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Bedford Tavern raise £650 for Rainbow Fund

Bedford Tavern remain committed to raising funds for all LGBT/HIV organisations in the city.

GOLDEN Handbag Favourite Barman Matt Richards and Adam Brooks, the multiple winner of the Golden Handbag Favourite Landlord award, receive certificate for raising £650 for Rainbow Fund during their Christmas Summer Xmas Weekend in June fundraiser at the Bedford Tavern.

Events during the weekend included Kristmas-Oke on Friday (22), Spice’s Christmas Show on Saturday (23) and a three course Christmas Lunch on Sunday (24).

Through an independent grants panel, The Rainbow Fund give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations in Brighton & Hove who deliver effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.

In the 2017-18 grants round the following organisations benefitted from grants amounting to £110.688: These included Allsorts Youth Project (£5,000), Brighton Gems (£1,725), The Clare Project (£5,000), The Rainbow Chorus (£7,150), Older & Out (£5,270), Sussex Beacon (£7,500), Accessibility Matters(£1,800), Whitehawk LGBT support group (£1,000), Trans Alliance (£5,000), Peer Action (£7,300), Lunch Positive (£8, 082), MindOut (£14,989), Switchboard (£11,725), and LGBT Community Safety Forum (£29,147).

Successful groups/organisations receiving money in the 2018-19 grants round will be announced at The Rainbow Fund LGBT+ community grants presentation evening at The Hilton Brighton Metropole on Monday, October 15, at 7pm which will be hosted by comedian Zoe Lyons and Lola Lasagne.

If you’d like to be on the guest list please email the Rainbow Fund via the “contact us” button on the website at www.rainbow-fund.org.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, and people will be contacted on Wednesday, October 10 to let them know if they are on the VIP list.

For more information about the Rainbow Fund, click here:

Camelford Arms fundraise to help trans project

The Camelford Arms raise £218 for The Clare Project at their weekly Thursday quiz night.

Winners the Fantastic Four Skins
Winners the Fantastic Four Skins

CAMELFORD quiz regulars the Fantasic Four Skins were winners on the night, but failed to scoop the £300 cash prize.

The Clare Project is a self-supporting transgender support and social group based in the Brighton and Hove open to anyone wishing to explore issues around gender identity.

Their main activity is a weekly drop in every Tuesday, which aims to provide a safe and confidential place for people to meet with others who share their life experiences and find information, support and companionship.

A facilitator and a psychotherapist attend each Tuesday drop-in, they also offer some changing facilities and have no religious affiliations.

Whilst The Clare Project is mainly attended by transgender, transsexual and gender dysphoric people, the project aims to be all-inclusive as they recognise the complexities surrounding the issue of gender identity. 

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Naked Rugby Players Calendar 2019 launch party at Bar Broadway

On Saturday, March 31, 2018: Fourteen Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents ‘lost’ their clothes at Hove Rugby Club to take part in the Naked Rugby Players Calendar 2019.

THE Calendar aims to promote the awareness of testicular cancer as well as raising funds for the Balls to Cancer charity with six International Gay Rugby (IGR) inclusive teams taking part including Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, The Bristol Bisons; Glasgow Alphas, Liverpool Tritons, Northampton Outlaws and the Sheffield Vulcans!

Now the calendar has been printed and launched nationally, the Sea Serpents will be holding their own launch night, here in Brighton at their sponsors, Bar Broadway on Saturday, October 6 2018!

The whistle blows at 9pm. Pop along for a scrum!


Event: Naked Rugby Players Calendar 2019 Brighton Launch

Where: Bar Broadway, Steine Street, Brighton

When: Saturday, October 6

Time: 9pm

ME Society publish guidelines for medics

The Sussex ME Society cares for many of the over 4,000 adults and children affected by the Chronic fatigue syndrome known as ME in the county.

THE Society has made available therapy and symptom management guidelines for medical professionals who are seeing patients with the illness.

The guide was developed through the British Association of CFS/ME (BACME), an organisation that represents UK health professionals working with the condition. It aims to provide information to support clinicians in their work with ME and includes both pharmacological and rehabilitative approaches

There is also a separate guideline that has been produced to assist professionals involved in the diagnosis and management of patients dealing with those that are house or bed-bound.

Colin Barton, Chair of the ME Society said: “Many medical professionals in Sussex are keen to know more about this illness that physically and mentally disables a good number of their patients and these guidelines can help”

Myalgic encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) sometimes follows a viral infection or trauma is classified as a neurological disorder and these guidelines have been issued for the medical profession. Symptoms of ME include profound physical and mental fatigue, concentration and working memory difficulties – confusion, muscle pain, sleep and mood disturbances, gastric and vision problems.

Pastor wants help for city’s LGBT+ homeless

Andrew Ramage, Pastor of MCC Brighton calls for the LGBT+ communities of Brighton and Hove to come together to make the city safe for all LGBT+ people.

BRIGHTON has the reputation for being a fun place to be, welcoming, open and accepting that’s why Andrew O’Connell, the man who was killed in Pavilion Gardens last month, came to Brighton.

The city’s reputation as the GAY capital of the UK is why so many young LGBT+ people come to Brighton – escaping bad treatment at home or looking for somewhere better, somewhere they will fit in. After all, where could be safer than the LGBT+ Capital of the country?

Sadly, that is not the case for everyone.

