Merchandising for Brighton Bear Weekend in June is now available at Prowler, 112 St James Street.
This year’s popular logo designed by Fergus Salder features three bears and Brighton Pavilion, presenting two icons in one.
Tshirts costing just £12 are available in red and black in sizes from small to 3XL. A new line of black polo shirts costing £15 with sizes from small to 2 XL.
All money raised from sales will go to The Rainbow Fund who give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations in Brighton and Hove providing effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.
Brighton Bear Weekend will take place from June 17 – 19, 2016.
Graham Munday
Chair of Brighton Bear Weekend, Graham Munday, says:“It’s great to be working with Prowler Brighton. It gives a chance for people to pick up and try on our clothing. It is very convenient for people in Brighton and you save by not having to pay for postage. Don’t forget you can always buy online at Www.brightonbearweekend.com”
For more information about Brighton Bear Weekend, click here:
If you want to get fitter, swim better and faster, meet and make new friends, then look no further than Out To Swim.
Out To Swim is an LGBT swimming club based in Brighton since 2006. It provides three training sessions a week for swimmers who want to improve their technique, stamina and fitness where you can swim just for fun and fitness or join others who participate in Masters Swim Competitions, Triathlons and Sea Swims.
Training sessions are held at Prince Regent Pool, Church St, Brighton BN1 1YA on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8.30-9.30pm and on Saturdays at Roedean School, Roedean Way, Brighton and Hove BN2 5RQ from 5-6pm, with coaching provided by a qualified instructor on Monday’s and Wednesday’s.
Go along and try, your first session is free before you join the club. After that it is £6 a session, this includes your entry to the pool (just mention to whoever is on the desk that you are swimming with Out to Swim and they will let you through) as well as the workout/coached session. On your fourth session you will be asked to register as a member of the club and pay a one-off payment of £11 for the basic level of ASA insurance cover (Category 1) to last till 31 December.
The Club also organises a number of social events throughout the year and provides a great opportunity for local people and those new to the area to pursue their sport and make new friends.
Launched in January 2016, Trans Can Sport (TCS) provides safer and friendly opportunities for people to access physical activities who otherwise feel that their transgender identity prevents them from doing so.
To date they have provided 14 sports sessions for 32 people, many of whom return each week and try out different activities.Activities offered so far by TCS include:
♦ Fight; boxing skills
♦ Yoga; gentle holistic yoga practice
♦ Lift; teaching safe weight lifting and Sweat; high intensity workouts that can be done anywhere
They also support the Trans swimming sessions at St. Luke’s Swimming Pool in Brighton
The rationale behind Trans Can Sport is that trans people often feel unable to access regular sporting and leisure facilities. There are many reasons for this, most notably because sport is heavily gendered. Changing facilities are a minefield for trans people to navigate to the extent that it stops people exercising, full stop. Even the activities themselves can stop people from participating, with gender segregation being endemic.
Like everyone else, trans people want to engage in activities where they can be social and it is important to provide a space where people can socialise outside of the bar scene. Physical exercise is proven to be greatly beneficial to a person’s well-being. The majority of participants at TCS events recognise this as it was the most frequently given reason when asked why they got involved.
Providing a safer space has to acknowledge this. TCS ensure that the trainer who leads the session has a thoughtful understanding of how gender can affect their discipline. Aside from the standard practise of ensuring everyone uses the correct names and pronouns for members, TCS also consider how gender creeps in elsewhere.
For example, if yoga poses are best avoided during menstruation, how to communicate that in a non-gendered way. But also the bigger issues of how we relate to our bodies and how trans people can feel disassociated from them. How we can help someone love their body that has caused them so much anguish? Trans Can Sport can’t fix these issues, but they can create a space for trans people to explore safely and work it out for themselves.
A TCS participant said:“I like being treated as a normal person for once”.
Trans Can Sport is open to anyone who feels their transgender identity prevents them from accessing sport. Friends, family and allies are also welcomes along to join in.
To view video of first Trans Can Fight Session class made by Fox Fisher, click here:
For more information about TCS, click here: facebook.com/transcansport
Ishigaki, a martial arts club for LGBTQ people operates in Brighton and London.
Ishigaki have been training people for over 15 years in Brighton in the art of Ju-jitsu taken from the Japanese style.
What is Ju-jitsu? Ju-jitsu translates as the gentle art, and the particular discipline they practise is based in self-defence. When you train with Ishigaki they will guide you through a syllabus allowing you to develop your technique, and with each belt you achieve, you increase your skill and knowledge of Ju-jitsu and yourself.
Learning this skill will teach you how to look after yourself. You will be taught to use your opponents’ energy against themselves. They use unarmed techniques including the use of blocks, strikes, throws and kicks.
