Partnership News Update

We are starting work on our new work programme and as part of this have appointed a stakeholder engagement worker who will be in post soon.

This post holder will support the work of the partnership in disseminating the products we have produced and will provide further opportunities for stakeholders to engage directly with the partnership over the course of the year.

Our engagement work in the forthcoming year will be externally focused and will host meetings in different parts of England engaging in person with stakeholders.

Read below for information in relation to the LGB&T adult social care outcomes framework companion document.

New Evidence Addresses Health & Care Needs of LGB&T People

The LGB&T Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework Companion Document launched in March, highlighting the significant impact of discrimination on LGB&T people’s experiences of care and support and outcomes for their wellbeing.

Based on the largest ever survey of LGB&T people and their carers, and a survey of adult social care providers, the document aims to help everyone working in health and social care to consider the needs of LGB&T people. The LGB&T ASCOF Companion Document is aimed at strategic commissioners, care and support service providers and local authority providers. The document sets out the evidence on LGB&T communities in relation to each of the indicators under the four domains of the ASCOF. It makes recommendations for actions to address inequalities in outcomes for LGB&T people and communities.

The document was developed by the National LGB&T Partnership working with the Department of Health, with the support of experts from across the LGB&T community.

Download it at lgbt.foundation/ascof, and share it among your contacts.  

Update from Department of Health

New fund to improve the health of homeless people

• Homeless people will benefit from a new £55 million find to upgrade existing accommodation and provide new housing.
• the money will be used for 2 types of projects:
• The Homeless Change project will provide upgraded hostel accommodation to improve physical and mental health outcomes for rough sleepers and to help reduce A&E attendances
• The Platform for Life project will create new low-rent shared accommodation for young people who want to work, but are struggling to hold down a job or attend college because of a lack of stable housing to read more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-fund-to-improve-the-health-of-homeless-people

Improving mental health services for young people

The Department of Health and NHS England have published a report of the work of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce.
 
‘Future in mind – promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing’ makes a number of proposals the government wishes to see by 2020. These include:
 
 

• tackling stigma and improving attitudes to mental illness
• introducing more access and waiting time standards for services
• establishing ‘one stop shop’ support services in the community
• improving access for children and young people who are particularly vulnerable

Update from NHS England

National Health Initiative launched to prevent diabetes 

NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK will work together on a major national initiative to prevent illness by unveiling the first ever at-scale National NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. The programme aims to significantly reduce the four million people in England otherwise expected to have Type 2 diabetes by 2025.
 
To read more,
go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2015/03/12/diabetes-prevention/

Update from Public Health England

PHE publishes new guidance on promoting children and young people's emotional health and wellbeing

The guidance, produced in partnership with the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, contains eight evidenced based principles informed by practitioner feedback on what works. If applied consistently and comprehensively they will contribute towards helping protect and promote student emotional health and wellbeing.
 
You can access the guidance here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-children-and-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeing

PHE has published Equality and Diversity Report

The equality duty is supported by 2 specific duties which require public bodies such as PHE to:
 

• publish information to show their compliance with the equality duty
• set and publish equality objectives at least every 4 years

Building public mental health skills

Public Health England has this week published a new framework to build mental health skills in a wide range of professions working with children and adults in all areas of life, including work settings. The publication coincides with the third annual Public Mental Health Summit.
 
The framework aims to widen the responsibility for improving public mental health beyond those professions on the public health register, or with a specific role in public health. Teachers, early years workers, nurses, GPs, housing officers, psychiatrists and employers are all identified as having an important role.
 
The aim of the framework is to build the capacity and capability of leaders, and developing a workforce that is confident, competent, and committed to:
 
 

• promoting good mental health across the population
• preventing mental illness and suicide
• improving the quality and length of life of people living with mental illness

Addressing Online Abuse: New website launched

​​There is widespread disquiet about the bullying and harassment of ​women and LGB&T people online and the wider context of misogyny​, ​sexism​, homophobia and transphobia ​across all media channels.  People need to be able to access clear guidance on what constitutes illegal abuse​ and how it can be addressed​. Women and LGB&T adults need to be able to easily access effective online advice and guidance on media portrayal ​and online harassment and bullying. 

