menu

New homes to help people living with dementia

A new council housing scheme in central Brighton will help people with dementia carry on living independently.

The Brooke Mead Extra Care scheme in Albion Street will provide 45 self-contained rented flats, with first residents moving in now.

The development is designed for people living with low to moderate dementia and other people who need a little more care and support. Carers are on site around the clock if needed, and the scheme has a communal garden, lounge and social activity rooms.

Agincare has been commissioned to provide on-site care, and the council is working with a range of organisations to develop a vibrant and active community at the scheme.

Brooke Mead is the first extra care scheme to be built and managed by Brighton & Hove City Council. With a growing number of older people in the city and pressure on adult social care budgets, the scheme will help prevent or delay people needing more expensive residential care.

Cllr Anne Meadows
Cllr Anne Meadows

Councillor Anne Meadows, chair of the council’s Housing & New Homes Committee, said: “Brooke Mead is the first extra care scheme of its kind in the city with a real focus on dementia and it is great to see it complete and ready for residents.

“It’s not a care home, so it won’t necessarily be the right place for everyone living with dementia, but it will provide more support than the council’s other seniors housing schemes. It will also be suitable for people who need extra care and support for other reasons, not just those with dementia.

“Residents will have their own home and their own furniture and possessions around them, but also the reassurance of knowing there is extra help on hand 24/7 if they need it.”

People who think the flats may be suitable for them or a relative can visit the Brooke Mead scheme by appointment. The scheme manager will be available to answer any questions and offer a tour of the building and its facilities. The flats include wheelchair accessible properties.

All applications will be subject to the council’s Allocations Policy and approval by the council’s adult social care team to ensure the scheme meets the needs of the resident. While priority will be given to council tenants and eligible applicants on the housing register, people living in private accommodation in Brighton & Hove can also apply.

For more details on how to apply, contact the Housing Customer Services team on 01273 293030 or email housingcustomerservices@brighton-hove.gov.uk

The Brooke Mead Extra Care Scheme is part of the council’s New Homes for Neighbourhoods programme which aims to build 500 new rented homes on council land.

Switchboard launch new LGBT+ anti-smoking campaign

Brighton and Hove LGBT+ residents, LGBT Switchboard and Brighton and Hove City Council team up to deliver a campaign that encourages LGBT+ people to stop smoking.

With LGBT+ people far more likely to smoke than straight people, an awareness raising drive has started.

The council has teamed up with LGBT Switchboard, to ensure the LGBT+ communities knows there is support available to help them quit.

LGBT Switchboard’s Scarlett Langdon, a leading member of the campaign, said: “Most people know the dangers of smoking but wanted some messages that conveyed the dangers in a brighter and more positive way. 

“What’s important to people is they don’t feel like they’re being told off.  Together we worked to create a campaign that aims to achieve this.”

Figures from the ONS (Office of National Statistics) show that LGB adults are more likely to be cigarette smokers compared to straight adults. A number of local Brighton & Hove LGBT+ residents worked with LGBT Switchboard on developing the awareness campaign and some revealed what motivated them to quit smoking.

In a video made by the city council, Eric Page describes his journey to stop smoking, including why he started, how he’s tried to quit before, and how he finally gave up with the help of smoking cessation services in Brighton & Hove.

Eric says: “I really felt like I was Bette Davis, and then I remember seeing Bette Davis after having had 4 strokes and been really ravaged by smoking, and I thought ‘actually I’m going to become that if I’m not careful’.”

The council’s e-cigarette friendly service offers free one to one support along with licensed stop smoking medications at the cost of a prescription.

The campaign is being run through the LGBTQ health improvement project (HIP), in partnership with the city council.

Scarlett added: “It’s time we came together as a community to raise awareness of the benefits that stopping smoking can have.

“Giving up has immediate health benefits, no matter how long you’ve smoked for. It’s the single best thing you can do for your health.”

For more information on kicking the habit, and the support available, click here:

PREVIEW: Love Happens Here – an LGBTQI cabaret

Like the LGBTQ+ communities, their soundtrack is vast and diverse – Centre Stage London present a selection of music celebrating this community and love in all its forms.

From dance classics from big-voiced divas to soul-searching slow jams that mirror struggles with self-acceptance and social rejection.

Centre Stage London celebrate a message of hope, acceptance, activism and love in Love Happens Here- An LGBTQI Cabaret.

Featuring songs from legends like Lou Reed, modern jams by Lady Gaga, classic songs Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Dancing Queen and numbers from musicals like Fun Home, Kinky Boots and Taboo; Love Happens Here is a cabaret/concert mash-up of music celebrated and loved by the LGBTQ+ community and it’s Centre Stage allies.