The club is friendly and welcoming and gives you the opportunity to train with like-minded people, who want to have fun, and meet new people. The skills that you learn will increase your confidence and self-esteem, making ju-jitsu beneficial both physically and mentally.
People go to Ishigaki for many reasons: an interest in martial arts and self-defence, to be in an environment that supports and understands them, to make new friends and for their high training standards and tuition.
A member says:“I had not done sports since leaving school but I knew I wanted to do a martial art; to be able to look after myself and feel safe. I choose Ishigaki because it was a gay club, and I knew this was somewhere I could train as myself and I would not need to feel intimidated or justify my existence. I was pretty scared as I did not know what to expect, but I needn’t have worried. Everyone at the club was friendly and the Senseis where so good at taking me through the different moves. I am now doing things I would never have imagined possible and I love every minute of it.”
Club organisers know what it feels like try something new. At Ishigaki, there is no need for previous martial arts experience and they are accessible to people with all levels of fitness.
Sue and Gareth will support you to learn at your own pace so you get the most out of your experience with us.
Ishigaki meets twice a week. You can go to one or both sessions at:
Brighton Youth Centre, Edward Street, Brighton on Wednesdays, from 7.00-9.00pm and
Kicks Martial Arts Centre, 185 Lewes Rd, Brighton BN2 3LD on Sundays, from 4-6pm
Your first lesson is free!
For more information about Ishigaki, click here: http://www.ishigaki.org.uk
International level rugby on the TV gives us a sport that is big. Big guys (tall and with muscles on muscles) may be fun to watch but can be pretty intimidating on the pitch. But at an amateur level – it’s very different.
♦ The sport gives you a physical activity which helps fitness, without the constant boredom of jogging or the need to be in a gym
♦ There’s a position for guys of any shape on the pitch. You don’t have to be big, or muscular, or lithe and fast (to start) they wear sizes S to XXL.
♦ They have an amazing social life. Whether it’s Sunday lunch at their sponsors, The Camelford Arms, or pints after a match, they look out for each other as a team. No one is left behind.
The Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents was set up just after the Rugby World Cup in 2015. Although there have been LGBT rugby clubs for some time (20 years in the case of London), Brighton are arriving fashionably late to the party. Their first meeting brought together 50 men and women to discuss whether there was a need for a dedicated LGBT club or to establish whether people just joined Brighton or Hove Rugby Clubs.
They now have over 30 playing members, and held their first full 15 a side match last month against the Kings Cross Steelers at Hove Rugby Club. Support from the LGBT community was very impressive with over 60 supporters turning up to cheer from the sidelines. The Sea Serpents look forward to putting some back through their support of others’ events.
Their next match is an away fixture, against the Birmingham Bulls on April 16.
Their intention is to play league rugby, but while they are learning, their fixtures will be friendlies against either local sides or other inclusive clubs in the UK.
They now officially belong to International Gay Rugby (IGR). It’s not quite like Thunderbirds (though Lady Penelope did go to Roedean) but an association of inclusive rugby clubs from all over the world. Among other ways of supporting member clubs, IGR runs through member clubs regional and worldwide tournaments.
This May the Bingham Cup (www.binghamcup.com) will be held in Nashville, USA and is a worldwide tournament. In 2017 they will be taking a team to the Union Cup which will be held in Madrid.
Organisers know that it can be difficult enough to join any group activity when you’re either new to an area or a sport. Adding sexuality into that mix has often been sufficient to make people give up. That’s why the Sea Serpents exist. They are a primarily (but not exclusively) LGBT club, anyone who wants to be a member, and supports their aims, can join. They currently only have a men’s side, but will, if there is support for it, help form a women’s side in the future.
Brighton & Hove Serpents first competitive game against Kings Cross Steelers at Hove Rugby Club
If you’re interested in playing or supporting, or aren’t really sure but might like a chat with them before committing yourself, drop a line to Chris Rogerson (recruitment) by emailing: info@bhssrfc.com
To check out their website, click here: bhssrfc.com
Or to see their Facebook face, click here: facebook.com/bhssrfc
OutdoorLads is a charity aimed at supporting the mental and physical health of gay, bi and trans men.
They organise hiking, camping, climbing, hostelling, biking, canoeing, sailing and skiing events – as well as one-off international trips and more hard-core challenge events.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a total beginner or a well-hardened outdoor enthusiast, they have something for everyone, each week, all over the UK. Whatever the event you’ll find a group of friendly, welcoming guys with a shared love of the outdoors.
OutdoorLads are the biggest social group for gay and bi guys who like the outdoors in the UK. They put together over 1,000 events each year with the help of nearly 200 volunteer Event Leaders, and have the highest concentration of events and members here in the South East with weekend day walks and climbing/bouldering taking place every week.
