On behalf of the service users, volunteers and working partners of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Trustees, Grants Panel and Fundraisers of the Rainbow Fund.
This vital grants we received at the Rainbow Awards at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on October 16 means that not only are most of our core cost covered but our work delivering outreach and support across the city can continue for another year.
The Brighton & Hove LGBT Safety Forum receives no statutory funding at all, is run entirely by volunteers and has a committee that is elected at an annual AGM. Of the eight incumbent Officers, four deliver frontline support amounting to 120 hours per week, although this doubles over Pride.
We deliver around the clock and are often there for people when statutory services are unable to assist or are closed. This includes during the night and at weekends.
If anyone has ever submitted a grant application before they will know it can be a daunting and time-consuming duty.
We found the Rainbow Fund process this year productive and supportive. Questions asked when needed and business needs identified where appropriate. The process challenged yet strengthened our organisation.
We currently deliver work and support around Community Safety, Personal Safety, Homelessness, Hate Crime, Domestic Abuse, Disability Awareness and Work Place Discrimination.
We maintain a helpline that runs 24/7. 01273 855620.
We are instrumental in the planning and delivery of disability access at Brighton Pride, Disability Pride, The B&H Anti Hate Crime Vigil, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia and the B.Right.On Festival celebrating LGBT History Month in February. We also support the delivery of The Brighton & Hove World AIDS Day Vigil and The Brighton Bear Weekend Picnic.
We do all of this as volunteers and all of our grants are ringfenced to projects that deliver front line outreach services and support.
As the current economy changes and political views shift, more and more people are becoming isolated and vulnerable. Every day people from all over the globe move to Brighton & Hove, because of its reputation as an LGBT+ safe space.
Unfortunately for some this is not the reality. The city’s brilliant services are stretched and money is becoming less available for everyone. We are acutely aware of this, and too, how much the Rainbow Fund contributes to service support within the City. The stark reality is that without the Rainbow Fund and its direct support to our groups there would be no funding for many of the projects that operate in the city..
We rely on the generosity of donations, fundraisers and the support of grant givers like the Rainbow Fund, Dine with the Stars and Bear-Patrol to enable us to deliver our work.
For this we thank you.
Billie Lewis
Volunteer Chair Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum
https://www.lgbt-help.com