Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Leo Kirkpatrick

Statement on the ruling in Mermaids v Charity Commission and LGB Alliance

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Consortium are disappointed to learn that the appeal was dismissed on the grounds of legal standing. Although the judges were invited to indicate what their decision would have been on broader issues, they have chosen not to do so.

We are proud to have supported Mermaids and the Good Law Project throughout this appeal and firmly believe that charitable status should be reserved for those organisations that work towards a more inclusive society.

Paul Roberts, Consortium’s Chief Executive said, “We maintain that the LGB Alliance’s practice are fundamentally incompatible with the Charity Commission’s guidelines on how charities should provide a public benefit. We will continue to support our members across the LGBT+ sector to work for a more inclusive society, and not one that seeks to divide and spread misinformation.”

Consortium is committed to fighting for equity, inclusivity and defending the rights of all LGBT+ organisations through our work, especially those who face the greatest marginalisation and hostility.

LGBT+ communities across the UK face an onslaught of misinformation and attacks in the mainstream press, in politics and on social media. Trans (including nonbinary and gender diverse) people are entitled, like everyone else, to support and understanding. Our LGBT+ communities will not be divided. We oppose transphobia in all its forms. We stand together.

Statement from Mermaids: mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/statement-on-the-ruling-in-mermaids-v-charity-commission-and-lgb-alliance/
Statement from Good Law Project: goodlawproject.org/update/mermaids-challenge-lgb-alliance/

2023 LGBTQIA+ Volunteers’ Awards Winners

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It’s Volunteers Week! Volunteering keeps our communities going, and is a week when we recognise and celebrate the contributions from LGBTQIA+ volunteers all over the UK!

Volunteers’ Week reminds us all to take the time to say thank you to the LGBTQIA+ volunteers who dedicate their time volunteering for the LGBTQIA+ sector. This is why we wanted to hold a LGBTQIA+ Volunteer Awards. We were overwhelmed by nominations to our Volunteer Awards and while not everyone can win a prize, these nominations come highly commended! We’ll be sharing the nominations over the next few days so stay tuned!

Thank you to all who have nominated a volunteer team for our LGBTQIA+ Volunteers’ Awards, the winners are as follows:

Fundraising Category Winner: elop’s Fundraising Volunteers

“elop has long been supported by a range of fundraising volunteers who have taken lead on a variety of fundraising challenges. Whilst our fundraising team have looked at increasingly ambitious opportunities to generate income for elop, it’s often the boots on the ground approach that offers greater value through connection to our communities.

Life before covid saw a team of fundraising volunteers meeting in central or east London to carry out community outreach in LGBT+ and queer venues where they would talk about the support, we offer community and collect change that would support our unfunded services. It takes a lot of confidence to talk to strangers, one after another, venue after venue, but they often reported the value expressed by our community that they were a visible presence and appreciation of elop’s support. They often talked with people who had used elop services or knew of people who had and always had positive experiences to share.

Alongside outreach, fundraisers have braved the ask for items to raffle or auction at events, again, something that takes a lot of confidence to do but is so valuable for us as a small charity as not only do we gain from the raffle ticket funds, but it also raises our profile within the community.

For the last few years, we have been running an annual exercise for elop campaign where we’ve asked community to use February to celebrate another year of elop services by engaging in an exercise related fundraising activity, such as using the stairs rather than lift or escalator, walking for wellness, or daily hopscotch. Recently, one of our Trustees committed to cycling 280km over the month in support of elop”.

Operations Category Winner: Free2B’s Volunteer Operations Team

“We have a small team of amazing volunteers helping ‘behind the scenes,’ with tasks including payroll administration, data entry, research, and proofreading.

We are so delighted to be able to nominate this fabulous bunch as their work goes unseen outside of our own team and it’s wonderful to be able to shout about their contributions!

They have taken on mammoth tasks such as transferring all our client data from an old system over to a new database – manually transferring over 300 client records across to the new system! And proofreading pages and pages of funding bids, policies, webpage content and printed youth resources.  Though it does mean that whilst we are proud to nominate this team, we are also quite nervous as this entry hasn’t been proofread for obvious reasons and we’ll likely get in trouble with our ‘top checker!’

Through their dedicated hard work, they help us to ensure everything runs smoothly and effectively, and they do so quietly in the background – which is why we’d like to shine a huge spotlight on them to say THANK YOU!”.

Community Engagement Category Winner: Think2speak’s Volunteers

The team of volunteers who support LGBTQ+ young people and their families, through Think2Speak are true life savers! Bringing their whole selves and their wealth of love, warmth and lived experience into the lives of the families who turn to us, showcases queer adults in a way that inspires, empowers and boosts the wellbeing of all!

