Presenter Geoff Raw, CEO Brighton & Hove City Council
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.
Presenter Cllr Pete West, ward councillor St Peter’s & North Laine
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.
Organisers of Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) reveal Italian artist and designer Bobo Bear will design their 2018 logo.
Bobo Bear
Bobo Bear whose designs feature at bear events across the globe will design the new BBW logo for 2018.
Bobo who attended last year’s event in Brighton, has a huge number of followers and admirers for his unique artwork.
The one-off design which will feature on all merchandising including t-shirts and polos shirts will be officially launched later this year.
Bobo Bear says: “I am very excited to be asked to do next year’s logo for BBW. I love Brighton and the last BBW was when I started being widely recognised and more visible in the bear community, so I feel Brighton is where everything started for me! I come from a small city by the sea in Italy and for me, Brighton feels a bit like home!”
Graham Munday
Graham Munday the Chair of BBW, added:“We met the handsome and talented Bobo Bear last year at our store of our sponsors Prowler, where both Bobo Bear and BBW Products are on sale. We immediately recognised his talent and soon discovered what a great guy he was to hang out with as well. We are all really thrilled to be working with him this year.”
I would like to thank the Rainbow Fund for awarding Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard a grant in this year’s awards to set up The Rainbow Café a new initiative for LGBT+ people living with dementia and their friends, families and carers.
This exciting new project will be up and running in early 2018 and will provide a vital service for those in our community living with memory loss or a diagnosis for dementia. For the Switchboard team it also gives us the opportunity to show that we are more than just a helpline.
We would also like to thank the Rainbow Fund and Chris Gull for organising the first LGBT & HIV Summit and bringing together all the LGBT+ groups together to talk about the work that we all do and look at creative ways that we can work together. It was a good day with lots of things to think about.
A final thank you must to be given to the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel for their hospitality at The Rainbow Awards ceremony and to Lola Lasagne and Zoe Lyons for giving up their time to compare.
For those interested in Switchboards Rainbow Café, please watch this space,
Isle of Wight Pride beat off stiff competition at the UK Pride Organisers Network conference to win the right to host UK Pride in 2018
Isle of Wight Pride 2017
After a successful UK Pride Organisers Network conference held in Blackpool this weekend, the Isle of Wight was voted to be the host for UK Pride in 2018.
Only a year ago, Isle of Wight Pride didn’t have a Pride organisation and just a few months later they are now preparing to welcome everyone to their second ever Pride on July 21, 2018.
Joe Finch
Joe Finch from Isle of Wight Pride, said:“It is testament to the incredible impact that our first ever Pride had on our Island that we were given this prestigious event in only our second year. We really want to use the opportunity given to us to not only show off our gorgeous Island to the world, but to make a real impact on the lives of Islanders. We also want to use it as a spring-board for the rest of the UK, to show other isolated communities the importance and impact of diverse events such as Pride and the difference it can make, and to encourage them to put on an event of their own!.”
Andy Train
Andy Train, Co-Chair of the UK Pride Organisers Network and the organiser of the first UK Pride at Pride in Hull in July 2017, added: “It was an enormous privilege for Hull, as City of Culture, to host the first UK Pride. Selecting the host for 2018 was a tough choice as we had four excellent bids to choose from. But it’s wonderful to be handing the UK Pride mantle over to the Isle of Wight – the second ever UK Pride at the second ever Isle of Wight Pride. I look forward to seeing their event develop.”
Isle of Wight Pride will take place on Saturday July 21, 2018, with various arts and sporting events organised in the weeks leading up to Pride.
Yve White
Yve White from Isle of Wight Pride, said:“We are absolutely blown away by being given this huge honour. It’s incredible how far we have come in such a short space of time and we will do everything we can to put on an incredible year of events for UK Pride. It won’t be a day, it won’t be a week, there will be events throughout the year to support and engage everyone. Everyone will be welcome.”
The bid had the backing of veteran LGBT+ activist Peter Tatchell, and the Isle of Wight’s MP, Bob Seeley.
Isle of Wight Pride narrowly beat Pride Cymru to the title, with Liverpool Pride and Exeter Pride running in earlier rounds of voting.
Outgoing Co-Chair of the UK Pride Organisers Network, Steve Taylor, said:“With more Prides in the UK than any other country in Europe, we wanted to establish UK Pride as our national equivalent to EuroPride and WorldPride. That four Prides entered the competition in just its second year shows the power of Pride and whilst the Isle of Wight has won, it was clear that all four Prides could have delivered a fantastic UK Pride in 2018.”
You can keep up to date with Isle of Wight Pride and what will be planned by following them on Facebook or Twitter or to visit their website, click here:
Grants totalling £110,688 awarded to local LGBT+ and HIV organisations at the annual Rainbow Fund Grant Awards Ceremony at the Brighton Metropole Hotel on Monday, October 16.
Rainbow Fund Patron Zoe Lyons and entertainer Lola Lasagne proved a great double act hosting the ceremony and announcing the successful recipients of this years grants.
Chris Gull Chair of the Rainbow Fund welcomed the guest presenters for the evening who included The Mayor of Brighton and Hove Cllr Mo Marsh, The Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council, Geoff Raw, The Chief Superintendent of Brighton & Hove Police, Lisa Bell, the Leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council, Cllr Tony Janio and Ward Councillors for St Peters and North Laine, Pete West and Queens Park, Adrian Morris.
The Rainbow Fund does not engage in fundraising itself, but rather, acts as a central hub for general community fundraising. Money donated is distributed once a year, through an independent grants panel who assess grant applications from local LGBT+ and HIV groups and organisations who provide essential front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.
Chris thanked the Directors of Pride in Brighton and Hove, for the £1 a head they donate to the fund each year from every ticket sold for paid for events at Brighton Pride, which this year amounted to £107,508.74.
He thanked the long list of supporters who had made donations to the fund this year including, Brighton Bear Weekend, Legends, Bear-Patrol, Charles Street, Dr Brightons, Brighton Gin Company, and the many individuals who had made private donations.
Special mention was reserved for the Hilton Brighton Metropole who had donated the buffet, and allowed the Rainbow Fund to use the room all day free of charge for a conference and summit for local LGBT+ and HIV organisations.
Chris Gull said:“Once again we were able to distribute a record amount of money raised within our communities to a record number of projects which support people in our local LGBT+ and HIV communities.
“The Independent Grants Panel took a huge amount of trouble in assessing the applications, including face to face discussions with the applicants, and we’re impressed by the quality and range of the projects.
“Once again we were able to support groups and organisations providing services and support to our LGBT+ Elders, and practical support for those in the Trans and HIV communities, along with many other innovative projects. We are noticing that projects are focusing more and more on reducing social isolation.
“The presentation evening is an opportunity to recognise those that raise funds for us, not the least Brighton Pride, and to acknowledge and celebrate those that we fund and the extraordinary difference that they make to so many people’s lives. All the more remarkable because most of that work is delivered by volunteers.”
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp, Director of Brighton Pride said:“‘Pride with a Purpose’ remains the central focus of our fundraising activities at Brighton & Hove Pride. Seeing all these groups, from every corner of our wide and diverse communities benefit from our fundraising efforts, makes it all worth while.”
Two special fundraising awards were presented to Legends whose sponsorship and fundraising support for Brighton Pride amounted to £8,650.75 and Brighton Bear Weekend whose fundraising raised £11,855 for the Rainbow Fund during 2017.
Grants awarded:
Allsorts Youth Project received £5,000 towards continued support for Transformers (trans youth group 16-25) and One to One support. Presented by Mayor of Brighton & Hove Councillor Mo Marsh
Brighton Gems received £1,725 towards core funding including venue hire for two meetings a month. Presented by Miss Jason
The Clare Project received £5,000 towards One to One Counselling Project for trans people in conjunction with Clinic T. Presented by the Chief Superintendent of Brighton and Hove Police, Lisa Bell
The Rainbow Chorus received £7,150 for core funding, and continued support for the RC+ project. Presented by DJ Osaro
Older and Out received £5,270 for continuing support for monthly lunch club for LGBT+ Elders. Presented by Dulcie Weaver from Pride in Brighton & Hove
Sussex Beacon received £7.500 part funding for group work. Presented by David Raven
Accessibility Matters received £1,800 for core funding. Presented by Councillor for St Peters and North Laine, Pete West
Whitehawk LGBT+ Support Group received £1,000 as seed funding to assist through early stages of setting up and constituting a new LGBT+ group for East Brighton. Presented by owner of Dr Brightons, Charles Childs, and founder and promoter of Smiley Sunday comedy night, Deborah Lennard
Trans Alliance received £5,000 for production of high quality video to be used in Trans Awareness Training. Presented by Councillor Tony Janio, Leader of Conservative Group on Brighton & Hove City Council
Peer Action received £7,300 for core funding, and continued support for monthly therapy days and weekly yoga sessions. Presented by Councillor for Queens Park, Adrian Morris
Lunch Positive received £8,082 for core funding, and continuing support for weekly lunch club to provide information, social inclusion, and a healthy meal for people living with, or affected by, HIV. Presented by Andrew Kay, presenter at Latest TV
MindOut received £14,989 for continued support for Out of the Bluesuicide prevention peer support group, facilitation of an open, weekly, social support group and part funding for a new LGBTQ+ counselling service. Presented by Danny Dwyer from Bear-Patrol
Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard received £11,725 for The Rainbow Café – a project to reduce isolation for LGBT+ people living with dementia, their families and carers. Presented by Kathy Caton, presenter of Radio Reverb’s Out in Brighton LGBT+ radio show
LGBT Community Safety Forum received £29,147 towards cost of four public meetings a year to hold statutory authorities to account on behalf of our communities; a one-off purchase of two scooters to allow volunteers to respond more quickly to over 500 call outs per year for their 24/7 outreach service and continued support for the Next Step Projectto help 50 LGBT+
people move on, into employment, training, and volunteering opportunities. Presented by Geoff Raw, Chief Executive Brighton & Hove City Council.
Rainbow Fund Fundraising award:Presented to Brighton Bear Weekend by broadcaster, politician and activist, Sophie Cook and Rev. Richard Butcher-Tusset from Rainbow Fund Grants Panel
Brighton Pride Fundraising Award:Presented to Legends by Jane Mezzone and Steve Beaumont independent members of Rainbow Fund Grants Panel.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases publish scholarly study into the HIV prevention treatment, PrEP titled, Cost-effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in men who have sex with men in the UK: a modelling study and health economic evaluation.
The study indicates a UK-wide PrEP programme would be cost-effective, and could prevent up to one in four cases of HIV.
In the UK, HIV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has remained high for several years, despite widespread use of antiretroviral therapy and high rates of virological suppression.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be highly effective in preventing further infections in MSM, but its cost-effectiveness has been uncertain.
In this modelling study and economic evaluation, researchers calibrated a dynamic, individual-based stochastic model, the HIV Synthesis Model, to multiple data sources (surveillance data provided by Public Health England and data from a large, nationally representative survey, Natsal-3) on HIV among MSM in the UK.
They did a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (sampling 22 key parameters) along with a range of univariate sensitivity analyses to evaluate the introduction of a PrEP programme with sexual event-based use of emtricitabine and tenofovir for MSM who had condomless anal sexual intercourse in the previous 3 months, a negative HIV test at baseline, and a negative HIV test in the preceding year.
The main model outcomes were the number of HIV infections, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and costs.
The study finds the introduction of such a PrEP programme, with around 4,000 MSM initiated on PrEP by the end of the first year and almost 40,000 by the end of the 15th year, would result in a total cost saving (£1·0 billion discounted); avert 25% of HIV infections (42% of which would be directly because of PrEP), and lead to a gain of 40,000 discounted QALYs over an 80-year time period.
This result was particularly sensitive to the time period chosen, the cost of antiretroviral drugs (for treatment and PrEP), and the underlying trend in condomless sex.
The study findings suggest that the introduction of a PrEP programme for MSM in the UK is cost-effective and possibly cost-saving in the long-term. A reduction in the cost of antiretroviral drugs (including the drugs used for PrEP) would substantially shorten the time for cost savings to be realised.
Dr Michael Brady
Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:“One of the key arguments against PrEP has been that it will cost the NHS too much money. This study firmly puts that claim to bed by demonstrating that, when appropriately targeted at those at risk of HIV, it is not only highly cost-effective but, as the price of HIV drugs falls, will actually save the NHS money in the long run. Each HIV infection we prevent saves the NHS £360,000 of a lifetime of treatment and care.
“The study also highlights the importance of cheaper, generic versions of PrEP, which are currently being used in NHS England’s PrEP Impact trial and have been commissioned for PrEP use in Scotland.
“This cost effectiveness data underlines the importance of PrEP in the fight against HIV. It is not only highly clinically effective it is also cost-effective. The NHS England Impact trial, which will provide access to PrEP for 10,000 people over the next 3 years, is a welcome step in the right direction. However, it is important that all who need PrEP can access it and evidence like this reinforces the need for PrEP to be fully commissioned and given a long-term, sustainable home on the NHS in England.”
The UK’s leading children’s charity received the Third Sector Equality Award at the ceremony which celebrates the contributions of politicians, businesses, campaigners and community groups to improving LGBT+ life in the UK.
It fought off competition from the National Theatre, Tate Galleries, St Mungo’s, Amnesty International and the National Union of Students.
