December 2016 – Page 2 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

B RIGHT ON FESTIVAL to host Brighton’s LGBT History Month events

Posted on 28/12/201619/03/2019 by Graham Robson

Rainbow Fund enables LGBT+/HIV groups in Brighton & Hove to participate in LGBT+ History Month.

A special Pavilion erected on New Steine Gardens named after the legendary drag entertainer Phil Starr will be home to Brighton & Hove LGBT+ History Month events in February 2017.

Miss Jason hosts the opening Gala event at the Phil Starr Pavilion on February 3

The Rainbow Fund have announced a small grants round to enable local LGBT+/HIV groups delivering effective front line services to the LGBT+ communities in Brighton & Hove to take part in the B Right On LGBT+ Festival which will run from February 3-19.

This year, LGBT+ History Month events in Brighton & Hove are being coordinated by the LGBT Community Safety Forum and will open with a Fundraising Gala night for the Rainbow Fund on Friday, February 3 hosted by Miss Jason, featuring an array of local performers.

Other events planned include:

♦ A Mental Health Day organised by MindOut the mental health service run by and for LGBT+ people

♦ A Younger Persons Day organised by Allsorts the LGBT+ Youth Project

♦ An HIV History Day and Big Community Lunch organised by Lunch Positive the HIV charity and lunch club

♦ Faith Days organised by the Village Community Church

♦ A Disability Visibility Day organised by Accessibility Matters

♦ An LGBT+ Worker & Volunteer Fair organised by the LGBT Community Safety Forum OUTReach project

♦ A Tea Dance and A Family Day

Live performance events include:

♦ A Rocky Horror In The Park sing-a-long party

♦ The return of the historic LGBT+ History Ball hosted by the Jazz legend that is Nicky Mitchell

Z Star appears at the Phil Starr Pavilion on Saturday, February 11

♦ Sound Waves a concert of live music featuring amazing guitarist and singer Z Star, Travis Eddie, and Yourgardenday.

And that’s just for starters!

LGBT History Month is an international month-long annual observance of LGBT+History and the opportunity to commemorate and remember the bravery of those who campaigned and spoke out over the years to help us achieve the freedoms and equality we enjoy today.

Local LGBT+/HIV organisations delivering effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city are invited to apply for grants of up to £500, which will allow them to participate directly in events taking place in the specially erected Phil Starr Pavilion on New Steine Gardens from Friday, February 3 – Sunday, February 19.

Chris Gull, Chair of The Rainbow Fund, said: “We have been impressed by the scale and quality of arrangements being made around LGBT+ History Month 2017 in Brighton &Hove.

“Continuing our support for local LGBT+ and HIV organisations, and encouraging them to work together, with the LGBT+ and HIV communities and beyond, we recognise that there are opportunities for them to promote their services, recruit volunteers, and fundraise for themselves during this groundbreaking festival event.

“The grants can be used in any way, as long as it is directly used for involvement in the activities being organised on this site during the B Right On Festival. It could be used toward hiring the Phil Starr Pavilion to host a fundraiser, or to rent a stall, or space, to promote, recruit, or sell. Maybe an exhibition?”

Grant Applications

Applications should be made via the ‘contact us’ facility on the Rainbow Fund website (NOT the ‘apply for a grant’ facility as this is set up for the major funding rounds).

To make an application for a grant, click here:

For information about how to get involved, click here:

‘Rocky Horror Sing-a-Long-a’ at the Phil Starr Pavilion on Friday, February 17 at 7pm

More grants for community groups from Brighton Pride

Posted on 28/12/201629/12/2016 by Graham Robson

Community groups from across Brighton and Hove receive a further boost thanks to the Pride Social Impact Fund.

From Whitehawk in the east to Portslade in the west, a record number of groups and organisations across the city have been awarded a slice of more than £8,000. The hope is they will use the money to bring a rainbow of happiness to their communities – in much the same way Pride does for more than 300,000 people in August.

Tim Ridgway, who chairs the Pride Social Impact Fund board, said: “We are grateful to all those who applied for the fund this year, as well as the panel for giving up their time to award the sums. There was a huge amount of diversity in the bids and the panel has tried very hard to make sure that every community and area of the city benefits in some way. “We know that in these difficult uncertain times, this money will make all the difference to some of the amazing groups and organisations doing great things in our beautiful city.”

Bids were considered by a panel made up of representatives from The Argus, BBC Sussex, Juice 107.2, Brighton and Hove Independent, Gscene, Brighton and Hove News and Latest TV.

Among the groups to benefit were the Tarner Community Project, which has received £1,000 towards providing a drop-in centre for a group of young people not in employment, education or training. A further £1,000 will go towards supporting the LGBT History Big Top event, due to take place in New Steine throughout February. A sum of £495 has been awarded to the Friends of Farm Green to bring a mobile farm to Bevendean during the June half term, while the residents of Ardingly Court will get a new mower and garden shredder thanks to a grant of £300. Further awards were made to Dottie’s Café, which provides employment to deaf people in East Brighton Park; Friends of Regency Square, to establish an exhibition in the subway linking their area to the sea; and the Mile Oak Recreation Action group, which is trying to refurbish an open space in the heart of a Portslade community.

The Pride Social Impact Fund is in its second year and aims to support those groups or organisations which need a little helping hand in making a difference in their community. The applications do not have to be LGBT+ related; they don’t even have to directly linked to Pride (although applicants directly impacted will be favoured). However big or small, the only criteria is that it will brighten up people’s lives by the time Pride comes round again next year.

Funding comes from contributions made by businesses within the St James’s Street Party area.

Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride, said: “Pride is only able to deliver this fundraising with the help of local businesses who contribute to the fund and take part in the Pride village party. We’d like to encourage more local businesses across the city who benefit from the bumper weekend of business Pride brings into the city, to get involved with our fundraising efforts for all our communities.”

These grants awarded are on top of the £90,000 already donated by Pride to the Rainbow Fund to distribute to LGBT+ groups and organisations providing effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.

Full list of grants awarded for 2016/17

♦ Brighton & Hove Speakers’ Corner
£250 to support five events and support to develop a more sustainable organisation

♦ Ardingly Court Residents Association
£300 for new lawn mower and a garden shredder

♦ The OWL HOUSE
£250 towards co-housing project for Older Wiser Lesbians.

♦ Tarner Community Project
£1,000 towards drop in session for young people not in education, employment or training

♦ David Harper of 4Streets in Hove
£250 towards community street parties, play street events and open-air cinema

♦ Dottie’s Community Cafe in East Brighton Park
£300 towards running cafe which employs deaf people

♦ Friends of Preston Park – bid one
£500 towards Easter Egg quiz and hunt

♦ Friends of Preston Park – bid two
£500 towards Halloween event

♦ Little Green Pig creative writing charity
£500 towards a videographer for This Is My City project

♦ Stay Up Late
£1,000 to allow the group to develop it’s Gig Buddies project and LGBT outreach work

♦ Friends of Regency Square
£250 towards purchase of the information board and the initial setting up costs of tunnel exhibition near the i360

♦ LGBT Community Safety Forum
£1,000 towards LGBT History Big Top Event during LGBT History Month in February 2017

♦ Marta Scott Dance Company
£500 towards helping disadvantaged or abused women take part in the 2017 pride parade

♦ Friends of Farm Green
£495 for mobile farm to come to Bevendean park during half term

♦ Mile Oak Rec Action Group (M.O.R.A.G)
£815 towards reviving the west side of the park to improve the look for all the community and allow access to children’s playground

MindOut and Allsorts launch ‘Urgent Need Advocacy Service’

Posted on 28/12/201628/12/2016 by Contributor

A new project launches this month which aims to support LGBT+ people in economic hardship who live in Brighton by providing free independent and person-centred advocacy.

In July 2015 MindOut were successful in a Big Lottery bid to fund a five-year Urgent Need Advocacy project. The aim of this service is to support those in economic hardship by providing free, independent and person-centred advocacy. They are seeing an increasing amount of people who are struggling to afford their rent/ mortgages, to afford to buy food or finding it difficult to access mental health treatment when they really need it.

The housing crisis in Brighton has a part to play in this, as well as the ever-increasing cost of living and long waiting lists for NHS treatment. More people are on zero hours contracts, living with the uncertainty of whether they will have work week to week. Many people experience difficulties with the welfare benefits system, such as being denied a benefit that they are rightly entitled to.

The pressure and stress of dealing with such issues can have a massive impact on someone’s mental health, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelessness.

Lucas’ story
At first, Lucas was doing fine. He moved to Brighton where he had a few friends, delighted to leave Basingstoke and ready for a change. He found a room in a shared house, nothing special but the others were okay. He had a bit saved up for a deposit and to see him through. He had a job lined up with the supermarket he worked for back home. Minimum wage, but at least it was work.

At first, he got enough shifts, covered the rent and had a bit spare. Then two people came back from sick leave and his hours dropped. He asked for more, but the manager just shrugged. After a couple of months he could only just afford the rent and became terrified of being evicted. The only way he could make the rent was not to eat.

He got more and more stressed, low and anxious. He started to experience panic attacks when he went outside and was terrified that he wouldn’t be able to hold down the job.

Lucas got in touch with the online support service at MindOut, who recommended he see the Urgent Need Advocacy Service for support. He was able to receive a food parcel at his first appointment the following day.

Lucas found that having a safe space to explain what was going on and explore his options helped him to see a way forward. He was able to negotiate more regular hours at work and felt able to talk to his landlord about setting up a repayment plan to address his rent arrears.

With the advocate, Lucas found out what options there were to support his mental health. These included peer support and he is now attending Work It Out, a group for people who are in employment and struggling with mental health concerns.

Lucas’s story is not unusual: someone in work, with housing, who simply cannot afford to eat and is very close to street homelessness.

Who is the service for?

LGBT+ people in and around Brighton who are in need of support around issues, such as:

♦ Homelessness or threat of eviction;

♦ Financial difficulties, such as benefits issues or debt worries;

♦ Concerns around mental or physical health;

♦ Difficulties around work;

♦ Fuel and/or food poverty;

♦ Anything else which is causing distress and worry.

If you are outside the Brighton & Hove area do still make contact as they can help you access support in your local area.

How can they help you?

♦ They’re able to provide food parcels or vouchers if you are in need of food as well as providing information on where you can access free and cheap meals throughout the city.

♦ They can help you explore the options available to you and help you to decide what is the best way forward is.

♦ They can link you in with services and attend appointments with you if needed.

♦ They can help you claim benefits and attend assessments and appeals with you, when possible.

♦ They can help you to know what your rights are and support you in challenging decisions you are not happy with. This could be in relation to your housing situation, treatment you have received from the NHS or something which has happened at work.

Who are the advocates?

Emma Crossland (top right): “I’m MindOut’s Urgent Need Advocate and have worked for MindOut for just over a year. I have ten years’ experience supporting those in urgent need living in supported accommodation and feel privileged to be able to use my experience and skills to support the local LGBTQ community.”

Liam O’Hare (top left): “I’m the Urgent Need Advocacy worker at the Allsorts Youth Project. I work with LGBT young people aged 16-25. I’ve worked for two years to tackle anti-LGBT bullying in secondary schools and support migrant children at school. I find my work supporting young people in need highly fulfilling.”

If you would like to know more about the Urgent Need Advocacy service contact MindOut or Allsorts.

This service is free, confidential, independent and non-judgemental.

MindOut

♦ Call 01273 234839

♦ Email info@mindout.org.uk

♦ For more information, click here: www.mindout.org.uk

Allsorts

♦ Call 01273 721211

♦ Email: admin@allsortsyouth.org.uk

♦ For more information, click here:

To find out more about the new Urgent Need Advocacy Service go along to the launch on Wednesday, January 18 from 4–6pm at the Brighthelm Centre, North Road. Everyone is welcome! Light refreshments will be served.

