Annual Report 2003

Agenda Item 4

1. Ten meetings of the coalition had been held through the past year. This evenings meeting is the first Annual General Meeting.

2. The rules and procedures of the coalition have been constantly appraised over the year with two exercises carried out on reviewing the purpose and tasks of the group and the setting of achievable aims. This work will continue over the next year, ensuring the LGBT Coalition served a useful function in reviewing and advising Council policy on issues surrounding our remit and terms of reference.

3. The July 2003 meeting appointed Christine Fleetwood as Chair, with Sue Rowland selected as Deputy-Chair.

4. The group have achieved numerous successes throughout the year, namely:

   • Supporting Same Sex Relationship Scheme in Swindon
   • Contributing to the review of Equalities & Harassment policies
   • Supporting the Bishop of Oxford during his struggle to appoint a gay Bishop of Reading
   • Contributing to Government consultation on Same-sex inheritance policies
   • Co-ordinating a World Aids Day Service with local churches on December 1st
   • Recruitment, awareness and social event at The Cricketers Pub

5. A number of coalition members are involved with other agencies, so awareness has been raised at meetings on issues such as:

   • Hate Crime Forum
   • Schools Out
   • Pride Youth

6. A number of members have attended courses throughout the year to promote better understanding of issues within the LGBT community, namely:

   • Nick and Sally attend Equal before the Law conference in London
   • Jane attended How to research among the LGBT community
   • Jane attended UNISON Gay and Lesbian conference
   • Christine, Helen and Tracy attended A new agenda for Equality conference in Manchester
   • Christine and Sue attend Swindon Borough Council Equalities Forums

7. The group have received presentations from a number of external organisations over the year. It is the wish of the coalition to receive further presentations that would aid the shaping of policy at the Council to reflect a progressive equalities outlook.

   • Age Concern brought to the groups attention an information sheet on planning for later life for the elderly LGBT
   • Voluntary Action Swindon is an agency in the town which supports and encourages consultation within many stakeholders within the borough.
   • Barry Hudson from the Evening Advertiser highlighted his newspapers wish to give a positive platform to the LGBT community, especially in areas of Hate Crime where sensationalism has distracted from the brutality of the offence from some sections of population. The newspaper would no longer name the victims of hate crime unless their consent had been agreed. The publication of bigotry would no longer have space within the letters pages.

Report written by Matthew Pearce in consultation with fellow Link workers, Nick LeBosquet and Jane Williams and Principal Policy Officer, Sally Thorpe.

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