Some will be lucky, finding support and help from the LGBT+ communities, a sofa to sleep on, help getting settled, food and community.

Many though end up on the streets, sleeping rough, or being preyed upon by being offered a place to sleep, then having no choice but to sleep with the person offering the shelter.

What would you do to avoid being out on the streets in the winter?

The city of Brighton and Hove has the second highest rate of homelessness in the country. Homelessness includes all those who are sofa surfing (the hidden homeless), those in temporary accommodation (sometimes for several years), those in emergency accommodation (which can be unsafe) as well as those we see sleeping on our streets every day.

Because of this the City Council imposes a local connection criteria on access to services and support, disproportionately affecting people who come to the city seeking refuge for who they are. Pushing new comers, particularly young or vulnerable queer people into potentially predatory situations or onto the streets.

Andrew Ramage
Andrew Ramage

Even if our LGBT+ siblings avoid the dangers of predatory behaviour, they are still at risk of attack by people who target the homeless. And unfortunately, can also often end up on the wrong end of aggression and violence by other street dwellers who either have homophobic beliefs, don’t like people who are different, are wary of the new person or are just jealously guarding their patch.

We are campaigning for an end to what we see as a misuse of local connection in limiting access to support and services, we work with other homeless service providers to ensure that services are safe for LGBT+ people and I hold ‘surgeries’ for anyone who wants to come and talk.

Despite Brighton being a great place to live, these are very dangerous times to be homeless. Although the diversity is fantastic, the level of acceptance is higher than most places, sadly this is only really true if you have money, if you can afford the high rents and have somewhere to stay.

The LGBT+ capital of the UK is not a safe place for LGBT+ homeless or rough sleepers. But some of us are trying to make it so. Now is the time that the community needs to come together, to be truly LGBT+ and make this city a safe place for all, wherever they come from.

For more information about MCC Brighton, click here:

Households struggle to keep warm as East Sussex faces fuel poverty crisis

23,411 households in East Sussex are living in fuel poverty and struggle to keep warm during the winter months, according to a new government report which reveals the extent of the crisis facing the county.

THE latest statistics show 9% of homes in East Sussex are classed as ‘fuel poor’ which means they cannot afford to adequately heat their home based on their income. The national figure has risen to over 2.55 million homes in fuel poverty over the last year.

Rural parts of the county are disproportionally affected, with higher levels of fuel poverty compared to more urban areas, and the gap between the cost of their bills and what they can afford to pay is significantly higher at over £600, double that for urban areas.

This is despite oil heating, one of the main fuels used by rural homes, being significantly cheaper than other forms of heating for homes not connected to mains gas.

The higher cost of heating, however, is largely due to rural homes typically being older, poorly insulated and less energy efficient, making them more expensive to keep warm.

In response to the growing concern, OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, has written to local MPs saying that more support is needed for rural households, especially after last winter’s extreme cold weather.

Malcolm Farrow
Malcolm Farrow

Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC commented: “We often take our heating for granted and turn up the thermostat when the weather gets cold without a second’s thought. Unfortunately, as this latest report reveals, for many households across East Sussex keeping warm is a constant source of concern and often anxiety.

“Many health problems are associated with living in a cold house and there is a particular concern for older people who struggle during the winter months. Whilst steps have been taken to try to alleviate the problem, still not enough support is available.”

The report also highlighted the importance of energy efficiency as homes with better insulation and a modern boiler require less energy and are far quicker to heat which can help households reduce their fuel bills.

Malcolm added: “Rural households typically have a far lower energy efficiency rating compared to urban homes so the current focus needs to be on cost effective solutions such as better insulation and helping them upgrade to a modern and more effective heating system, for instance moving from electric storage heaters to oil central heating which is over 40% cheaper to run. This will have an immediate positive impact on many fuel poor homes.

“We should however recognise that, even with government support, the cost of upgrading a boiler is still out of reach for many homes. However, households can reduce their fuel bills in other ways such as adjusting heating timers as the weather changes, bleeding radiators and having their heating system regularly serviced and inspected by a qualified GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil or solid fuel) registered technician.”

For more information and advice, click here:

Bar Broadway sponsor new kit for Sea Serpents Rugby Club

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents the inclusive LGBT Rugby Team launch new strip at Bar Broadway their new sponsors.

PLAYERS and staff wore the new sage green kit and owners, Michael and Alistair put on a splendid buffet for the Club and their other customers.

The evening started with short speeches from Jason Thorpe, (Vice President of the rugby club and current holder of the G Scene Golden Handbag for favourite local singer and entertainer) and Ian Chaplin (Chairman of the Rugby Club) who commented on the clubs place in the local scene. He also thanked Bar Broadway for their generosity and welcome.

The sponsorship has bought the Club 25 playing shirts and 40 each of shorts, socks and training shirts which will cover the club’s needs for two seasons.

Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents are the first fully inclusive rugby club in Sussex, encouraging gay, bisexual, and trans guys to learn, experience and play rugby in a non judgemental atmosphere.

They welcome everyone who shares their vision. To find out more message their Facebook page or email: info@bhssrfc.com

Ian Chaplin, Chairman of the club, said: We are proud to have our kit sponsored by Bar Broadway, and proud to be members of the Sussex Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Football Union and International Gay Rugby – the body that encourages inclusive rugby across the world.”

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