registered with north and central Manchester GP practices. The groups will be supported by NHS staff.
Who might become a member of a Patient and Public Advisory Group:
The NHS welcomes anyone living and/or working in one of the Manchester areas (see map) to apply to become a member of the group. Preference will be given to those who live in north or central or south Manchester and are registered with a north or central or south Manchester GP practice. They are looking for individuals who:
Are aged 16 years and above.
Have experience of the healthcare system in north or central Manchester as a patient or carer.
Have an interest in local healthcare issues.
Have an interest in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Are able to take an objective approach to priority setting and who can take a broad view of the role to encompass the viewpoint of others.
Although training will be given in order for individuals to feel confident representing views on behalf of diverse local communities, they welcome diversity within the group, and would encourage individuals of all ages, ethnicities, disabilities etc to apply. Applicants who work as health professionals would not normally be appointed, as there are other ways for their views to be heard.
Please let NHS Manchester as soon as possible
Contact:
North: julian.palfreyman@manchester.nhs.uk
Central: sandra.stronach@manchester.nhs.uk
South: val.bb@manchester.nhs.uk
Flying the Flag 2011 - what, where, how; and the future
17 May 2011 saw more rainbow flags flying across Greater Manchester and beyond than ever before with well over 200 rainbow flags flying, 500 posters distributed and 6,000 information resources sent out across the North West region and beyond.
Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Services, Victim Support and Probation Services ensured that their offices and bases across all localities in Greater Manchester were all proudly flying the flag and showing their support towards ending homophobia and transphobia and supporting their lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff and service users.
We also saw many housing providers and neighbourhood organisations from the voluntary and community sector actively supporting the day.
Download the 4-page report on Flying the Flag 2011
Celebrating LGB&T Community Action
A 'Breaking The Cycle' report on the activities of the LGB&T VCS, their aims and barriers and their experience of voluntary sector support, both from ‘mainstream’ providers (usually known as Councils for Voluntary Service [CVS]) and the LGF.
Download the full report (.pdf | 0.9Mb)
Representation in Civic Roles for under-represented communities
The Thematic Regional Infrastructure Organisations (TRIO) Project brings together One North West, The Lesbian & Gay Foundation and Refugee Action to:
- Support under-represented communities to better represent themselves to public sector agencies across the North West and the Government
- Provide them with support in developing and strengthening their own respective networks
- Develop a collaborative approach to equality
By pioneering a new way of working, the project aims to promote equality and human rights throughout the North West.
Through this collaboration, we have produced a briefing highlighting under-representation in key civic roles and some recommendations to move forward.
We focus on the roles of councillors, school governors and magistrates, describing their basic functions and highlight some areas of concern within the current context as well as some suggestions to overcome the barriers to participation.
For more information on the TRIO project, please contact adam.winter@lgf.org.uk
Download the report and recommendations in full (.pdf | 0.4Mb)
Download current policy documents:
"How many LGB people are there?" | Download Briefing (.pdf)
Sexual orientation is not asked on the National Census and is not monitored for consistently in employment or services.
However, research has been done which allows us to make a reasonably reliable estimate.
Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 | Download Briefing (.pdf)
Public bodies have new duties to publish equality information and objectives.
On 10th September the new "Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 came into force, covering public bodies like councils, the police etc.
By 31st Jan 2012 (and then annually) public bodies must publish information to show how they are meeting the public sector equality duty (part of the Equality Act 2010).
The Public Health White Paper (Feb 2011) | Download briefing (.pdf)
In December 2010 the Government produced the ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’ public health white paper.
White papers set out firm Government policy, and can be used to gather public feedback before/while new legislation is being produced.
Although people in Britain live longer, healthier lives than ever before, the white paper identifies problems that threaten public health.
The Localism Bill (Jan 2011) | Download briefing (.pdf)
At the end of December the Coalition Government published the Localism Bill.
This sets out some of the steps for building the 'Big Society' which aims to transform the relationships between cetral government, local government, communities and individuals.
This policy briefing aims to summarise the key changes that the Localism Bill will make, based on the guide published alongside it.
The Equality Act (Nov 2010) | Download briefing (.pdf)
After being passed into law by the Labour government in 2009, the majority of the Act came into force in October 2010.
Some parts are yet to be enforced, and these are highlighted in this document. The Equality Act brings together more than forty years of equality legislation and aims to make Britain a more equal society.
NHS changes (Oct 2010) | Download briefing (.pdf)
The NHS is massively important to all of us.
There's a lot of conflicting information about at the moment with massive cuts being talked about at the same time as 'ringfenced' or protected spending levels.
This briefing is all about what it actually means.
The Big Society (Sep 2010) | Download briefing (.pdf)
We've pulled together a policy briefing as an introduction to the government's 'Big Society'.
It lays out the key policies and how they might affect LGB&T groups, charts some of the questions and concerns voiced at the LGF's LGB&T Consultation Day, and suggests some steps you can take to make sure your group is prepared for the changes ahead.
The North West region has a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population of roughly 430,000 – that equates roughly to a population the same size as the region's second city Liverpool.
However despite its size, policy makers in the region have a limited knowledge and understanding of the needs of its LGBT population.
The LGBT population tends to be invisible within much public discourse regarding equality programmes and initiatives and there exists a general perception that their issues are given low priority status.
Read this extensive report, commissioned by the North West Development Agency, working in partnership with Government Office North West, the LSC North West, 4NW, NHS North West and The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, by clicking the link below.
Listen, Value, Invest - the third sector delivering for the North West: The Conference
On 29th September 2010 more than 150 groups from across the North West came together in Manchester for a day of debate, discussion and information-sharing to explore how the voluntary and community sector can continue to deliver for England's North West in a changing political context.
The event was delivered by Voluntary Sector North West, in association with The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, 1NW, Refugee Action and North West Disability Infrastructure Partnership.
Key speakers included:
John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons
Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive of the Lesbian & Gay Foundation
Neil McInroy, Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies
Richard Caulfield, Chief Executive of Voluntary Sector North West
Ruth Hussey OBE from NHS North West
To be involved in future events or for any questions please contact adam.winter@lgf.org.uk
Please watch the video on this page for a flavour of the event.
If you'd like to look at delivering any specific work in your local area, please contact us (info@lgf.org.uk or telephone 0845 3 30 30 30) at The Lesbian & Gay Foundation to discuss exactly what support we can offer and how we can work together.