Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Guildhall

Contact: Aimee Luck  Email: aimee.luck@westnorthants.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcomes, Introductions and Apologies

Minutes:

Present: Matthew Toresen; Aimee, Will; Abayomi; Alex; Amy; Kit; Helen; Maxine

Apologies: Christian (Police), Jane (Rathgar)

 

Matthew shared the sad news of Lee Gilbert’s death recently. Matthew paid tribute to his contributions to the forum and requested we send a message of support to his family. Action: Aimee to arrange.

 

Helen introduced Maxine who is the new LGBTQ coordinator at the Lowdown.

2.

Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 244 KB

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 434 KB

Minutes:

Previous actions signed off or picked up below.

 

Action Plan - Forum are keen to discuss care of older LGBTQ people and would like to add to the action plan.

Action: All interested in joining this group please contact Aimee.

Action: Aimee to set up a separate task and finish group to discuss the topic with providers from health, hospices, care homes etc.

 

Pride Committee review took place since last forum meeting and first meeting of this year will take place on 1st Feb.

 

Alex raised Women at Risk (of county lines or sex work) project led by DWP. Action: Aimee to ask Laura (lead) about any LGBTQ support needed.

Kit suggested raised issues of trans access to refuge services. Something that is being explored by services such as NDAS and Eve who have been inputting into new WNC Domestic Abuse Strategy. The Council are currently working to implement changes as per the new Domestic Abuse Bill which includes new duties around housing in particular.

4.

LGBTQ History Month

Minutes:

West Northants Council are focusing on internal history month comms with the Staff LGBTQ network taking a lead. Staff are submitting their own stories, myth busting and literacy and media reviews to encourage colleagues to learn a little bit more about LGBTQ.

 

Qstory:

QWord theme for Feb is Victorian times to link to history month. Looking to have a stall at the library to link with anthropology project

QFilm – 2 meet ups in Feb for history month, dates to be confirmed. Kit to check age certificate for Lowdown. If youth group are interested they are open to suggestions and a conversation. Action: Kit and Helen/Maxine to liaise outside of meeting.

 

Messages of Hope has been delayed but will be going ahead, new target of April.

 

Fire Service:

Trying to do more around visibility, engagement and education. In touch with Q Space to arrange some training for managers. Might need some help around engagement – particularly older LGBTQ communities. Goal is to improve relationships with LGBTQ communities. Suggested the progress flag be used. Amy to take back.

 

Police:

LGBTQ History campaigns are inward focused mainly this year. Timeline of LGBT history of the Police service in Northamptonshire being developed.

Matthew shared that his positive action team (Northants Police) are attending the Boston in February to promote recruitment sessions taking place in March. Action: Matthew to share information to Amy for Fire service to get involved.  

 

 

Lowdown:

Activity taking place within the youth group and some social media but nothing externally.

 

 

5.

Intersectionality and Diversity

Minutes:

Thank you to Forum members who sent links/contacts for this item. Aimee to continue to make contact. New NBCT contact added to forum.

 

Christian has raised the topic at the NIFF meeting and confirmed they are still keen to support and engage with this forum.

 

Forum would like to support any plans for refugee week as a collective – confirmed an event will take place at the Guildhall on Thursday 23 June, 5-7pm. Action: Aimee to contact Danielle Stone at L2L and Diverse Forum re. Refugee week plans and how the forum can support.
Locally, L2L have provided support to young refugees and Afghan nationals from the bridging hotel.

 

International Women’s Day event – opportunity to have LGBTQ stalls. If you are interested contact Debbie.maccoll@westnorthants.gov.uk

 

If anyone has any other suggestions for other groups underrepresented in the forum please email Aimee with information or put them in touch directly.

6.

Community Information Exchange

Minutes:

Lowdown Swim session took place – 18 young people (11-25) attended plus adults. All LGBTQ people felt comfortable due to single stall changing areas and sole use of the pool. Next one in planning and will be shared on Lowdown socials but one piece of information held back for security purposes and booking required.

 

Parent and Carers support group – struggling to get people to engage. Monthly social via Zoom. Helen to share information on the group for promotion. Aimee has recently signposted parents to the service. Request to promote to public.

 

Alex update for Northampton Community Foundation:

 

Global Goals Fund for Northamptonshire

 

The Global Goals Fund for Northamptonshire aims to help build a sustainable and safe future for Northamptonshire communities. The fund will focus on the following themes in 2022 which aim to address: decent work and economic growth; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; peace, justice and strong institutions.

 

This is a rolling programme meaning you can apply at any time and the maximum funding award is £3000, for more information please visit - http://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/global-goals-fund-northamptonshire

 

Arts Council Let’s Create Jubilee Fund

The Let's Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. This fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery. It is open to voluntary organisations with charitable aims and working towards a common goal which does not have to be based solely around arts and culture.

 

Groups can apply for amounts between £750 and £10,000. Projects must:

  • Focus on art and creativity
  • Engage with at least one of the artforms that ACE supports (see below)
  • Be high quality and inclusive in their approach
  • Culminate in June 2022
  • Benefit people in Northamptonshire particularly those on low incomes or facing disadvantage

 

The closing date for applications is 28th February, for more information please visit - http://www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grant-finder/lets-create-jubilee-fund

 

 

Question raised re. access to Refugee and asylum seeker support groups.

Alex recommended the following:

 

Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council - https://northantsrec.org/

United Africa Association - https://www.uaassociation.org/

Northampton Town of Sanctuary - https://northampton.cityofsanctuary.org/

 

Feb 7th is HIV testing week. NHFT are running drop-in testing sessions at venues in the town. Request for groups to promote. Problem in UK is not catching HIV early enough but can live long and happy lives with early detection. https://www.freetest.me/ offer a free 4-in-1 Kit for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

 

Qstory:

Literary and arts festival; postponing an event until more certain times following covid recovery. Other smaller scale writing and publishing projects continuing in the meantime.

 

7.

Items for Future Meetings

Minutes:

We have been contacted for Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Team to return to update the forum following their last visit a year ago. Forum would welcome them returning to the May meeting.

 

 

8.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

Forum agreed Zapato would be a good venue. Lowdown suggested the Lowdown garden could be used in the warmer months.

Action: Matthew to ask Zapato if we can reserve a couple of tables for the next social on Tuesday 26 April.

 

Meeting ended 20:16