Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Paul Roberts

Enterprise Development Programme

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Funded by Access – the Foundation for Social Investment, the Enterprise Development Programme is a three-year programme that offers participants an array of tailored capacity building support along with possible funding to explore enterprise development opportunities within their own organisations.

Delivered alongside a coalition of partners, including Consortium, the programme builds financial resilience and fosters innovation across multiple charitable sectors (Equality, Homelessness, Mental Health and Youth). You can learn more about the equality strand of the programme here.

The programme will offer tailored support to organisations thinking to explore new models of trading or looking to grow existing ones. Organisations will work collaboratively with sector leads (Homeless Link, Centre for Youth Impact, Association of Mental Health Providers and Equally Ours) throughout the programme journey to best identify support needs (both learning and development and feasibility grants).

Over the next three years, Equally Ours hopes to support between 70-90 equality organisations, working with between five and six cohorts in the process.

Applications are now live

Below are the key dates for recruitment onto the equality sector’s next cohort. Potential applicants can apply here.

 

Tuesday 15 October 2020 Open for Expressions of Interest + Applications
Thursday 29 October 2020 – Midday Last day for Expressions of Interest
Thursday 5 November 2020 – Midday Last day for Applications

If you have any questions, please reach out directly to Aimee Dorsett-Browne, Social Enterprise Development Manager at Equally Ours on Aimee.Dorsett-Browne@equallyours.org.uk

Getting to know our Acting Chair Carina

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One of the joys of being part of the Consortium family is seeing the impact we have across the sector. Whether that be from Consortium’s grant-giving work, or its support for Members in numerous ways seen and unseen. I joined Consortium as a trustee in 2019. I am passionate about infrastructure work and immensely proud to play a part in the valuable work of Consortium in supporting LGBT+ communities. It can feel – particularly at the moment – that the onslaught of challenges is unrelenting. Yet I do believe we are stronger when we come together, and I see that so clearly in Consortium’s mission and work. One of my favourite aspects of being a trustee is reading the annual Insight Report, and the reports and case studies following a grant-giving round. I am naturally curious and get a great deal of pleasure finding out what Members around the country are up to!

I have a long history working as a Solicitor. I used to tell myself that my mother wanted me to be a lawyer and I had little choice in the matter.  I confess that’s not entirely true – in later life I have come to make friends with my inner governance and regulatory geek. I enjoy pouring over Constitutional documents, the finer points of data protection law and a nicely-constructed contract.  Nor is my legal background all I have to offer. Life is a journey, and my journey has had some bends in the road. I bring with me all those twists and turns: legal knowledge and skills, experience of working with young people, experience of working and volunteering in LGBT+ communities, coaching, passion and training for mental and emotional wellbeing. Being a trustee is a legal responsibility but also deeply rewarding.

So who am I?  I am passionate about ecotherapy and spend a great deal of time worrying about climate change. I was indoctrinated from a young age to support Spurs, which I have found to be a lifelong exercise in patience and resilience. I am often found trampling in woodland undergrowth foraging for edibles accompanied by Olive, my exceedingly patient Labrador. My favourite meal is toast with real butter, and a decent cup of tea. I love Marmite. I am a lesbian. I am a governance geek. I love Star Trek (TNG) and West Wing. I am an intersectional feminist. I am someone friends turn to for a non-judgemental, friendly ear. I am also a good person to have in a pub quiz team only if there is a round on Capital Cities.  We have a challenging year ahead, but I am excited about future developments for our sector.

Consortium’s response to Government’s announcement on GRA reform

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After months of delay the Government have announced details of minimal administrative changes to improve the process for legal gender recognition of trans people in England and Wales. Less costly and bureaucratic processes in relation to obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate are of course welcome and create a small form of improvement. Read the Government’s response here.

However, Consortium and its Member organisations are disappointed that the Government have reneged from their responsibilities to implement positive and meaningful reforms—something that had been promised. Trans and non-binary people, from all backgrounds and identities, have been subjected to relentless attacks on their own identity and this is unacceptable. All trans and non-binary should feel dignity and respect just like others in society are afforded on a daily basis. The missed opportunities through today’s announcement means this simply won’t be the case.

The UK is once again at serious risk of moving further behind other more progressive countries in terms of Trans Equality. The UK is now clearly lagging behind other countries including Ireland, Denmark and Norway. The Republic of Ireland have had a de-medicalised, self-determination system for gender recognition since 2015 without any arguable repercussions. We have now missed our opportunity to reclaim our spot as the most LGBT-inclusive European country.

The Government has consistently boasted about achieving over 100,000 responses in its 2018 LGBT Survey, and how this is the largest government-level survey of its kind. More than 70% of respondents were in favour of positive reform yet the Government will only pursue minimal administrative changes. This is all at a time when trans people continue to face huge inequalities across all areas of life as highlighted through the together. campaign.

It is not only Trans+ and LGBT+ organisations calling on the Government for positive and transformative change. The British Medical Association has also called on the Government to permit trans people to be recognised for who they authentically are without a medical diagnosis.

Trans+ and LGBT+ organisations across the country have been united in trying to secure these positive reforms. Thousands of trans people in England and Wales have been let down and this has clearly made their lives much harder. We will continue to fight and stand #TogetherWithTrans for positive reforms.

The news of additional Gender Identity Clinics is sorely needed and welcome, and our hope is these are opened without delay. Waiting times for Gender Identity Services have grown considerably longer, adding further stresses.  Trans healthcare is an incredibly important area of need. However, this shouldn’t be seen as an and/or. Better healthcare, tackling hate crime, positive reforms of the GRA—they should go hand in hand and all be progressed.