Director Stuart James, says: “At present, the world is going through an extremely turbulent time. While the LGBTQ+ community celebrates small human rights achievements, we continue to be faced with atrocious discrimination. A lot of which comes from our political leaders who are supposed to be there to protect and serve their constituents.

While we’ll never stop fighting for our basic human rights, it doesn’t mean we can’t do everything in our power to celebrate and enjoy our lives. The LGBTQ+ community has always had a close relationship with music and Love happens Here is a way for me to personally give back to my community, presenting my love of LGBTQ+ themed music for everyone who feels like a bit of cheering up!”

Centre Stage is a central London-based theatre company that has been entertaining audiences with musicals and cabarets for 50 years. An amateur society and registered charity, they began as a light opera company in 1966.

For this production, they have brought together an incredibly talented cast and creative team including a live onstage band and some of the best singers in London!


Event: Love Happens Here – an LGBTQI Cabaret

Where: Stockwell Playhouse, 208 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2JU

When: February 20 – 22

Time: 7.30pm running time is 2 hrs, including interval 

Cost: £15

To book tickets online, click here:

Stockwell Playhouse bar open 30 mins prior to performance, at interval and after show

Our members range in age from their 20s to their 60s and come from all walks of life – current members include teachers, lawyers, bankers, directors, web designers, nannies, librarians, managers, event organisers and retirees. But we all share one thing: a passion for musical theatre!

www.centrestage.london | @centrestageldn | #cslovehappenshere

 

 

Celebrate love and diversity at Refugee Valentine

LOVE is in the air!

A line up of local musicians, Yamaya (Afrobeat Funk Fusion) and Alaa (Oud and vocals from Syria) will bring the music of their international origins to create a night that defies categorisation as either global or local.

West African chefs will cook a celebratory feast served on big platters for 4-6 people so that strangers can eat together to share the love.

Refugee Valentine celebrates love and diversity.

Refugee Valentine will take love beyond monogamous pairings to begin rebuilding a community that celebrates difference.

Refugee Valentine is organised by Brighton Migrant Solidarity (BMS) and Thousand For Thousand (T4K) to celebrate love and diversity.

LOVE IS POLITICAL – It’s our differences that bring us together.


Event: Refugee Valentine

Where: The Rose Hill Tavern, Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton, BN1 4JL

When: Wednesday, February 14

Time: 6pm-11pm

Cost: £15

To book tickets online, click here:

Here comes the Pride! Celebrity cruises holds historic wedding at sea

Same-sex couple tie knot on Celebrity Equinox in an intimate ceremony between the grooms and their families.

In a historic ceremony hosted on board Celebrity Equinox yesterday, January 29 at 14.30 EST, Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray became the first same-sex couple ever to be legally married at sea on a major cruise line.

The grooms were joined by their immediate families for an intimate ceremony officiated by Captain Dimitrios Manetas, en route from Key West, Florida to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico.

“Words cannot express how proud I am to congratulate Francisco and Benjamin at this truly historic moment, both for them and for Celebrity. It’s a true privilege to know that the ceremony performed  on board Celebrity Equinoxhas made history as the first legal same-sex marriage at sea,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.

“Together we are paving the way for couples around the world to know that their love and commitment is to be celebrated equally, and that everyone is welcome on board a Celebrity cruise.”

Benjamin added: “There are only so many firsts in life, and we are thrilled to be the first ever LGBT+ couple to marry at sea.” 

“We are humbled to follow the trailblazers in the LGBT+ community who paved the way for us.”  

The ceremony follows a transformative vote in Malta, where a majority of the Celebrity fleet is registered, which passed the country’s parliament 66-1. The long-awaited referendum opened the door for Celebrity Cruises to legally recognise same-sex marriages performed onboard while at sea, and have the fleet’s captains officiate the ceremonies.

Francisco, said: “Traveling is in my blood – and when we heard Celebrity Cruises was celebrating equality and embracing our communities, we wanted to be a part of it. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our Cruise Planners family and hope our story brings strength for others in the LGBT+ communities to confidently love whoever they choose.”

The Celebrity Wedding Cruise programme offers onboard ceremonies and destination weddings for lovebirds. The Nautical Nuptials at Sea package includes a Captain-led ceremony, an event coordinator’s services, live music, one hour of photography, cake for two, a bottle of champagne, plus additional romantic turn down amenities post-ceremony, and much more.

To learn more about the Celebrity Weddings programme and The Wedding Experience, visit Celebrity Wedding Planner and say “I do.”

