Minutes: October 2006
Wednesday 11th October 2006
Present
Helen, Paul, Silke, Chris, Doug, Robin Stannard – Wilts Police, Bob Basley – SBC, Kati Wood - SBC, Kathleen Daley - SBC.
1. Apologies
James, Chris, Kenneth, Sharon, Mark
2. Minutes of last meeting:
These were agreed as a true record.
Matters arising:
- 3. Helen said she had written to Jean Goncalves but was still awaiting a reply. The Preferred Bidder is Capita.
- 2.2 Robin queried the point about his attendance.
ACTION: Robin’s report to be circulated in advance of the meeting and he will attend to answer any questions raised. Doug said Robin’s presence was very useful. - 7.The Cricketers Pub is being re-opened. Po Na Nas has been sold and is being reopened as a gay friendly venue.
3. Bob Basley – Secondary Strategy Consultant
Bob said he worked in Secondary Schools in Swindon improving behaviour and attendance. He supported schools on a whole school basis and part of that remit covered bullying as well and he was now Chair of an Anti Bullying Multi-Agency body. He said he was here tonight to speak about sexuality teaching and homophobic bullying in schools.
He explained that in the current educational climate there was very big emphasis on the autonomy of schools. The Local Authority’s role continued to be to support and challenge but schools cannot be obliged to follow particular routes. Therefore teaching of sexuality and homophobic bullying needed to be undertaken along the lines of the ethos the school wanted to follow. It also needed to be in line with the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda, that was a recognisable aspect of an Ofsted Inspection. They would go in and talk about how schools were seeking to achieve the five outcomes in schools, these were:
- staying healthy
- staying safe
- enjoying and achieving
- making a positive contribution, and
- achieving economic well-being.
Bob went on to speak about ‘National Healthy School Status’ and said that if schools engaged with this it was a good indicator that they were reaching the outcomes for ’Every Child Matters’. It was also another means by which the Local Authority could engage with schools in the teaching of sexual relationships.
All that was required by the Government was a statement about a school’s teaching on sexual relationships and this was monitored through Katrina Carpenter’s work within the school. Part of the process was to provide support and resources to help schools meet the criteria.
Bob gave details of the teaching that was being done within schools and special courses Katrina ran on Personal Social Health Education (PSHE). 14 Schools had been engaged so far and it was interesting that where there was an option to choose sexual relations or drugs most had chosen sexual relations. Challenge to consider sexual diversity.
Bob spoke about promoting information from Stonewall and talking to Primary Head Teachers about those resources and to Secondary Teachers for behaviour and making them aware of the resources about homophobic bullying and how to challenge it.
Silke said it could empower schools to challenge the use of the word ‘gay’. There were pupils in some schools who were so used to using words that they were not aware of doing it.
Bob said all secondary schools had a copy of ‘Stand Up For Us’ released last year and he thought primary schools had a copy as well. Wanted to challenge heads and teachers to think about the number of pupils who were still establishing their sexual identity in secondary schools and the climate they needed to do that. Needed to challenge the idea in primary schools that there was just one family relationship.
Bob said the other issue was the loss of high achieving pupils who won’t continue at school because of homophobic bullying. Schools need to reflect on pupils lost at end of year 11 and whether they had transferred to college. Bob said Rita Glen- Gallo had developed a spreadsheet to record bullying and it included homophobic bullying.
Helen asked if there was any trans-phobic bullying? Bob said they didn’t know yet as they were putting the system in place but Helen made him aware of the fact that it was something they needed to consider.
Helen thanked Bob for attending.
4. EAF Meeting feedback and Issues to be raised at EAF Interim Meeting
Helen said there was a meeting on 1 November but there hadn’t been a meeting since our last meeting. Had attended Stronger Communities Forum representing the LGBT, it was quite interesting but irrelevant for LGBT.
5. Report on Hate Crime – Robin Stannard
Report was circulated at the meeting and a copy is attached.
- Crime Related Incidents in September were up on 2005.
- Town Centre Supervisor – Robin asked for the Coalition’s views about extending this? It was suggested that it would be worth going in with the Gay Liaison Officer.
- Council are talking about lighting around Faringdon Park.
6. World Aids Day:
Coalition were happy to be involved. Helen had been trying to find out if there was a replacement for Philip Hoare at the Pilgrim Centre. Once details were known they would be circulated.
7. Annual General Meeting:
Venue – If available we would use the Pilgrim Centre as the Arts Centre was not accessible.
Speakers – Donna Stevens from the Terrence Higgins Trust willing to speak and it was suggested we ask Pride Youth as well and also ask them to bring their display.
Format would include Election of Officers and Kati asked if anyone was interested in being Chair to let her know. Annual Report. 2 Speakers.
We will require posters and leaflets. Also suggested we publicise on ‘Newsround’ and website.
It was suggested that we bring meeting time forward to 6pm and it was agreed we would ask for agreement to this at the AGM.
Invites to go to Chris Sivers, Councillors, Nick Stephenson and Gavin Jones.
8. Dates of future meetings:
(If new time agreed)
2007
6-8pm Wednesday 14 February CR2, Civic Offices
6-8pm Wednesday 11 April CR2, Civic Offices
6-8pm Wednesday 13 June CR2, Civic Offices
6-8pm Wednesday 8 August CR2, Civic Offices
6-8pm Wednesday 10 October CR2, Civic Offices
6-8pm Wednesday 12 December CR2, Civic Offices