Consortium and its Trans Organisations Network (TON) would like to thank everyone who has made their voices heard. We remain committed to working with our wider membership and ally organisations to better understand the impact of the Government’s decision on the GRA reforms, whilst maintaining work with the Government Equalities Office LGBT team to understand how this affects future policy direction and services provision for trans people.

We encourage everyone to join our #TogetherwithTrans campaign that has launched today. Over 50 LGBTQ+ organisations and allies have already joined together for the first time to change the way trans and non-binary lives are being represented in the UK. The www.togetherlgbt.com campaign hub offers everything you need to know about the together. partnership, and helps individuals and organisations wishing to declare their support.

We will stand firm with our Trans members in defending the human rights, dignity and safety of all in our communities as we stand #TogetherWithTrans.

Consortium stands #TogetherWithTrans

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Over 50 LGBTQ+ organisations and allies have joined together for the first time to change the way trans and non-binary lives are being represented in the UK.

Amidst continued hostility and misrepresentation of trans people, including non-binary and gender diverse people, in the media, online and in everyday life, the groundbreaking together. campaign steps away from division and focuses on the common principles of freedom, dignity and safety for all.

Helen Belcher, Chair of TransActual CIC, says “Trans communities have been subjected to malicious attacks from powerful public voices, seeking to divide trans people from society and frighten allies into silence. I welcome the together. campaign as a powerful way to show that trans and non-binary people are, first and foremost, people.”

Today and every day, LGBT+ communities stand together. in solidarity with trans communities and rejects all attempts to harass, silence and misrepresent trans people. Using the #TogetherWithTrans hashtag, the together. campaign represents the determination of individuals and organisations from the LGBT+ communities and beyond to ensure everyone can live in freedom, safety and dignity.

Together logo

In the past two weeks:

–       The British Medical association backed the right of transgender people to affirm their true gender without a medical process.

–       A U.K. employment tribunal ruled that non-binary and gender fluid people are protected under the Equality Act.

–       The TUC passed a motion stating that the misrepresentation of trans rights as a threat to women and children is ‘reminiscent of homophobic lies of the past’.

Still:

–       64% of trans pupils experience transphobic bullying at school.

–       36% of trans people have left a job because the environment was unwelcoming.

–       17% of trans and non-binary people currently feel unsafe where they are staying.

–       37% of trans people experience verbal harassment.

–       40% of trans people have experienced at least one negative experience when accessing or trying to access public healthcare services

–       34% of trans people have been discriminated against when visiting a café, restaurant, bar or nightclub

Trans people of colour / BAME trans people, trans bi people, trans disabled people and trans people living in poverty are even more likely to have had these poor experiences.

together. we can make public spaces safe for all, make our communities safe for everyone, ensure everyone has a safe place to call home, make sure everyone has dignity at work, help everyone to know they are loved and accepted and protect all children from harm. together. we can.

City for LGBT+ Crowdfunding event goes virtual

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We are proud to announce that City for LGBT+ is back – and it’s virtual!

GiveOut and Consortium are joining forces with The Funding Network for the second edition of City for LGBT+, the UK’s only live crowdfunding event in support of LGBT+ causes. This event is kindly supported by Macquarie Group.

Join us for an exciting evening of live crowdfunding, where you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of LGBT+ individuals and communities in the UK and around the world.

Last year’s event raised over £25,000 for four inspiring non-profits. This year, BlackOut UK, Opening Doors London, UHAI Eashri and L’Union Féministe Libre will tell us about their vital work fighting discrimination and injustice.  Each speaker will have just five minutes to pitch and five minutes for questions, followed by an exciting live crowdfunding session where you’ll have the chance to support these fantastic causes. The event will begin with a short talk from actor, activist, MEP, co-founder of Stonewall and member of the House of Lords, Michael Cashman.

Attendance is free and, while there is no obligation to make a donation, we hope you’ll feel inspired to do so.

To find out more about how The Funding Network’s virtual events work, have a look at this short film.

 Register for the event here.

 

Thank you to our outgoing Chair!

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After 6 years of being a Trustee (the maximum term Consortium’s Trustees can serve), and 3 years as our Chair, today marks outgoing Consortium Chair Helen Belcher’s last day in post.

The Board of Trustees and the staff team would like to extend a huge thank you to Helen for everything she has helped the organisation to achieve during her tenure. Helen has seen Consortium through challenging times at the beginning of her time with the organisation, through to the period of growth most recently seen.

Helen said, “I joined Consortium to serve, not to lead. It’s been a real privilege to work with Paul and the team over the past six years, seeing the organisation grow and becoming organisationally and financially secure. I learnt a lot and, while unsurprisingly sad that my term as a trustee has come to an end, am pleased to move on knowing Consortium is in good hands. I look forward to working, as chair of TransActual, with other members alongside Consortium to develop the whole LGBT+ sector.”

Helen has supported the organisation in its journey to be better connected into Government, been pivotal in building our proactive trans work and helped shape our new grant giving work. Her skills of running her own business, along with the expertise she brings across trans rights and wider voluntary sector engagement have helped position Consortium as a trusted organisation across our membership and beyond.

Paul Roberts, Consortium’s Chief Executive said, “On behalf of the staff team we cannot thank Helen enough. Her guidance, expertise and support has been simply fantastic and she has supported the staff team to position Consortium into the organisation it is today. On a personal note, to have a Chair you can build such a positive relationship with is the dream and that really has been the case. You will be sorely missed. However, I am so pleased we will continue to work together in your volunteer role with Trans Actual.”

Carina Badger, Acting Chair said, “Helen has been an inspirational Chair and will be sorely missed. Consortium has grown significantly under her leadership and her support and guidance have been invaluable. The Board wishes Helen the very best”.

Carina will step in as Acting Chair until the Board undertake an open recruitment process in the New Year following a skills audit and review of the current Board makeup to ensure it remains as representative and diverse as possible.