The families who came along to our Spring 2023 residential said:

“Thank you to everyone who played a part in this weekend because you’ve all made a difference. We have brought home a more confident and positive teenager who has not stopped talking about Anna since we came home! The small conversations, the big conversations, the laughter, and the emotion will stay with us forever and memories made are truly unforgettable”.

“The weekend was fantastic, the support that we have had from this group has been amazing and I’ve made incredible friends whom I see regularly outside group too. Thank you so much Jo and Lizzie as well as the other volunteers that made this happen. I can’t wait to see the photos”.

“A massive huge thank you to you Lizzie, and Jo, along with your team to arrange such a successful fun filled weekend, and to your wonder special guest speakers too, for giving their time and sharing their personal journeys and knowledge”.

Without our amazing team of volunteers, our groups and events wouldn’t be able to happen! Each of our volunteers are amazing!

Unsung Hero: Mermaids Northern Ireland Service’s Volunteer Team

“I would like to nominate the Mermaids Northern Ireland Service volunteer team for the Community Engagement category. I believe they are worthy winners because they embody the values of Mermaids to embrace our children, young people and families and help to reduce isolation and loneliness, and celebrate gender diversity to empower and help to increase resilience and confidence through acceptance and practical support, and to educate providing information, resources and training to service users, professionals and the wider public to ensure Mermaids vision to create a world where trans, non-binary and gender-diverse young people can be themselves and thrive.

They work tirelessly in the sector, meeting parents and facilitating peer support groups throughout NI in their spare time. Travelling far and wide giving much needed 121 support to families in crisis. Through the work they do at pride events and information stalls they are raising the visibility of the service and support available and providing opportunities for children, young people, and their families to enjoy more social connections, feel supported and use their voice to be visible and heard across service delivery and within civic participation.

Why do they do it they have been asked many times; because they have also been those families looking for support and they know first-hand the difference that makes for positive outcomes. When these volunteers talk to new families, they do not only draw on their own lived experiences but the lived experiences of the 100s of families they have supported. Our NI volunteers enable the Mermaids NI service to offer a full programme of activities and events throughout the year, engage with and support hundreds of young people and their families across the region through a robust established and growing peer support network.

As I have said if it were not for our team of volunteers, we could not do all the things we do here in NI. Considering the sector, we work in where we are very much scrutinized, and that all our volunteers go through a robust and time-consuming induction, training, and safeguarding process, and knowing that their family lives are busy, and they all have work obligations their commitment to the Mermaids NI Service is astounding. Each volunteer deserves recognition of the part they play in building our service delivery across Northern Ireland, and I am delighted to be able to nominate the whole team”.

 

 

Mental Health Awareness Week – Consortium Team Blog

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This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is focussed on anxiety – what it is, how it affects us and what we can do about it.

The last few years have been really scary for everyone. Living in a global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, combined with attacks on our communities from all directions, it would be strange if we weren’t all feeling a bit worried. Cuts to support services and the ongoing decimation of our NHS, create additional harms and the mental health burden of waiting lists cannot be overstated.

I am always happy to talk about my professional experience supporting others around their mental health or the wellbeing resources and training I’ve created for practitioners working with survivors of abuse. I have also had my own personal mental health challenges, and somehow that feels like something less easy or comfortable to share. Like so many people, for me managing chronic anxiety is an everyday reality. As is so often the case, I know what I encourage others to do to look after themselves, what I should be doing, but actually doing it is a different matter.

So I wanted to share the things I try to do to keep well, in case they help anyone else and also, let’s be honest, as a reminder to myself!

Physical manifestations/impacts of our mental health are physical health conditions – the two things aren’t separate, they all happen in our one body. If you look after one and you look after the other. Annoyingly all those well-being articles are right, a bit of movement, getting enough sleep and eating properly really can make you feel better in body and mind!

This will pass. Our mental health is not static and however hard it is to believe when you are in them, bad times won’t last.

There is so much help out there, wonderful services offering help to all of us. You deserve support, reach out for it when you need it. Check out our well-being resources page for members who can help you.

When I forget everything else, and my anxiety is spiralling, the one thing I can always come back to is to sit comfortably, with my feet on the ground, close my eyes and take 5 deep breaths. Then keep moving forward.

Briony Williamson (she/her), Head of Membership and Engagement

 

Mental health, like for most people, is a non-linear journey. Mental Health Awareness Week is an important time to acknowledge this and recognise that all our tools for coping look different.

My own journey has been bumpy and confusing at times, but I have learned valuable tools along the way. For myself, running has been great as an output for lots of feelings. I started running in my first year of university when my mental health was deteriorating. It was a transformative experience to find an activity I enjoyed, which also provided an escape from my thoughts and allowed me to appreciate the beauty of nature in my local park. While running has been impactful for me, I have learned (the hard way) not to rely solely on one tool, especially when it is closely tied to performance and body image.

Other coping mechanisms I use include having a break from seeing friends, spending hours scrolling as a distraction and just lying on my floor (and doing some deep breathing if I remember). Are there any tools that are perfect? Absolutely not and it’s not about judging what we need to do to get by. Daily activities like taking a walk or cooking may not always be feasible. Mental health and how we cope shouldn’t be another thing we feel guilty about when we don’t do it ‘right’.

Through working for Consortium and the Equity Fund, I have met numerous groups that support mental health in our communities. Various activities such as crafting classes, guided walks, climbing, strength training, peer support, and social events, both in person and online have been incredible to learn about. Their impact on community health is outstanding- huge shout out to all the amazing LGBTQIA+ groups out there supporting our communities every day!

During this week, it is enough to do what you need to do for yourself. Whether it’s resting, enjoying some sunshine, or any other activity, it’s all valid.

Leyla Helvaci (she/they), Equity Fund Project Officer

First Pride event launches in Cannock Chase

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The Chase Pride organising committee headed by Hednesford Town Councillor Kathryn Downs (front row, centre)

A new Pride festival will launch in Staffordshire in 2022 to offer greater support to the region’s LGBTQ+ community.

Plans for the first Chase Pride have been announced, aimed at the communities within the Cannock Chase area, with outreach and education programmes planned alongside an annual festival to help reduce the level of homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

The first Pride festival will take place on Saturday 3 September in Hednesford park, its purpose to celebrate diversity and inclusion, support the local LGBT community, break down barriers and raise awareness of LGBT issues.

Chase Pride Committee Chairperson, Kathryn Downs said: “As a nation we have made great progress on LGBT+ rights in recent years, but with hate crimes and discrimination continuing to spiral across the UK, it’s obvious there is still work to do.

“In the Cannock Chase region, alarming statistics showed hate crimes against our community doubled in the two years from 2016 to 2018.

“We began discussions in 2019, with hopes of launching Chase Pride in 2020, but Covid has unfortunately halted plans until now.

“Our Pride event will be a fun celebration of LGBT+ culture, while providing opportunities for the general public to learn about the issues facing our community and signposting to outreach services for those in need.

“We have tremendous support for this locally and we’re thrilled to have been granted charitable status.  Our organising committee includes fellow councillors from Hednesford Town and Cannock Chase District Council as well as residents and professionals who care about bringing everyone in our community closer.”

It is hoped the event will become an annual fixture that can tour the Cannock Chase district, being hosted in various towns across the region in years to come.

Chase Pride branding has combined the Pride rainbow with the iconic Cannock Chase stag, giving it a unique identity for the region and branded merchandise will be available in the run-up to the event, with all proceeds helping fund activities on the day.

“We’re planning a family friendly event offering a variety of activities for all ages. As well as a ticketed main stage area with music and variety acts on stage, there will be open air elements to the day including a market and community stalls, a funfair, craft workshops and more,” Cllr Downs added.

“It’s already gaining momentum and our committee and team of volunteers are working hard behind the scenes to make this first Chase Pride a fantastic event.”

To find out more about Chase Pride, visit the website at www.chasepride.org.uk or find them on Facebook.

Member Organisation Feature for Trans Awareness Week- FFLAG

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When and why was your organisation created?

FFLAG, as a national charity, was launched in 1993, at a meeting in Stonewall’s London office. But its origins lie 30 years earlier, when Rose Robertson, our founder, set up Parent’s Enquiry – the first support group for parents and their LGB children. Over the following years, local groups and helplines staffed by parents, were established all around the UK and at one time there were 41 helplines in operation. As well as supporting each other, parents started to campaign for equal rights for their children and this prompted the need for a national umbrella organisation to coordinate all the grass roots work. And so the charity FFLAG was born.

Tell us about the work you do? (In general, and for the trans community specifically)

FFLAG’s purpose is to help families to accept and support their LGBT+ loved ones. We offer peer support to parents whose children are LGBT+.  We do this through our helpline and email support: FFLAG SUPPORT, our online resources and our Local Parent Groups. If you contact FFLAG, you will be speaking to another parent, and ideally we’ll find you someone whose family situation is similar. We’re not professionals, so we don’t give advice; we listen without judgement, we’re a safe space to let out any worries and fears and we can signpost resources we’ve found useful.

We recognise that family love and support can make a huge difference to the outcomes for LGBT+ young people; we understand that parents can sometimes struggle with the news that their child is LGBT+. Parents who contact us often say, ‘I’m absolutely fine with my child being LGBT+ – so why am I feeling like this?’ Sometimes parents are scared about discrimination that their child may face; some feel grief at the ‘loss’ of an imagined future; others really don’t understand what is going on for their child, feel scared and need information.

