WIREDGOV

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is today (Wednesday 5 February) bringing together leading voices from LGBT organisations to celebrate the important work of the third sector at the start of LGBT History Month.

The leadership summit, held over two days, will also be looking to the future and how to improve the financial sustainability and operational effectiveness of these organisations - currently 41% of organisations in the sector are dependent on central government funding.

As one of the commitments made in the government’s 2018 LGBT Action Plan, the summit follows last year’s £200,000 to deliver training to LGBT+ organisations, and £400,000 in the Futures Fund to voluntary and community groups across the UK.

Consortium, LGBT Foundation and Stonewall will be providing workshops for attendees on organisational sustainability, leadership and representation and lobbying effectively and collective voice.

Minister for Equalities, Baroness Williams, said:

“LGBT charities in the UK provide a range of exceptional respectful and supportive services. It’s vital their huge efforts in support of the LGBT community are recognised.

“This conference provides an excellent opportunity for LGBT Leaders to share what works and what doesn’t. Coming together to increase the already outstanding impact the LGBT third sector has on so many lives in the UK.”

Alongside a speech from the Minister for Equalities, Baroness Williams, the summit will see workshops hosted by members of the government’s LGBT Advisory Panel, and guest speakers including co-founder of Black Pride UK and Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust, Phyll Opoku-Gymiah, and Dr Chelvan, Barrister at No.5 Barrister Chambers and member of the LGBT Advisory Panel.

Workshops and discussions will include sustainability of attendees’ organisations, leadership and how to lobby effectively with a collective voice.

Through the £400k Futures Fund, the government has supported 66 projects ranging from LGBT Bristol receiving funding to improve their strategic planning to Pride in Sheffield who received funding to be even more inclusive, enabling people to attend Pride who would normally face barriers.

One example of important work that has been funded comes from an organisation which promotes the care and upbringing of children by LGBT+ adopters and foster carers by allowing these families to socialise and share support in a safe environment.

The funding was able to provide support at a number of levels. The charity has been able to extend staff hours, set out a new membership structure that can be better utilised, a new website launches and coaching for the Chief Executive to support development.

The LGBT Leaders Summit provides organisations like these with the opportunity to discuss what support has been most beneficial to them, changes they have made which have worked well and what they feel can be done better so that the sector can flourish further.

Background:

Representatives from the following organisations were in attendance:

NHS England

Kaleidoscope Trust

Umbrella Cymru

Proud Trust

Mosaic

LGBT Mental Health Service

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

Diversity Role Models

All Sorts

Mermaids UK

London Friend

Birmingham LGBT

Proud Trust

Intercom

Gendered Intelligence

Rainbow

Stonewall Housing/Gallop

FFLAG

Consortium

Hidayah

New Family Social

Inclusive Mosque

Carra Friend

Transgender NI

Quest LGBTI

Keshet

One Body One Faith

Para Pride

BiPride

LGBT Foundation

Lancashire LGBT

The Ozanne Foundation

Barnardos

Scottish Trans Alliance