In response to this the Government Equalities Office has funded a new website, which seeks to address these concerns and provide advice to those who have suffered/​are ​suffering online abuse. The guidance pulls together a range of information that is currently held across a range of organisations into one place, creating a simple, visually attractive and user​-friendly interface.​
The website has just been launched, the link is here: ​www.onlinesafetyuk.org
 

Awards announced from £2 million homophobic bullying fund

Eight organisations told they are to get a share of £2 million to help prevent and eradicate homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying. The funding was announced by Jo Swinson, Minister for Women and Equalities, and Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan, in October 2014. Read more here.

Equal measures - Equality information report for 2014

The focus of this annual equality report from CQC is the variation in care for older people and younger people; and differences on the grounds of disability, ethnicity, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. The report can be found here.

METRO Charity with PACE win funds to support LGBTQ young people's mental health

METRO Charity in partnership with PACE, has been awarded project funding from the Department for Education to support LGBTQ young people’s mental health.
 
METRO has been awarded nearly a quarter of a million pounds to work with PACE to provide an integrated specialist service to support practitioners and to improve their ability to support LGBTQ young people and their families across Greater London, Kent and Medway. The project will also provide direct counselling, training and national resources.
 
Read more: https://www.metrocentreonline.org/news-and-events/news/detail/?news=103

Summary of Live Consultations

• We really encourage and value your input into each consultation response that is sent out by The National LGB&T Partnership.  The more individuals and organisations that contribute to and endorse key messages in support of health equalities for LGBT people, the stronger our voice becomes.  It is also crucial that we encapsulate the breadth and diversity of opinions and experiences where possible.

NHS England: Investing in specialised commissioning https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/3a67882b Deadline 27th April

Care Quality Commission: Thematic review of inequalities and variation in end of life care. 
On line survey found https://webdataforms.cqc.org.uk/Checkbox/endoflifecare.aspx
Closes on 1st May

Prostate Cancer Service Development Survey for Gay, Bisexual Men and Trans Women  in the Midlands

Birmingham LGBT is working with Prostate Cancer UK who are keen to develop a range of appropriate and beneficial support services for the LGB&T community, including gay men, bisexual men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and trans* women. In order to do this we need to hear from the people that know best. As someone affected by prostate cancer you can tell us what support you needed, what you would currently benefit from and whether this support is available.  

Take the survey here.

The UK Stigma Index 2015

The UK Stigma Index 2015 aims to identify whether people living with HIV in the UK experience HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and to describe how such stigma affects their daily lives.

• Any adult (aged 18+) living with HIV in the UK is invited to participate.
• It is an online survey that takes 20 to 40 minutes to complete.
• Your individual responses will remain strictly anonymous and confidential.
• Your participation is voluntary, so please take time to decide whether or not to take part.

Same-Sex Families' Experiences of Schools

Are you a same-sex parent of a school-aged child? A new study is looking into same-sex families' experiences of schools - an area which hasn't been explored in the UK before. What is the relationship between you and your child's school? How is your child getting on in school - does he or she feel included? What suggestions would you make to schools to support your child?

New study looking at preventing LGBTQ youth suicide and self-harm

Queer Futures are looking for young LGBTQ people who have experiences of self-harm or suicidal feelings to invite them to take part in their research by completing and online survey . The survey will take around 20 minutes to complete. It asks questions about who you are, things that cause you distress, as well as your self-harm/ suicidal feelings and asking for help.

By taking part, you will help to inform services and policies that will hopefully make things better for young people in the future.

For more information click here.

Complete the survey now.

