Agenda item

Will - Out There Youth Group will be participating in Northampton Carnival next month. Their float is going to be themed around ‘A Celebration of Equal Marriage’. They are short of adult help, and are looking for adults to volunteer to walk with the float for health and safety, and also to give out information leaflets etc. If anyone woild like to help/support, please contact Will or the Lowdown.

Out There Youth Group are also looking into setting up an Out There Plus group for older people (19^th birthday onwards)

Tendai - NHFT is launching a consultation event at the end of June, which will look into whether NHFT are providing fair and accessible services for the community. Carers week is also coming up – more information to follow.

John (NHFT) highlighted this month’s edition of the Alzheimer’s Society magazine to the forum, where he is featured in an article about Gay Carers. ‘Living with Dementia’ magazine can be found online here: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=2520

There is also some research taking place at the University of Nottingham about LGBTQ people’s experiences of End of Life and their care needs. There will be a workshop taking place – details can be found here: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmpresearch/lastouting/home.aspx

Daniel – The Royal and Derngate are gathering stories for their Story Hunt, which is a theatrical walking tour of the town centre. They would like stories from the LGBTQ community about, what it has been growing up as an LGBTQ person in Northampton, and an LGBTQ perspective on Northampton heritage, and experiences of things that have changed in the town. More information can be found here: http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/Productions/125364/131242/StoryHunt?view=Standard

Lesbian Line have been holding a quiz night every altnerate Thursday at the Labour Club; more information around this and other activity can be found here: http://www.lesbianline.co.uk/calendar.php

Matthew – Matthew would like the forum to write a response to the Police following the closure of the Hate Crime Unit. Matthew has been accepted onto the Faith Based and Communities Advisory Panel, set up by Helen Mason at the PCC, where he will be representing the LGBTQ Community. Matthew would like to raise the closure of the Hate Crime Unit as a concern on behalf of the forum, and will follow up whether the petition organised by Anjona Roy has been noted by the right people.

Rod – LGBTQ Lead for Healthwatch Northamptonshire; LGBTQ issues are now being raised in health and social care. Rod would like to look into how many other Healthwatch organisations across the country work with the LGBTQ community.

Lee – Felt that there is a barrier for deaf people to access services at NBC. Lee has experienced difficulties in a variety of services. ACTION – Lee to put this in an email to Vicki, who will follow this up. Rod added that Healthwatch Northamptonshire has raised that deaf people are not being able to access literature in health and social care, and this is being followed up.

Phil – SOLAR, colleagues are trained in rapid testing. They are going to have an information van at the Umbrella Fair. On 21^st June SOLAR will be holding a HIV Positive support group for LGBTQ people from 12-2, more information to follow. Phil also works with Northamptonshire Carers, who are County wide and cover all communities – if the forum would like a talk on Northamptonshire Carers, Phil would be happy to come along and do this.

Kevin – Stonewall is 25 years old today ( 20^th May 2014). Organisations are encouraged to get in touch with Stonewall about what is going on in the region. Stonewall are also working a lot internationally.