If you would like to talk to someone about any aspect of your mental health, do get in touch.

MindOut services are confidential, independent, non-judgemental and free and are run by and for LGBT+ people with lived experience of mental health issues.

Film festival takes applications for 2017 diversity programme

Posted on 28/12/201628/12/2016 by Besi

Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival are taking applications from LGBT+ filmmakers for their 2017 diversity programme.

Marley Morrison took the main prize 2016

Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival is looking for up and coming filmmakers as part of its Widening the Lens programme, which is now open for entries.

UK based filmmakers from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background, filmmakers with disabilities, LGBT+ filmmakers and female filmmakers are invited to apply for the free training and development programme by Friday February 3, 2017.

After a successful introduction in 2016, Widening the Lens will return for 2017 with the aim to address and improve diversity within the filmmaking industry. The programme has a particular focus on removing barriers and increasing opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers in the early stages of their careers.

In 2016 Marley Morrison took the main prize, receiving mentorship for her film Baby Gravy, a short comedy, set in a service station, about a lesbian couple awaiting the arrival of a sperm donor they have met online and the desperate events that occur when he doesn’t show.

Following the February deadline, 15 filmmakers will be selected for the programme which includes a series of workshops, master classes and one-to-one mentoring with industry professionals over a five month period.

The programme will start with a two-day workshop in Bristol on March 2-3, 2017.

Run by leading industry experts, the aim of the two days is to help the filmmakers develop their skills and knowledge of pre-production, funding, exhibition and festival strategies.

Following the event, the candidates will be matched with a mentor who will work closely with them over the following three months, building a personal development plan and ending with a celebration day in May.

The programme is supported by Creative Skillset’s Film Skills Fund, with BFI’s Film Forever National Lottery Funds.

The deadline for applications is February 3 with the shortlist set to be announced on February 20, 2017.

To apply online, click here:

World’s first ‘LGBT Workplace University Chair’ holder announced

Posted on 27/12/201627/12/2016 by Besi

Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn appointed to lead a new unique academic post in the Netherlands.

In a ground-breaking move, Workplace Place Foundation, Leiden University and Dutch telecom giant KPN have cooperated to create the Workplace Pride Chair at Leiden University which will focus on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) inclusion in the workplace.

Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn will be assuming the Chair as of January 1, 2017.

This Chair, which is the first of its kind in the world, will provide a focused and scientific approach to improving LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and will foster the development of scholarship in this priority research field both domestically and internationally.

It will create a theoretical framework on which to base future studies of international LGBT+ workplace studies, and identify factors that influence LGBT+ inclusiveness in society and its dynamics. It will include practical applications for employers and represent the field and the Foundation to external audiences and media.

It will also incorporate scientific knowledge in this area of inquiry into the BA and MA programs of Leiden University who will be providing the scientific structure.

Prof. dr. Hannah Swaab, Dean, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, at Leiden University, said: “Due to her extensive academic experience in exploratory issues at the cutting edge of social and organisational developments, Dr. van der Toorn is uniquely qualified to fill this position.

“Dr. van der Toorn performed best in an extensive vetting process with candidates from around the world so we are excited about getting started with the Chair”.

Dr. van der Toorn will be working closely with Workplace Pride’s 50 corporate and governmental members during the 5-year tenure of the chair.

David Pollard, Executive Director of Workplace Pride Foundation, added: “Connecting with our members on a regular basis will create a framework that includes both theoretical aspects of LGBT+ workplace inclusion as well as their practical application.”

The creation of the Chair would not have been possible without the generous support of leading Dutch telecommunications company KPN.

Eelco Blok, CEO of KPN, said: “KPN connects our society which is characterised by its differences. We believe in the power of these differences, be it in age, gender, background, sexual orientation, physical ability or religious convictions. This way, we give everyone the room to be themselves and work together to make life more free, easier and more fun.

”It is not for nothing that KPN is the proud main sponsor of the first academic chair in the world, located at Leiden University, which will carry out research on LGBT+ inclusion at work. We expect to get new scientific insights in factors which are instrumental in LGBT+ people being able to be themselves in the workplace.”