MindOut Feature: ‘Natural’ childbirth  

Mary always wanted to have children, one day, when the time was right. One big issue for her was whether she could be a good parent, or at the very least a good enough parent.

Coming out to her own parents hadn’t increased her confidence at all – one of the first things her (tearful) mother had said was that now she wouldn’t have any grandchildren.

Mary tried to say that maybe she would have kids, to which her parents expressed disbelief and worse still disapproval: “how could she do that to the poor innocent children?”, “they would have a terrible time being bullied” and numerous varieties of the “but it’s not natural” argument.

Over the years, her plans to reproduce faded as an issue within her immediate family, overtaken by more pressing issues of the day. Mary was in the long and weary battle to educate and challenge the persistent prejudice, overt and hidden, in virtually every conversation she had. While she had no active plans to have a child, it didn’t seem worth the energy to take on a theoretical issue.

When Mary met the love of her life, that all changed. She was going to try to get pregnant! Regardless of what her mother, her father or the rest of the world thought about it.

Mary was very aware that she had a number of privileges which were going to make her life as a parent easier, and more possible, than for some of her LGBT+ friends.

First off, she had a supportive partner and a good, healthy relationship. She had a secure home. She had a fairly well paid job, was entitled to standard maternity leave and would have a job to go back to. It wouldn’t be easy financially, especially when it came to paying for child care, but between them they would afford it. Mary knew only too well of women and men who didn’t have the luxury of choosing children at all.

She was worried about what the kid/s would have to face. Living in a small, conservative town wouldn’t be easy, they would be all too visible, easily marked as ‘different’. Tolerance towards adult homosexuals who were relatively non-threatening was one thing, but would the townsfolk turn once they knew children were coming? Would the liberal veneers peel away to reveal bigotry lurking beneath? Again, she was all too well aware of her privilege as a cis woman mother-to-be: the awful stuff her father said about gay men as parents was shocking. She knew, too, that many trans parents faced huge hurdles to have children and to keep being parents after coming out.

Mary knew she had to face discrimination and armed herself ready. She would often quote the brilliant research articles she had read, especially the American study done over 25 years with lesbian parents and 78 children all of whom were conceived by donor insemination. Gatrell and Bos (2010) found that at age 17 ‘…daughters and sons of lesbian mothers were rated significantly higher in social, school/academic, and total competence and significantly lower in social problems, rule-breaking, aggressive, and externalising problem behaviour than their age-matched counterparts in Achenbach’s normative sample of American youth’.

Closer to home, the work of Susan Golombok at Cambridge University confirms that children brought up in ‘new family forms’ do just as well as children raised in traditional families. Crucially, she has found that for children to develop happily they do not need to have a male parent or a female parent, and that’s the case for children of both genders or none. The evidence suggests, therefore, that the presence of fathers in children’s lives is not essential per se.

What about mothers? Our findings lead to the controversial conclusion that the presence of a female parent is not essential for children’s well-being or their development of sex-typed behaviour. What’s the evidence? Although only a small number of studies have been conducted, the available findings show no evidence of raised levels of child adjustment problems or atypical gender development between children with two-parent gay father families and children from either two-parent lesbian or two-parent heterosexual homes. Children can, it seems, do fine without a mum.

Mary was lucky and became pregnant quickly. What she didn’t anticipate was how much her fear of being judged as a parent-to-be would be increased by casual prejudice: from introducing her female partner to a disbelieving and totally heterosexual ante-natal class through to her mother’s continued insistence that this unnatural family would damage their offspring. She found it hard to control her anxiety, especially after Charlie was http://www.mindout.org.ukfirst-born, she began to doubt her abilities as a mother, began to fear for both of them.

What would have helped Mary? The challenges for parental mental health are well-known (stress, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, financial worry, renegotiating relationships, attachment issues, social isolation etc). For all LGBT+ parents any or all of these are complicated by having few or no public role models, no public support, heteronormative expectations of parenting, poor treatment and fear of poor treatment by health and social care services, exclusion from LGBT+ spaces, isolation from prior support networks.

LGBT+ parents need all of our support, we need to celebrate ‘new family forms’. Many parents and their kids will have that support, but some may not or may have times of crisis or need, as a family or as separate people.

MindOut offers safe LGBT+ spaces to explore mental health. We have advocacy workers, out of hours online support, peer support group work, peer mentoring and a counselling service. All of these are available for parents, parents-to-be and those without children.

All of the services MindOut deliver are confidential, non-judgemental and independent.

• Visit: www.mindout.org.uk
• Email: info@mindout.org.uk
• Call: 01273 234839

X