Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies – Kelly (Lowdown), Matthew T (chair), Cllr Anna King

Present: Nikki (NDAS), Aimee (WNC), Lindsay (WNC), Charlene and Helen (Lowdown), Lisa Knight-Smith (NHFT), Will, Zach, Atlas  (Qspace) Ozioma, Ellis James (WNC Electoral Services) Asima.

All agreed minutes were a true reflection. A couple of events were upcoming:

·       World AIDS Day took place and went well.

·       Joint social with North Northants in November – A few members attended, Nikki suggested it was a good event.

Ellis James

Ellis from WNC Electoral services attended the meeting to share changes to the way you vote from this year.

Date for upcoming elections: PFCC 2nd May 2024, General election to take place by Jan 28th 2025 but anticipated in 2024.

You must be registered to vote and Electors need to provide photo ID- VAC has been introduced as a form of free ID for anyone who needs. Gender markers will not be checked. You can request I.D be checked in private.

Question was asked in relation to homeless or ‘no fixed abode’ voters. Ellis took the question away and has provided the below response following the meeting:

We can register people as what we call local connections, whereby you don’t have a permanent address. They last 12 months, so say you’re at a temporary accommodation, with a friend temporarily or homeless, you complete the local connection form. You will be registered and can choose where you receive post. For example, if you’re between friend’s houses you can register at one and have your post sent there too if they’re happy to receive it, or, you can have a PO Box or somewhere where post can be sent (for example in WNC, people living at Billing Aquadrome are registered there but as it technically isn’t a permanent address, the garden centre over the road receives post and keeps it for you).

People can also have their post for voting sent to the Guildhall, they can put their address to be Electoral Services and we keep it for them. If we have a contact detail we can get in touch, otherwise we’d just keep it safe to see if they claim.

Action: Aimee to attach the slides with full information.
Leaflets are available in hard copy, from Guildhall, Northampton. Please contact Ellis on the details shown on the slides if you have any questions.

The 2024 theme celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to the field of Medicine and Healthcare both historically and today.

The 2024 theme celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to the field of Medicine and Healthcare both historically and today.

Aware NHFT are planning an event during the month. Partners invited to meeting but not here to share further. Will aim to share details as they become available.

QSpace tea dance 4th Feb, time tbc - Delapre Abbey. Free event but must register with contact details and dietary requirements – all ages and allies welcome.Hoping youth group will volunteer on the day.

See QSpace socials for updates @Qspacenorthants

New Guidance for schools on gender questioning children currently being consulted on – deadline 12 March. Find full details, the draft guidance and link to the consultation here.

Requested for the agenda by Kelly (Lowdown) for forum discussion. Lowdown will be responding to the consultation directly as an organisation and some staff will be responding independently too.

Question raised to forum as to whether we would like to respond to the consultation as a forum or not. Forum members are able to respond to the consultation individually regardless of the group decision.

QSpace will also respond as a group but would like to see a response from the forum and/or from West Northants. QSpace have had contact from concerned parents worried about how any proposed guidance might mean.

Due to smaller numbers tonight Aimee suggested important for others in the forum to feedback. If others agree on a forum response a special meeting will be set up mid February to do so.
Action: If you would like the forum to respond to the consultation and would like to be involved please let Aimee know by 26 January.

Zach suggested linking up with North Northants as well.

Action Plan updated.

Actions:

Hate Crime  – Prompt Nick Stephens (Hate crime officer) for updates on guidance and stats.

DA and SV in LGBTQ+ communities – Nikki to explore available materials for/including LGBTQ community.

Care of older LGBTQ+ people - Aaron to provide update on training package.

Diversity and inclusion - group of LGBT people of colour meeting in Northampton. Instagram page @life_in_colour_nn
Zach to share poster and info.

Research piece - Aimee liaise with QSpace to devise some questions for community on experiences of night time economy and gaps.

Charlene (Lowdown)

Role is Access and Engagement Lead.  Key priorities for my role are to raise awareness of the Lowdown and what support we offer for Young People (before they know they need it is the dream!)  Identify and address, hopefully remove the barriers to participation and getting the support YP need.  Also using youth voice to help us shape future programmes/ services.  Please contact me to discuss how I can link up with you and get feedback from your YP, I would love to meet with you and open discussion if you have the time as the LGBTQ+ community is amongst the key areas of focus for gathering feedback so please speak to me and we can arrange something.  my email is charlenewardgreef@thelowdownnorthampton.co.uk

Lisa (NISHH)

HIV testing week in Feb -  it is done all year but this is an extra push. www.Freetest.me

Will also be at International women’s day at Guildhall – theme safe sex work.

Nikki (NDAS)

New role – want to do groupwork with LGTBQ victims

Developing external training too. Showing abuse happens in all relationships

Looking for feedback and any interest. Please contact nikkibrown@ndas.co.uk
Aimee suggested Nikki speak to Police Community Engagement officers about previously funding options for materials.

Zach (Qspace/nhft) – looking at ecg monitoring and a non-contact version of this. Looking for people to trial. Zach will share more information as available.

Asima – Enjoyed coming to their first forum meeting. Asked some clarifying questions re ‘Life in Colour’ group and how to access. Offered to support with focus groups and projects.

Next meeting is a social. Aimee suggested Waterside as a venue.
Open to other suggestions!

12 March 2024 – social

14 May 2024, 7pm – formal teams meeting