24/01/2018 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Award winning play The Purple List… a gay dementia venture by Libby Pearson will be performed by Ian Baxter on Thursday, February 15 at the opening of the Rainbow Cafe.

The performance takes place at Brooke Mead, (the new extra care housing accommodation to be opened by Brighton & Hove City Council) in Albion Street, Brighton, from 11am- 2pm .

The play, a 35-minute one-man performance explores the highs and lows of the lives of same sex couple, Sam and Derek, who live with the reality of dementia and memory loss.

The performance will be followed by a Q&A session, and a chance to hear about Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboards new dementia café, The Rainbow Café for LGBT+ people experiencing dementia.

Daniel Cheesman, Switchboard’s CEO, says: “Through the Rainbow Café, we aim to raise awareness of dementia within the LGBT+ communities. Our Older Person’s Project has highlighted the need for this service and we are thankful to the support that we have been given by the Rainbow Fund to get the service up and running.”

“Everyone is welcome to attend the launch event on February 15. Whether you’re interested in attending the group, want to find out more or if you’re interested in volunteering. The play is a powerful portrayal of the impact that dementia can have and in this scenario in a same-sex relationship – I would encourage all to come and see it.”

The Rainbow Cafe has been made possible with an £11,725 grant awarded by the Rainbow Fund.

Event: Launch of Rainbow Cafe and performance of The Purple List by Libby Pearson

Where: Brooke Mead Albion Street, Brighton, BN2 9PY

When: Thursday, February 15

Time: 11am – 2pm

Cost: Free

Local HIV charity Lunch Positive appoint new trustee to the board.

Lunch Positive provides a weekly peer-led community lunch club for people with HIV every Friday at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Kemptown.

In joining the board at Lunch Positive, Richard Jeneway, who co-founded the HIV charity Peer Action, brings a wealth of experience in the voluntary sector and important insights into living with HIV. This includes ageing with HIV, social disadvantage and the complexity of challenges that HIV can still present for many people.

Richard has been directly involved in supporting people with HIV for many years, including facilitating group work and service provision.

Steven Foster, Chair of Lunch Positive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Board, which we know will strengthen governance of our Charity at a time when we continue to develop services to meet the needs of our community. Actively involving people who are HIV positive is absolutely fundamental to good governance of a peer-led organisation, and the provision of relevant and effective services.”

Richard Jeneway said: “The unique service that Lunch Positive provides, together with the fantastic contributions of volunteers, have such an impact on our HIV community.

“I feel privileged to join the Lunch Positive Trustee Board. As this established and well-respected Charity continues to grow from strength to strength I am very much looking forward to being a part of the process as a Trustee.”

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here: