Yesterday I learnt that Lorna McArdle, chair of the Reading Pride charity, is to present a petition to Reading Borough Council that reads:
We the undersigned believe that the residents of Reading would significantly benefit from a LGBT support centre in the town centre open at accessible times to provide health, relationship, employment and legal advice and offer counselling and other services.
We call on Reading Borough Council to acknowledge this need and offer genuine assistance to establish and maintain an LGBT centre within Reading.
There is currently a paper petition and an e-petition which can be found at http://www.supportu.net/survey/index.php?sid=15698.
A motion is also tabled by Cllr Tim Harris that reads as follows:
SUPPORT CENTRE FOR LGBT COMMUNITY
Councillor Harris to move:
“This council believes that the residents of Reading would significantly benefit from a support centre in the town centre open at accessible times to provide specialist services such as health, relationship, employment and legal advice and to offer counselling and other services to the LGBT community.
This Council undertakes to provide genuine assistance with accommodation and £10k in start up costs for “Support U” to establish such a centre which once instigated should be self-financing and run by local LGBT community members.
Both the petition and motion are to be presented at a council meeting on Tuesday 18th October 2011.
I’m pledging my support for this centre for a number of reasons. I make no secret of my sexuality or the way it has been used against me in the past. It was the recent homophobia that I encountered that encouraged me to launch the OK 2B GAY campaign in Reading. The SupportU centre will provide a central base for Reading LGBT groups and organisations and most have received little or no funding from Reading Borough Council who have historically allocated higher funding to organisations that represent religious or racial groups rather than those discriminated against because of sexuality. Some organisations have even had funding decisions reversed by the new administration and there is speculation that this happened after a particular organisation was seen supporting a political group canvassing in the Redlands Ward of Reading!
That aside, Reading Borough Council does not do very much for the LGBT community. There are committees that represent Ethnic Minorities and religious groups and yet there are none established for the LGBT Community. I have raised this with Reading Borough Council but have never received a reply as to why.
SupportU aims to provide the following services:
Family help groups
Drop in days and nights for the family unit to discuss issues arising from children and/or grandchildren being in same sex relationships.
Gay parents advice, people needing advice regarding access to their children due to their sexuality and conflicts within the family unit.
Transvestite Groups and Transsexual Groups
A relaxed meeting place for those seeking advice for changing sex or cross-dressing. This will be run by people already going through the process or considering it with guests from the NHS or private hospitals. With the inclusion of a hairdresser on the premises it will not just give TS and TV’s a safe place to feel welcome to get their hair done, it would also alleviate the fear of discrimination and intimidation.
20-25 group
A social club for the over 19’s so they can meet others in a safe place. This will also be in association with local LGBT venues.
Educational Services
Classes in the arts, literature writing, dance, theatre and other recreational activities.
3rd Party reporting
Support U have had confirmation that Thames Valley Police would use the facilities as a 3rd party reporting centre.
They also wish to house the following services within the centre:
BeYou – Helpline – They would be looking at supporting and improving the service as they have seen a 40% increase of calls in the past year.
BOLGaF – Berkshire Older Lesbian, Gay Forum
A social group for the older generation to meet up and support
Reading Pride – An organisation that provides an annual festival to celebrate acceptance
Broken Rainbow – Domestic Violence help for same sex couples
Kenric – A social group for lesbians
Gay Berkshire – This group is made of a network of governing and voluntary organisations regarding Housing issues, Police advice, NHS advice and support, and voluntary help organisations.
NHS – advice and support
TVPS – An informal HIV advice provider for the Berkshire area.
LGBT Disability Network – A social network for the disabled that are LGBT
Albert Kennedy Trust – working with 16-25 year old lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people who are homeless or live in a hostile environment
Plus:
Support U would provide a referral service to other local businesses to assist the community with enquiries relating to services that the charity doesn’t provide directly. Some of the examples of these are:
Council – Benefits and social housing advice.
Solicitors and Lawyers – Offering a business opportunity for solicitors to advise on Civil Partnerships, Wills, and Gay Fathers or Mothers Advice, people needing access to their children due to sexuality.
Job Agencies – Offering advice on CV writing and how to approach looking for a job.
TVPS – HIV testing and advice
Unions – offering union representation and advice
Doctors
IVF Clinics
Fostering Services
Faith provisions
As you can see, these are very much needed services that are needed by the LGBT community that also compliments services that are being cut and I hope you will show your support by signing the petition above and coming to the Civic Centre in Reading on Tuesday.