Consortium is passionate about co-production and collaboration across the LGBT+ sector. The vast majority of the work we undertake is done in collaboration. Below you will find highlights of some of our key collaborations over the last few years.
We are keen to develop new collaborations and always want to hear from people and organisations who share these values and have new and creative ideas to make our LGBT+ sector more visible, inclusive and sustainable. Contact us if you would like to discuss potential collaborations.
Running a contract for the Equality and Human Rights Commission between 2015-17, Consortium led a partnership of 35 Member organisations in a wide-reaching project focussed on reducing hate crime across our communities. This project drew on expertise across England, Wales and Scotland, producing 2 highly successful media campaigns and gave those involved opportunnities to strengthen their future anti hate crime work.
Following a successful application to the Government Equalities Office / Department for Education's anti Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Bullying Fund, Consortium led a partnership of 11 Members to deliver an innovative project over 2 and a half years. The project worked with schools across England, in conjunction with young LGBT+ people, to help school staff understand and tackle HBT bullying and provide more supportive school environments so every young L, G, B and T+ person can feel safe whilst undertaking their education.
Our Alliance was one of 6 LGBT+ specfiic projects working together to tackle these important issues. The lasting legacy of this work has enabled our partner organisations to strengthen their ability to access schools and promote their own training and support mechanisms, which have young people at their heart and offer income generating opportunities for those organisations.
Now in its third year this project funded by City Bridge Trust and is run in partnership with GMFA/HERO. It builds on our partnership work to create the Still Out There research. GMFA/HERO, who have extensive experience in online reachlead on creating, populating and managing an online directory/mapping tool of LGBT+ services across London which launched in June 2019.
Consortium leads on providing capacity-building and general support to LGBT+ voluntary and community organisations across London, along with providing lots of opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Our LGBT+ London Engagement Officer, Martin, works 4 days a week as part of the Consortium’s existing Engagement team and our Trans Organisations Network Officer, Shaan, works one day a week to make sure that Trans groups and communities thrive in London.
Martin acts as our key contact for our Membership across London supporting them with a range of issues (e.g. good governance & financial accountability) to enabling all LGBT+ voices to be heard. Please email Martin to find out more.
The study, carried out by Anglia Ruskin University in 2016 – produced by a partnership of LGBT+ organisations led by Consortium and funded by Trust for London highlights growing concerns around prejudice, safety and poverty.
4 in 10 surveyed experience some form of prejudice on a regular basis
Over one-third find maintaining physical safety a constant challenge
LGBT+ specialist service provision unavailable for many people in need
LGBT+ service users are presenting increasingly complex and multi-layered issues to providers, including problems regarding mental health, primary healthcare, housing, substance abuse, safety and violence. These needs are set against a backdrop of inadequate targeted service provision, with the majority of respondents unable to access services within their locality.
The basis of this collaborative research was used to leverage funding from City Bridge Trust for our Always Out There collaborative project.
Working in collaboration with Lloyds Banking Group, Consortium have placed 18 LBG professionals into trustee roles across our divese LGBT+ membership. As LGBT+ organisations develop and thrive, it is important to have a trustee board that is diverse and brings together a range of skills and expertise. Corporate skills are something many voluntary organisations strive to include on their Boards and this partnership has enabled us to strengthen the expertise and knowledge across these 18 LGBT+ organisations.
The encouraging results from this work continues with both LBG, and developing with others, as we continue to advocate for strong resilient trustee boards.