They also run a huge range of hostel and camping weekends all over the place so you can get away for the weekend, get some fresh air, do some activities and make some new friends. Their next ‘Big Spring Camp 2016’ which will have over 300 attendees and lots of activities is taking place over the late May bank holiday and is booking up fast. They plan and organise it all for you, you just have to book up and turn up, all of their Event Leaders are trained and assessed to look after you on your particular event.
This year marks OutdoorLads 10th Birthday, and they have just gone from strength to strength, with 1,000’s of people using their site and with over a 1,000 events taking place every year you will be sure to find an event near you.
To search for events in and around Brighton just go to odl.to/Brighton for the latest list.
If you are not sure what you want to try first you can create a profile at www.outdoorlads.com explore the site and see what takes your fancy!
You get 6 weeks’ free trial membership when you first sign up so you can go on a day walk for free and see what it is all about and meet some like-minded people.
They also run a range of social evenings which are a bit more relaxed and usually involve a bar/pub where you can chat to members and find out what’s coming and how to get involved.
Children at risk of sexual exploitation are maybe being missed as some front-line workers are stereotyping victims, warns Barnardo’s in a recently published report.
The report It’s not on the radar says a better understanding of the diversity of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) victims in England is essential to tackling this form of child abuse, so professionals identify all children who have been sexually exploited, or are at risk.
Children, young people and parents also need to be more aware that not every CSE case is like the high profile ones in Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford where most of the perpetrators were males and victims white girls.
Evidence in the study shows CSE affects children regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, faith, disability, background or upbringing. For example, children and young people with a disability are three times more likely to be abused than children without a disability; while young people questioning their sexuality and searching for advice may be more vulnerable to being groomed online.
The report recommends that professionals receive appropriate training to help them identify children who have experienced, or are at risk of CSE and it wants relevant organisations to work better together.
It also calls for school lessons to focus on healthy relationships to help children feel more confident in being able to identify possible risky situations, while families and communities must be more aware of CSE.
Javed Khan
Barnardo’s CEO, Javed Khan said:“This horrific form of child abuse can affect any child or young person. One in five children we help in our own services are male victims of this crime.
“Assumptions must not be made when trying to identify sexual exploitation as each victim has their own vulnerabilities. Recognising the diversity of victims will help ensure they are identified and get the right support.”
Devon-based social enterprise, Proud2Be recently hosted a jumble sale to raise funds for two initiatives that support refugees and asylum seekers.
Proud2Be marching at London Pride
The event raised £422 pounds, which will be split evenly between Embracing Refugees and Beyond Borders Totnes & District. Items that were not sold on the day were distributed between three local charity shops and several bags of warm clothes are currently making their way to Calais.
Mat Price
Proud2Be co-founder Mat Price, said:“We are thrilled that we were able to raise funds for such an important cause, and one that is very close to our hearts. It is also our way of sending out the message that we are proud to stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers in the South West and beyond. We would like to thank Dot Spink, the volunteers and all those who donated, for making the event such a success.”
This follows the news that Proud2Be have successfully obtained grant funding from The Big Lottery Fund and Local Youth Network to go towards the costs of their community work in South Devon, that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual &/or trans+ (LGBT+) people, their families and friends.
Proud2Be’s monthly social group for adults is now held at the Rushbrook Centre in Totnes, on the second Thursday of each month. The group is now free to attend and provides a safe space for LGBT+ people, their friends and family members to meet.
With support from The Big Lottery Fund, Proud2Be are now hiring the community bus service Bob the Bus to provide transport to and from the social, for those who live in towns and villages nearby and would otherwise struggle to attend the group due to limited transport options and or mobility issues.
Totnes Pride Parade 2015
This year’s Totnes Pride will be held on Saturday, September 3. Launched in 2013, the popular community event provides the whole community an opportunity to come together to celebrate diversity in the local area and raise awareness about the issues faced by the LGBT+ community in Devon and beyond.
This year’s event will include a high street procession, community stands, an art craft area, a family area, a panel discussion, workshops and informative talks, an after party and much more.
Special guests will be announced in due course.
Proud2Be also run a youth group which provides an opportunity for LGBT+ young people (aged 13-18) to meet in a safe space to be with and make new friends. With support from Local Youth Network, the group is now able to run twice a month in Central Totnes.
Recently, Proud2Be have been acknowledged for their community work and have been nominated for the LGBT Community Organisation Award at The 2016 National Diversity Awards.
OutdoorLads are the biggest social group for gay and bi guys who like the outdoors in the UK. They put together over 1,000 events each year with the help of nearly 200 volunteer Event Leaders, and have the highest concentration of events and members here in the South East with weekend day walks and climbing/bouldering taking place every week.
Children at risk of sexual exploitation are maybe being missed as some front-line workers are stereotyping victims, warns Barnardo’s in a recently published report.
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