In her role as Chair Holder, Dr. Van der Toorn will be located at Leiden University in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

For enquiries regarding the Chair email: david@workplacepride.org

Lunch Positive ‘Snapshot Report’ 2016

Posted on 27/12/201627/12/2016 by Besi

Lunch Positive publishes its Snapshot Report for 2016, looking at activities that have taken place at the HIV lunch club over the last year.

The report includes comments from members and volunteers, and thanks supporters for all they have contributed to the project.

Lunch Positive became increasingly busy during 2016, with growth in membership and numbers of people using the lunch club, and people becoming volunteers.

Volunteers gave over 5,000 hours of time in 2016, and served a staggering 3,300 meals.

Despite improvements in treatments and prognosis for people with HIV, community based services such as Lunch Positive fill an important gap in service provision for people with HIV, and involve and support people in unique and meaningful ways that all contribute towards effective self-help, reduce the isolation and impact of HIV stigma, and improved well-being.

To review the report, click here:

Attempt to defund Independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity at UN, fails

Posted on 27/12/201627/12/2016 by Gary Hart

Two days before Christmas, a group of conservative states at the United Nations (UN) made a final attempt to stop the Independent Expert on the “protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI),” by stripping the mandate of standard UN funding.

After defeat in both the 3rd Committee and the UN General Assembly, this unprecedented move by conservative States, was a blatant attempt to abuse the authority of the 5th Committee of the UN General Assembly, which is charged with oversight of administrative and budgetary matters, rather than substantive human rights concerns.

On the last day of the General Assembly, through a vote with 65 states in favor of defunding and 81 states against (with 15 abstentions), the budget for the Independent Expert postion was maintained.

As with all UN mandate holders, the Independent Expert himself, Thai human rights expert Vitit Muntarbhorn, does not receive any remuneration from the UN for carrying out this role. The defunding attempt was aimed at cutting the budget for essential costs including travel, translation, and associated minimal staffing at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to support his work.

Commenting on the vote, Jessica Stern, Executive Director at OutRight Action International, said: “Today States promoting homophobia and transphobia were again unsuccessful in blocking the work of this vital Independent Expert. The fact that they resorted to an attempted undermining of the budget after they were unable to stop the mandate on content shows how desperate they are to stop any inquiries into the violence and persecution that LGBT people face around the world”

An oral amendment was introduced by Burkina Faso, the Chair of the African group in the 5th Committee, which stated that the Group, “Decides not to approve any additional resources stemming from the adoption of resolution 32/2 by the Human Rights Council,” in the context of the budget for the Human Rights Council’s revised estimates.

The proposal was countered by a group of 8 Latin American countries who called for the amendment to go to a vote by all member states. The amendment against the mandate, lost by a margin of 16 votes, with the following vote count: 81 Against, 65 In Favor, 15 Abstentions. The amendment was then taken up in the General Assembly through a vote, which also went in favor of the Independent Expert mandate.

This is the third unsuccessful attack against the SOGI Independent Expert since the mandate was created earlier this year.

Jessica, continued: “Anyone who thinks that sexual orientation and gender identity only concern so called Western States should note that States who voted to protect the independent expert come from all five regions of the world”

The SOGI Independent Expert position was created in June 2016 when the UN Human Rights Council passed resolution A/HRC/RES/32/2.

The position was safeguarded in two previous hostile attacks in the UN Third Committee and in the following UN General Assembly Plenary on December 19 2016.

Pride Cymru moves to August Bank Holiday Weekend in 2017

Posted on 27/12/201627/12/2016 by Besi

PRIDE Cymru next year will run over three days in a new location at Cardiff Civic Centre over the 2017 August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend 2017 will be a mega-mashup of Pride and Cardiff’s Big Weekend which was last held in 2011.

The ever-popular Big Weekend was always one of the key events in Cardiff’s calendar turning the City Hall Lawn and the streets surrounding the civic Centre into a carnival of colour, with funfair rides, amusements and entertainment from some of the UK’s biggest names in music.

Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend 2017 will provide 3 days of pure party atmosphere and extravagant entertainment in the heart of the capital, celebrating and promoting the importance of LGBT+ in the community as well as bringing more than 200,000 people together in celebration in Wales’ capital city.

Lu Thomas, Chair at Pride Cymru, said: “We are looking forward to bringing the Big Weekend back to the capital next year, especially in our new location. Following the success of Pride 2016 we are very much looking forward to making this event an even bigger success for the LGBT+ community in Wales as well as the local community and economy of Cardiff. This is definitely a weekend that nobody will want to miss.”

City of Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Phil Bale, added: “I’m delighted that Pride will be taking centre stage at the Civic Centre over the Bank Holiday weekend. This new, three-day-long Pride event will also see the welcome return of Cardiff’s famous Big Weekend as the Pride organisers look to merge the two events into one.

“This city council has always supported the Pride event and we were delighted to be able to help the organisers with their new plans. When the city council began talks with Pride about moving the festival from Coopers Field, the City Hall Lawn and the Civic Centre seemed the perfect setting.

“This is one of the world’s finest civic centres. It puts Pride centre stage and the idea of reintroducing the Big Weekend as part of the festival will offer another dimension to what has always been one of Wales’ best events.

“The people of Cardiff have always taken the Pride festival to their hearts and I’m convinced this even bigger and better version will prove to be a huge hit, attracting residents and visitors from across the UK, and even the world, to this fantastic LGBT+ celebration of diversity.”

Pride Cymru Big Weekend will take place from August 25-27, 2017

For more information, click here:

Report highlights how Sussex dialysis patients were failed by NHS

Posted on 26/12/201627/12/2016 by Besi

A report examining the experiences of Sussex dialysis patients using the Patient Transport Service provided by Coperforma reinforces the decision to terminate its contract early.

The report prepared by Healthwatch Brighton and Hove highlighted a litany of failures and is being used by local Clinical Commissioning Groups to ensure that the lessons learnt from the ill-fated contract are not lost during the managed transition to the new service providers, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

The damning report is the result of in-depth interviews with 60 renal patients being treated in Brighton, who spoke out candidly about their own experiences of using the Patient Transport Service provided by Coperforma.

The report shows:

♦ 56% of patients interviewed reported suffering anxiety and stress as a result of failures in transport services

♦ 14% experienced longer treatment days as a result of failures in transport services

♦ 8% reported their treatment sessions had been shortened as a result of failures in transport services

The report describes:

♦ Unreliable transport – although the service improved over time, it still regularly failed patients

♦ 2 – 4 hour waits for transport that sometimes just failed to turn up

♦ Drivers who did not know the local area, and were inappropriately trained and equipped

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove, the local health and care consumer watchdog, interviewed in-depth 60 dialysis patients being treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital’s Renal Unit. These patients are among the most vulnerable, sick and unwell users of patient transport. Their treatment is life-sustaining, and without it they would not survive.

Patients have asked Healthwatch to call for:

♦ A full and public-facing review of how this service was commissioned and procured in the first place

♦ A full and public-facing explanation of the costs involved in correcting the failure of this service, including commissioner and service provider costs

♦ Assurance that lessons will be learnt and that the service will improve under its transition from Coperforma to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and, eventually, the re-commissioned service

“…the fundamental need for transparency and accountability directly to the patient…”

David Liley, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove’s CEO said: “We have been given assurances that the lessons of this disastrous contract will be learned. However, we agree with patients who have called for complete transparency in revealing the weaknesses around the original commissioning process that led to an ill-equipped organisation being appointed to deliver such a vital service in the first place.

“The failure has not only adversely impacted on some of the most vulnerable patients; it had created collateral financial damage to the public purse. Patients we have spoken to are calling for an open inquiry into how much NHS money has been diverted into rescuing the failed service.

“Healthwatch Brighton and Hove will continue to monitor the transition to the new service, as well as pressing for the answers to the questions posed by the concerned patients who have been let down by this contract failure.”

