Annual Report 2004

Agenda Item 5

1. Meetings of the coalition had been held monthly throughout the past year, where the group has gone from strength to strength.

2. The work of LGBT Swindon has ensured views of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community is heard and contributes to Council policy on issues from Education, Housing and Civil Partnership.

3. The February 2004 meeting appointed Helen Thompson as Chair, with Sue Rowland selected as Deputy-Chair for the year.

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

   • Launching a website http://www.lgbtswindon.org.uk to promote the aims and ambitions of the group. This has proved a useful resource with an average of one hundred hits a week recorded.
   • Debate and proposals for action on Sex Education and homophobic bullying occupied the March 2004 meeting and last month of January 2005. Comments were forwarded to officers in the Education department.
   • Karen Knapton of the Registry Office gave an update on the Council’s commitment to performing Civil Partnership ceremonies at Swindon. She stated that no services had been held in Swindon, to which the group responded that more publicity of the existence that a service could be held would be welcomed.
   • The group reviewed housing issues at the council, principally access to rentable accommodation, enjoy succession rights and that other tenants who subject LGBT residents to homophobic abuse will be evicted, following Court action.
   • A presentation from Social Services on fostering for same-sex couples was presented to the June meeting.
   • The Wiltshire Police launched a self-reporting pack on homophobic abuse in the year. A presentation to the group was received well. Later in the year the coalition worked with a lecturer at Portsmouth University on assessing gay perceptions of the police service in the town. Findings are due to be published early 2005, which the LGBT coalition will study.
   • A local charity supporting gay-youth presented a report on their activity to the group over a couple of meetings in the year.
   • The group also studied an equalities action plan from the Education department along with a presentation from the Generic Equalities Officer.
   • A serious form of hate-crime was brought to the groups notice in the year, which led to a police caution for the individual publishing the propaganda. This factored around a leaflet being left on council employees car windscreens pinpointing locations where gay sex was taking place.
   • Another successful World Aids Day Service with local churches was held on December 1st with sponsorship from LGBT Swindon.

5. Two voluntary link workers have had to resign due to work pressures. The third link worker is to be made redundant from the Council at the end of March.

Report written by Matthew Pearce in consultation with fellow Link workers, Nick LeBosquet and Jane Williams.

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