MARIA LOPRESTI

JOHN HESKETH

I  am a School Improvement Partner for 17 schools in South Gloucestershire, and  based in the Department for Children and Young People in the South Gloucestershire Council Offices in . . . more

We are both Police Officers, soon to be based at Staple Hill Police Station in the Hate Crime Unit. Together, we have around 14 years experience as patrol officers, neighbourhood beat managers in Easton and Clifton . . more

My name is Sue Allen and I am a Chair of Trustees of families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay Men (FFLAG). FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity . . .more

We always have a member of the Terrence Higgins Trust at our meetings. (THT) is a national charity which offers community based care and support services to people affected by HIV. Since our formation . . .more

FEATURES

MARIA LOPRESTI

^^back to top

JOHN HESKETH

I'm John, and I am currently the South Gloucestershire Council's Partnership Equalities Co-ordinator. I attend the Forum meetings to represent the Council's Equalities agenda, which means making sure that any concerns or issues that the Forum has are fed back to the appropriate people. In turn, new Council initiatives and changes that may affect the LGB community are presented to the Forum. My other role is to integrate the Forum's priorities into those of other communities of interest: within South Gloucestershire, we have a number of groups who share common concerns with the LGB community, such as healthcare, housing, ageing and transport. Because my role in the Council cuts across all communities, I am able to facilitate discussion and meetings with other like-minded organisations. I was the former Chair of this Forum from 2005-2007. Email John Hesketh.

^^back to top

ANTONY EVANS

I am a School Improvement Partner for 17 schools in South Gloucestershire, and  based in the Department for Children and Young People in the South Gloucestershire Council Offices in Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury. I am also the PSHME+C (Personal, Social, Health and Moral Education and Citizenship) Adviser for South Gloucestershire and as such lead the Health and Citizenship Team. This carries significant implications for equalities, emotional health and well being, and sex education all of which link strongly to the aims and work of the LGB Forum.

^^back to top

LIZ MILDREN & JULIE CLARIDGE

We are both Police Officers, soon to be based at Staple Hill Police Station in the Hate Crime Unit. Together, we have around 14 years experience as patrol officers, neighbourhood beat managers in Easton and Clifton, and latterly in the specialist roles of hate crime and criminal investigation.

The Hate Crime Unit for the South Gloucestershire district was set up in 2006.

^^back to top

SUE ALLEN

My name is Sue Allen and I am a Chair of Trustees of families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay Men (FFLAG). FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity and is dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay & bisexual daughters and sons.

FFLAG offers support through its central telephone helpline, email and website in their efforts to help parents and families understand, accept and support their LGB members with pride and love.

FFLAG members are parents of LGB daughters and sons. These young people and their families face serious homophobia in our society, which brings in its wake prejudice, bullying and alienation.

FFLAG supports the full human and civil rights of LGBT individuals. Our full contact details can be found here. We hold parents/family support meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 7-9pm at the Terrence Higgins Trust, 8-10 West Street, Old Market, BRISTOL BS2 0BH

^^back to top

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST (THT)

We are an organisation formed by the community, based in the community to serve the community.

The West regional office, based in Old Market, Bristol, covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), North Somerset (including Weston-Super-Mare) and South Gloucestershire. Locally we also have offices in Swindon and Cheltenham.

THT West is committed to challenging the misinformation and prejudice that still exits in relation to sexual health, HIV and AIDS. We do this by providing accurate information and training. We provide a range of care and support services designed to offer practical help and emotional support to people living with HIV and those close to them. All services are provided free of charge.

THT West also engages in a wide range of sexual health and HIV related health promotion services designed to enable people to make informed choices and to help reduce the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Taking a holistic approach to sexual health, where by we challenge issues such as homophobia and address inequalities, is equally as important as providing up to date information on STI’s. As such we fully support the aims of the South Gloucestershire LGB Forum.

In addition to providing support services to those living with HIV, other services we provide or support include:

· Condom and lube distribution scheme, including postal provision.

· Gay Men’s membership scheme.

· Outreach to gay pubs, clubs and cruising areas.

· Fastest – 1 hour HIV testing service. Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea is also available.

· No.8 – support for men who are married or ion a relationship with a female partner, but questioning their sexuality or having sex with other men.

· Freedomyouth – a youth group for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people, and those questioning their sexuality aged 13 – 21.

· Bristol Family and Friends – a peer support group for the family and friends of gay men and lesbians who are having difficulty coming to terms with their loved one’s sexuality.

^^back to top

EACH

^^back to top