Agenda and draft minutes

Present: Aimee (WNC - Charing), Debs (WNC - Minutes), Phil, Ellen (Mind), Shona (Mind), Will (Lowdown/NISH), Rachel (NDAS), Ryan (NCF), Rachel (Voice), Kit (QStory)

Apologies: Matt (Chair), QSpace and Trangst reps, Helen (Lowdown)

Rachel Duncan, Rachel Percival, and Ellen Packham would like to regular attendees to the forum. Action: AL to add to distribution list.

Previous minutes (May 2022) Social meeting last meeting, actions reviewed below.

• Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Team will join us in the future.  AL to send dates.
• African Rainbow Family – struggled to arrange a time for them to come to the meeting, AL has not been able to find an agreed time.  Action: AL to continue to try and get a date and time that works. Kit suggested inviting ‘Say it Loud’, another LGBTQ refugee group. AL to invite ‘Say it Loud’.
• QSpace to Surrendra (Niff) introduced. Actioned.
• Northants Police – Hate Crime Guidance – Action: AL to follow up with MT (record in the minutes)

Rachel Duncan (NDAS)

NDAS are attending the meeting today to facilitate a conversation with the forum, not to provide training. If you do want training, NDAS can support, please contact directly.

Slides shared on screen and information to be shared with forum following meeting. Action: Rachel to share NDAS information.

RD advised DA happens everywhere. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience DA in their lifetime.   SEE IT, SAY IT, SURVIVE IT.

What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violence behaviour.

 (Behaviour one person against another person – aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other).

·       It is never a one-off – most of the times it escalates and gets more serious.  Positive DA Act came in legislation about a year ago – statutory definition of Domestic Abuse.  Domestic Abuse Act 2021. 

·       Coercive control – defined in the serious crime act, the Domestic Abuse Act includes controlling coercive behaviour.

·       Definition of personally connected – see factsheet 

·       Children as victims of Domestic Abuse in their own right.

Question: Do they have to be living together.  Rachel Duncan confirmed NO.

LGBTQ+
There is a very limited picture of DA in the LGBTQ Community, although seen to be disproportionally affected and recognise trans people as most highly at risk.
Some studies have been done but produced conflicting findings and do not include non-binary or Trans people.

Last financial year, locally, 3% of NDAS clients identified as LGBTQ – 30% of clients not asked. Massive gap around data and understanding the issues that people are facing.

NDAS run 7 refuges with 2 new flats being opened (dispersed accommodation). Outreach in the community. Drops ins and group work. 

Services – 24 hr helpline. 0300 0120154  

RD advised things are getting complicated – NDAS used to be ‘Northampton Women’s Aid’ and are still members and have a good relationship. However, NDAS disappointed with WA Single Sex Services statement released recently. There is an unfortunate movement at the moment whereby there are some feminist positions that find it difficult to define and operate women only safe spaces.  NDAS clear from the beginning, they offer a service to anybody that suffers DA.  

NDAS Equality and Diversity policy – under review and procedurally reviewing to ensure they are an accessible service for all to be included. Open to forum consultation around procedures and improvement of services.

Open recruitment - .5 fte diversity lead with LGBTQ+ focus.  0.5 diversity lead focussing on Black & Diverse community.

Questions:

1.    Do you have refuges that can be accessed by non-binary people?
A. Yes.

2.    Is VOICE only for male or female victims, or is that just how it's worded here?
A.

3.    Voice is it just for current or recent abuse or can it be historic? Is there capacity or do you run services outside of work hours?
A.  Voice is a revamp of the Freedom programme – open to historic and more recent abuse.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Shona Marriot-Smith (Northampton Mind)

Ellen and Shona are both community connectors at Northampton MIND.

What we do? Our aim is to help build bridges between local services and organisations and people in the community. During Covid relationship and groups fell apart due to things being on-line etc.  MIND want to rebuild and get out into the community. Groups run at MIND aimed at different group of people.

Currently have the following groups established; Women’s, Men’s, Young People, Parents, Mindfulness, Course to build confidence. Purpose being to create safe spaces for people within the community – places where they can access, support, empower.   Now setting up an LGBTQ adult support group. Asked the forum if a group needed to include young people or not?

Will advised that youth provision in the county for children is very good with 7 LGBTQ Youth groups for under 18’s and up to 25 running in the County.  Adults lacking support and mature age within the community feel they do not have a space to go to. 

LGBTQ+ Group will run on a Thursday 12.00 – 1.00 pm, at Mind, Regent Square, Northampton.  There is not capacity for Evening or weekends but hopefully they may be able to branch out in the future.

EP advised that there is talk of a course being run for people for parents to expand knowledge and awareness. Develop relationship with their children to increase their knowledge.  Phil advised very supportive of the course for parents from experience, parents look lost and not sure how to handle what is going on – they want to understand more to help and support.

Will advised Lowdown run parental support groups – happy to support and collaborate and share resources. Action: EP/SMS/WB to meet outside of the meeting. Open to other members who would also like to support.

If you want to get in touch please contact Ellen and Shona directly: ellen.packham@northamptonshiremind.org.uk and shona.marriott-smith@northamptonshiremind.org.uk

EP and SMS are both Cis-gender women and would love If you know of or representative on behalf of Trans - open for people to come along so we do not single out due to not having experience.

Q. I'm aware that some groups e.g., trans people, bi people, who face issues of acceptance even within the queer community sometimes want spaces just for us. Is this something you might consider supporting?

Ellen advised Yes; they would like to – project started in June 2022.  Community Hub space at MIND is rentable – if anyone knows of a volunteer to run the group at MIND this would be an option.

EP advised the group that Mind Northampton is an LGBTQ is a safe space

The Lowdown – new Out There group opened in Daventry.  MIND building on Thursday 03.11.22. 6.30 – 8.00 pm.

NCF: Funding open. Northamptonshire Community Foundation (ncf.uk.com)

2 main ones.

Constant Travis Fund – rolling fund – 2 months on 2 months off. Broad grand for in terms of products it will fund. £3,000

IWillFund opening soon – webinar session 14.10.22. Youth Projects – grants available up to £10,000 starting beginning of 2023.  (Alex Rex running the webinar).  Action: If you would like to attend. alex@ncf.uk.com

Northampton Museum – temporary gallery – Trainer Exhibition on running from Now until February. Working on an exhibition for next year – Punk. Please come and visit the museum.

Museums (northamptonmuseums.com)

Queer Fiction Anthology – shared with the minutes.  QStory’s main project.

QFilm are getting more active again now the weather is turning cold. We have 4 screenings over October and November, including some weekend screenings at Northampton Filmhouse – next screening is this week – a sports film.

QSpace have the following events coming up. Please check their social pages for more information:

20th November - Trans Day of Remembrance

Unitarians Meeting House

Saturday 10th November - Winter Brunch

Castle Hill URC

Next meeting will be a social meeting.

Could look to attend a social event already being hosted by/being attended by forum members – send any suggestions in and they can be shared/voted on.