7.487 sign petition to save Sussex Beacon from closure

Posted on 26/12/201626/12/2016 by Besi

A petition to ‘save’ the Sussex Beacon, whose care provision was recently described by the Care Quality Commission as “Outstanding” has now been signed by 7.487 people.

Local campaigner Adam Betteridge who sings with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus set up the petition on the 38 Degrees website asking the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP to intervene and fund the Beacon’s deficit.

Changes to local commissioning arrangements have led to a reduction in funding from some statutory funders. The Sussex Beacon has already lost funding with further cuts likely to follow in the near future.

Last week, Beacon trustees announced that following the loss of full funding for one of the 10 beds in the in patient unit, and with further cuts to come in the next financial year to another two beds, the charity could no longer carry on covering the deficit and might be forced to close all services in June 2017 if replacement funding was not forthcoming.

CEO Simon Dowe say the charity needs to find between £300-£400,000 over the next 2-3 years to survive.

The Sussex Beacon provides care to people living with HIV from across the entire UK. The petition calls on the Government to ensure that sufficient funding is provided to enable The Sussex Beacon to continue providing all of its services both now and in future

The charity costs over £2 million a year to run and the Charity Trustees say they cannot continue to absorb these cuts.

While many people living with HIV are now able to live long and healthy lives, there are still many who need specialist services.

Last year The Sussex Beacon’s inpatient unit had 233 admissions and was full for the majority of the year. It provided over 2,000 bed nights, relieving pressure on both health and social care services in Sussex.

To sign the petition, click here:

Call us now

Month: December 2016

B RIGHT ON FESTIVAL to host Brighton’s LGBT History Month events

Rainbow Fund enables LGBT+/HIV groups in Brighton & Hove to participate in LGBT+ History Month.

MindOut and Allsorts launch ‘Urgent Need Advocacy Service’

A new project launches this month which aims to support LGBT+ people in economic hardship who live in Brighton by providing free independent and person-centred advocacy.

Film festival takes applications for 2017 diversity programme

Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival are taking applications from LGBT+ filmmakers for their 2017 diversity programme.

World’s first ‘LGBT Workplace University Chair’ holder announced

Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn appointed to lead a new unique academic post in the Netherlands.

Lunch Positive ‘Snapshot Report’ 2016

Lunch Positive publishes its Snapshot Report for 2016, looking at activities that have taken place at the HIV lunch club over the last year.

Attempt to defund Independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity at UN, fails

Pride Cymru moves to August Bank Holiday Weekend in 2017

PRIDE Cymru next year will run over three days in a new location at Cardiff Civic Centre over the 2017 August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Report highlights how Sussex dialysis patients were failed by NHS

A report examining the experiences of Sussex dialysis patients using the Patient Transport Service provided by Coperforma reinforces the decision to terminate its contract early.

7.487 sign petition to save Sussex Beacon from closure

A petition to ‘save’ the Sussex Beacon, whose care provision was recently described by the Care Quality Commission as “Outstanding” has now been signed by 7.487 people.

Latest News

Call us now

Rainbow Fund enables LGBT+/HIV groups in Brighton & Hove to participate in LGBT+ History Month.

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Community groups from across Brighton and Hove receive a further boost thanks to the Pride Social Impact Fund.

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A new project launches this month which aims to support LGBT+ people in economic hardship who live in Brighton by providing free independent and person-centred advocacy.

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Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival are taking applications from LGBT+ filmmakers for their 2017 diversity programme.

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Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn appointed to lead a new unique academic post in the Netherlands.

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Lunch Positive publishes its Snapshot Report for 2016, looking at activities that have taken place at the HIV lunch club over the last year.

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PRIDE Cymru next year will run over three days in a new location at Cardiff Civic Centre over the 2017 August Bank Holiday Weekend.

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A report examining the experiences of Sussex dialysis patients using the Patient Transport Service provided by Coperforma reinforces the decision to terminate its contract early.

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A petition to ‘save’ the Sussex Beacon, whose care provision was recently described by the Care Quality Commission as “Outstanding” has now been signed by 7.487 people.

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