Javed Khan
Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan, said: “We’re thrilled to win this award and delighted to have our work in improving LGBT+ equality recognised. Having a workforce that is inclusive of our LGBT+ staff and volunteers is essential if we are to fully understand and meet the needs of LGBT+ children and young people.
“Barnardo’s champions equality, diversity and inclusion and helps young people to be themselves and raises wider awareness about LGBT+ issues so they can also be supported by their peers.”
The judges were impressed how Barnardo’s puts equality and inclusion at the heart of all its work, from the way it supports children and young people to who works or volunteers for the charity. Building a diverse Barnardo’s is a core part of its ten-year corporate strategy.
The charity actively works to create a workforce that is inclusive of LGBT+ staff and volunteers in order to understand and respond to the needs of LGBT+ young people and to increase LGBT+ awareness.
Barnardo’s led campaigning for LGBT+ fostering and adoption and for around 20 years has helped many children to thrive in loving, safe family environments.
Its wide range of services to support LGBT+ young people includes the Positive Identities service that supports young people struggling with sexual orientation and gender identities. Its Department of Education-funded anti-bullying training programme challenges the attitudes and behaviour in schools, families, faith and wider communities towards LGBT+ people.
Safezone training has made Barnardo’s and its services welcoming places for LGBT+ people and has been rolled out to GP practices, health services, youth services and schools.
Barnardo’s Brighton and Hove Link Plus provides high quality fostering and short breaks for disabled children and their families.
They are desperately looking for more carers from all sectors of the community who can offer anything from occasional overnight stays through to full-time fostering for children aged 0-18.
If you have a love for children, a sense of humour, time, energy and patience, you could help to make a huge difference to disabled children and their families.
It is a rewarding role and short breaks give disabled children and young people the day-to-day opportunity to be just children.
For their parents, a short break can go a long way in helping them to re-charge their batteries or spend time with their other children.
A parent says: “a small amount of time can give a lot of fun which is hard to always give when there are other pressures of life, work and family.”
If you have the time and energy to support a local disabled child and their family, we would love to hear from you. We have been working in Brighton and Hove since 1988 and OFSTED have judged us to be Outstanding.
All applicants will undergo an assessment process and ongoing support, training and supervision is provided. People will need to have a spare room and an allowance is paid.
Local artist Lez Ingham has been putting the final touches to her portrait of George Michael, the latest painting in her series of Icons.
George Michael painted by Lez Ingham
The painting of the pop superstar was commissioned by Gscene magazine to be auctioned at Hibernation, the community luncheon organised by Bear-Patrol at the Old Ship Hotel on Sunday, October 22.
The annual fundraiser will raise money to support the new Counselling Project at MindOut, the LGBTQ mental health service and towards the important work being delivered by the Brighton & Hove, LGBT Community Safety Forum.
The luncheon will take place in the fabulous surroundings of the historic Paganini Ballroom, where guests will be treated to a sumptuous four course lunch, be charmed by the sophisticated talents, of the ex-Las Vegas showgirl, Miss Hope Springs and hopefully some serious money will be raised for good causes.
Lez with George and Superwoman
Tickets for the event have sold out, but all eyes will be on how much George raises towards Bear-Patrol’s nominated good causes.
For more information about Lez Ingham, click here:
For more information about Bear Patrol, click here:
New signs advising drivers to switch off their engines while stationary, are being installed in the city this week.
Around 35 ‘Cut engine – Cut pollution’ signs are being fixed around Brighton & Hove’s Air Quality Management Areas – mainly in the city centre but also outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Rottingdean and South Portslade.
The signs, which are being supplied by The Sussex Air Quality Partnership, advise drivers to switch off their engines if waiting for more than a minute.
The aim of the signs is to encourage drivers to avoid ‘idling’ to help reduce pollution across Brighton & Hove.
Cllr Gill Mitchell
“Vehicle fumes damage both health and the local environment,”said Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee.
“Switching off engines could make a big difference to pollution levels in the city and help to reduce the risk of asthma, heart disease and lung cancer for our residents and visitors.”
Research has shown that turning off an engine and restarting it after a minute or longer causes less pollution than keeping the engine idling and saves fuel. It also helps keep engines and exhausts cleaner.
The study indicates a UK-wide PrEP programme would be cost-effective, and could prevent up to one in four cases of HIV.
Around 35 ‘Cut engine – Cut pollution’ signs are being fixed around Brighton & Hove’s Air Quality Management Areas – mainly in the city centre but also outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Rottingdean and South Portslade.
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