Carers UK’s State of Caring Survey

Each year the State of Caring Survey helps us to track changes over time, gather up to date evidence on the impact of caring and help us campaign for a better deal. The views and experiences shared with us are at the heart of our work with Government and decision makers throughout the UK.
 
To read more and take part in the survey,
go to: http://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/state-of-caring-survey
Survey closes on the 15^th April 2015
 

Tool kits launched - prevention of suicide in LGB&T young people

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), in collaboration with Public Health England (PHE), has launched toolkits to guide nurses and other health professionals in the prevention of suicide in trans young people.
find it here

and the one for preventing suicide for young LGB people  read it here.

Book Published: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans health inequalities - international perspective in social work

This book brings together international research in social work, examines key concepts including the social determinants of health (SDoH) and human rights approaches to LGBT health - read more here.

New Book - Modern Family and Parents and Children in  New Family Forms

new book that researches new family forms

“Contrary to the expectation that parents of children born through assisted reproductive technologies would experience difficulties in parenting, research has found them to be highly committed and involved parents, even in donor-conceived families where one or both parents lack a genetic relationship with their children,” says Golombok.

“A key factor in the positive functioning of children in new family forms appears to be that they are very wanted children. Parents in new family forms often struggle to have children against the odds. Many experience years of infertility before becoming parents; others become parents in the face of significant social disapproval; and still others surmount both hurdles in order to have a child.”  Read more here.

The Dementia Challenge for LGB&T Communities

The National Care Forum have released their report following the LGBT dementia roundtable.  This was organised in partnership with the National LGB&T Partnership, to explore how the experience of people from LGB&T communities who may develop dementia and need care and support could be improved.

Read it here.

Guardian Social Care Network considers how the social care workforce supports the ageing LGBT community.

This article further highlights the needs of older LGB&T people  - for more information read it here.

Largest ever consultation reveals widespread confusion over laws protecting religion or belief

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has found misunderstanding is common about the laws protecting freedom of religion or belief, and how these interact with protection of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Some LGB&T people responding to the consultation reported experiencing discrimination which they felt was “hidden” behind religion or belief, or felt they were not allowed to fully express themselves in the workplace for fear of discrimination.

Read the full report here: http://bit.ly/1AgzaVo.

Exeter Pride 2015 : Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 11:00

Health and well-being advice will be found at the South West's biggest free celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The Health Zone at this year's Exeter Pride, which will take place on Saturday, May 16, will include free HIV testing, free "safe sex" packs and information about mental health, counselling and other health issues.

Trans Youth Residential: 10-12 April 2015

Young trans people aged 13-25 are welcome to come on this fun, interesting and supportive residential that Afternoon TEA trans youth group is organising. It is free to come too thanks to Comic Relief!

• At Launde Abbey in Leicestershire, on April 26th - 28th
• Single, en-suite rooms for everyone!
• Food & accommodation provided… completely free!

LGBT Youth Summer Camp

16th - 22nd of August, Yacht aiming for France

Contact Lukasz today to discuss your involvement and to be included in planning.

Contact Lukasz:

manager@mosaicyouth.org.uk
07931336668

 

The Rabbit Event

If your work, organisation, service or activism involves providing services for lesbian, bay, bisexual or trans* survivors of domestic abuse, we would like to invite you to attend a national front line workers meeting.

LGBT DAF's 'The Rabbit Event' is due to take place in Leicester on Monday 15 May.  This follows on from our event on 5 March which brought together frontline staff working to support LGBT survivors of Domestic Abuse.

The aim of the event is to build networks, share best practice and improve services for survivors.

Further details of how to register for this event will be available to those who subscribe to the mailing list here.

 

Pride in Sport - 18th April 2015

For an afternoon of fun sports & fitness activities at University of Birmingham. You can compete as an individual, a team of four or indeed both! There will be around 10 activities and we request that you pick a minimum of 3.
 
For further details please contact Activate’s Sports Activator, pennybarber@blgbt.org 0121 643 0821

To book go here.