We’re very aware that many people who are now parents grew up under the restrictions of Section 28, and so were deliberately kept uninformed about LGBT+ lives. That lack of information can breed fear. We’re here to say that it’s ok to feel like this and to provide a space for parents to let out those feelings, which they probably don’t want to reveal to their children. And we don’t have an age limit for the ‘children’ in the families we support, recognising that people can come out at any life stage – and parents are parents for life!

FFLAG initially supported families with LG&B children. But since the mid 2010s we received an increasing number of requests for help from parents of trans youngsters, and so we have worked to become trans inclusive.  A key part of our online resources are our booklets,  How Do I Tell My Parents?  and  A Guide for Family and Friends, which were originally written by our founder Rose Robertson and existed in LGB versions. We’ve adapted and updated these over the years – and as FFLAG became trans inclusive, created trans versions. Our booklets are always written from experience and the best part of them is the quotes, where trans young people and their families have shared their experiences.

We’ve also adapted our local group support. During the Covid pandemic a lot of our local groups obviously had to start meeting up online. Now most are resuming in person meetings, but the Bristol group recognised the benefit of online meetings for those parents who can’t access a local meeting. So they are continuing to offer a monthly online (Zoom) meeting, separately from their monthly in person get together, and the Zoom meeting is open to parents wherever they live. This group supports an increasing number of families with trans youngsters.

FFLAG’s work includes education and advocacy. We want to be visible as families who love and celebrate our LGBT+ loved ones and to campaign for equality and inclusion, increasingly so for trans rights. We march at Prides, hold conferences and give talks, notably to the staff groups of large organisations who want to support inclusivity. We are also a member of the International Gender Inclusion Network, IGEN.

We’re really proud to be launching the new booklet, How Do I Tell my Children? which was inspired by demand from trans parents transitioning later in life and needing to explain this to their children. For this booklet we interviewed many parents who generously shared their experiences and we thank Trans in the City and The Intercom Trust who helped us to find contributors by publicising the project within their networks. The stories shared are really wonderful and we hope this will be a great resource for trans parents and their families.

 

Why is it important to acknowledge events like Trans Awareness Week and Trans Day of Remembrance?

As parents we want our children to grow up feeling safe, loved and secure in the knowledge that they have a place in society. Our trans children deserve to grow up knowing that they enjoy those same protections, rights and respect, not just amongst family and friends, but as they make their way in the world.

Sadly the British media seems to be determined to perpetuate negative myths about trans people. But we firmly believe that the general public are not as opposed to trans inclusion as this vocal minority insists. We feel sure that if people had better understanding of trans lives, acceptance and respect would flow from that and so a good way to combat these prejudices is to raise trans awareness by speaking out about unremarkable, everyday, happy family lives. Family life is relatable to most people. So Trans Awareness Week is a good opportunity to remind people that trans people are our children, our parents, our siblings, our friends, and that being trans is just a part of family life.

Trans Day of Remembrance is a much more sombre occasion. But it’s important to raise awareness too about the impact of hate crime on trans people, to honour those who have died, to speak out against violence and to demand better for our children, our friends and our family members.

FFLAG Publishes New Booklet: ‘How Do I Tell my Children? – I’m Transgender’

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Celebrating Trans Awareness Week 2021, FFLAG is delighted to be publishing their latest booklet ‘How Do I Tell my Children?  – I’m Transgender.’ The creation of ‘How Do I Tell My Children?’ was prompted by an increasing number of requests for support from trans parents who wanted to break the news of their transition to their children. It joins the family of FFLAG booklets, ‘How Do I Tell My Parents?’ and ‘A Guide for Family and Friends’ which are available in LGB and T versions.

All FFLAG’s booklets are written from personal experience and for ‘How Do I Tell my Children?’ we’ve collaborated with trans parents who’ve generously shared their experiences. The booklet is packed with quotes describing how contributors explained their transition to their children.

As Bobbi Pickard, from Trans in the City, says:

‘Luckily, as we can see from many of the wonderful quotes in this booklet there can be – and usually is with time – acceptance and in many cases that acceptance is gloriously absolute. Personally, I think that’s because exactly the thing that makes us so anxious about telling our children – love – is the thing that carries us across so many seemingly stormy waters.’

The booklet will be launched on FFLAG’s stand at Trans Pride South West’s Community Day in Bristol on 20 November 2021 and is available to download on FFLAG’s website FFLAG: I’m a Trans Parent

For further information please contact Sarah Furley on [email protected]  or 07976827664

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