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LGBTQ+ News

New support group for LGBT organisations

Besi Besemar March 19, 2014

Brighton & Hove Community Works, the local voluntary and community sector support organisation is setting up a regular support group for people involved in organising or running smaller LGBT organisations.

Gary Pargeter and Chris Cooke
Gary Pargeter and Chris Cooke

Community Works LGBT representatives, Gary Pargeter and Chris Cooke have volunteered to facilitate the group which will have a special focus on helping volunteer led and lesser funded LGBT organisations.

The support group aims to bring organisations together in a safe space, help them get to know each other, network, share information and find a wide range of support. The group will be led by the needs of its members and with everyone’s involvement there’ll be plenty of opportunity to develop more ways LGBT organisations can benefit from meeting together on a regular basis.

Gary Pargeter Community Works LGBT rep, said: “On March 1 we had a get-together of eleven organisations, and the response to the idea of a regular group meeting was really enthusiastic. It’s clear that whilst some of our organisations know each other by name, many have not met in person and this is something which would be really useful for people.

“There’s a strong interest in providing this kind of support by and for our volunteer led and lesser funded organisations. People said that group should be accessible, safe and supportive, remain useful, manage it’s time well, and be equitable for its members.

“Organisations that came along have already given a whole range of interesting ideas that could become part of the group – ‘organisation speed dating’, a ‘resource bank’ and resource sharing, information exchange, invited speakers, funding information, and much much more. There’s real strength in bringing people together and it’s evident that amongst our organisations there’s a whole range of insight, experience, expertise and support we can bring, share and benefit from. The more LGBT organisations we can involve the better it will be for everyone. We’re hoping to hear more from a wide and diverse range of organisations.”

Their next step is to reach out to as many LGBT organisations as possible to gather more views and ideas, followed by an inaugural meeting to kick start regular meetings.

Gary and Chris ask that if you haven’t already, get in touch with them.

If you know of any organisation that would benefit, please tell them about this project.

To find out more, contact Gary at friends@lunchpsoitive.org or call 07846 464384

Get involved, give your thoughts, ideas and views.

To complete a short on-line survey, CLICK HERE:

 

 

 

 

 

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