A campaign group called ‘Hands off MindOut!’ has been set up to defend MindOut, the successful LGBT mental health project, in response to plans by Trustees of Mind in Brighton & Hove to dismantle the integrity of this award-winning service.

The Mind proposals were developed without any consultation with MindOut’s service users, staff or volunteers or wider LGBT community stakeholders.
     
Mind in Brighton & Hove claims that this restructuring is necessary to streamline the wider organisation to prepare it for uncertainty over future funding.

Mind in Brighton & Hove has issued notices of redundancy to MindOut’s manager and team leader. This is despite monies for these LGBT posts having been secured from specific external funding for the project.

Cllr Paul Elgood

Leader of the Lib Dem group on the City council, Cllr Paul Elgood said:
"This is an absolutely vital service which makes a significant contribution to our community on an issue which can so often be over looked.

"It is so important that this support continues and the future of the service is secured. I have signed the petition and urge a rethink in the interests of the service users, who after all are what matters and should be the first consideration.

"Not providing this service will be a false economy as years of work and service continuity will be lost if this decision goes ahead.

"Support for people who face such issues is so important and the continuation of this service in its present form will provide for this."

Cllr Gill Mitchell

Leader of the Labour Group Cllr. Gill Mitchell said:
"We would ask Mind to at least postpone this decision and undertake proper consultation or look at alternative options.

"If funding is in place then it is hard to see why such an important LGBT community project needs to be cut back."

Simon Kirby MP

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown said:
"I am aware of the valuable service that MindOut provides for its users.

"I am also aware of the debate currently taking place within the Mind organisation.

"I have been in touch with the chief executive of Mind asking for an update on the current issues.

"I will continue to follow this matter with great interest."

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said:
"Regardless of any new structures, it is absolutely vital to ensure this pioneering front line mental health service continues to be run by LGBT people. Only in this way can the service properly provide for and understand the community's needs. I'll be asking Mind in Brighton and Hove to detail how their plans would help preserve the essence and outputs of this unique service which many LGBT people in the city rely on for support and information at an often difficult point in their lives."

The campaign group believes that Mind in Brighton & Hove has failed to understand or support MindOut’s frontline and strategic work and now risks losing the confidence of the LGBT communities who developed the project 11 years ago.

The campaign fears that years of successful community development, research and partnership work on LGBT mental health needs and its valued role in supporting some very vulnerable and excluded members of the LGBT community could be lost altogether.
 
The Campaign is looking at alternative models for protecting the service, including becoming a self-governing organisation. It is calling on LGBT people to rally behind this valued community service by:

signing the petition at: www.PetitionOnline.com/mindout/petition.html

Fill in the survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/FVFY5ZN

Join the Facebook group page called Hands off MindOut