Achievements of the Pride in Ageing programme over the past five years include

• Promoting the inclusion of LGBTQ+ issues in training for the social care workforce with an educational tool made in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde for Skills for Care
• Artist residencies run in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to explore LGBTQ+ inclusivity and discrimination in residential housing.
• A takeover of the Manchester Pride stage in collaboration with Southway Housing, with older people performing scripts they had written alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series Four finalist Cheddar Gorgeous
• Opening a community garden space designed and looked after by older LGBTQ+ volunteers at Manchester Art Gallery, which was shortlisted for a Spirit of Manchester Award and has been visited by thousands of gallery visitors.
• An end-of-life care project in partnership with St Ann’s Hospice which produced a new training course for professionals and ‘Box of Me’ a workshop for LGBTQ+ communities on preparing for end-of-life care

At the five-year anniversary event in April, Sir Ian remarked on how pleased he was to see “older volunteers at the heart of LGBT Foundation – as they are the experts”. He wished the volunteers success with their current and upcoming projects for the Pride in Ageing Programme. Sir Ian, 84, reflected at Pride in Ageing’s launch event on his experiences as an older gay man. “I was criminalised, and that leaves a brand on you” Ian said, referencing the legal restrictions on homosexuality in England before 1967. “Older LGBTQ+ people need to be surrounded by friendship, love and respect”.

Lawrie Roberts, Pride in Ageing Manager: “The expression of hope and joy by Sir Ian McKellen at our launch has inspired our first five years of activity. We’d like to thank our amazing supporters, including Barclays, Age Friendly Manchester, Manchester City Council and Sir Ian, but most of all we’re celebrating our volunteers’ contributions to this programme – they’re a true inspiration to our LGBTQ+ communities and make a huge impact on the lives of many in Greater Manchester. 

We have an incredibly busy events programme, last month we had a dance workshop, digital café and book club – all for free and which anyone who is older and LGBTQ+ can come along to. The programme’s activity is designed by an advisory panel of volunteers and we are currently taking on new members – if you are LGBTQ+, aged over 50 and from the Greater Manchester area and would like to get involved we would be really interested in talking with you. Please do get in touch with us via the volunteering section of LGBT Foundation’s website or over the phone.”

Mindy, 72, a volunteer with the programme: “Pride in Ageing welcomes the energy, drive and experience of older people within our LGBTQ+ communities in the region. LGBT Foundation is showing that being LGBTQ+ is not just about the youngsters on Canal Street, it’s about everybody.”

Pam, 74, a volunteer with the programme: “This work is literally lifesaving, it matters to me as an older lesbian woman that pride in all its diversity is recognised.”

The Pride in Ageing Programme is supported by Barclays, Age Friendly Manchester and Manchester City Council.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article or would like to find out more about volunteering, LGBT Foundation’s helpline can be accessed at 0345 30 30 30. To get in touch with the Pride in Ageing programme online you can read more about us at lgbt.foundation or email prideinageing@lgbt.foundation.

Below is a list of the locations, along with their dates. Join us in spreading love and acceptance at these vibrant celebrations!

Quitting is easier in the community

Quitting can be really difficult – but there’s support out there. LGBTQ+ people often face complex barriers to quitting, including fear of discrimination in mainstream healthcare. But our community has taken action to create peer support spaces that understand the unique experience of LGBTQ+ with smoking. No-one blooms in isolation – reaching out to your loved ones, peer support groups, and LGBTQ+-affirming healthcare professionals will provide the nourishment you need to stop smoking. Studies show that people who access local stop-smoking services are 3 times more likely to quit than going it alone. LGBT Foundation have worked hard over the past few years to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in Manchester’s stop smoking services – we’ve trained Greater Manchester’s stop smoking services and healthcare professionals in LGBTQ+ diversity & inclusion, created smokefree spaces in local Pride events, and fought for LGBTQ+ representation in Manchester’s stop smoking campaigns. If you want to start the Spring with a healthier heart, lungs, and mind, you can find support below:

• Be Smoke-Free Manchester: Manchester-based stop smoking service provided by Change Grow Live, in partnership with LGBT Foundation. Be Smoke-Free provides you with a dedicated stop-smoking nurse and free products for nicotine cravings. It’s available for anyone living in Manchester and provides LGBTQ+-affirming and inclusive stop-smoking support.
• Here and Now: A mutual aid support group for LGBT+ people to share their experiences with substance misuse and addiction with each other in a safe space and a friendly atmosphere. All people are welcome, including those worried about smoking addiction. Whether you’re right at the beginning of your journey or you want to maintain your goals in your recovery, Here and Now is a place for everybody to come together. Meetings are held every Tuesday at LGBT Foundation’s Community Centre: 2nd Floor Fairbairn House, Sackville Street, M1 3NJ.
• LGBT SMART Recovery: SMART Recovery is a self-management cognitive behavioural therapy recovery program where you can work with peers in a safe space to learn how to use simple tools to look at motivation, cravings, urges and relapse prevention. SMART tools can help you manage your addictive behaviours and also be used universally in your day-to-day life. This group takes place every Thursday 6pm both online via Zoom (email for access), and in person at LGBT Foundation’s Community Centre: 2nd Floor Fairburn House, Sackville Street, M1 3NJ.
• NHS Stop Smoking Helpline: The NHS has a free Stop Smoking Helpline running between 9am-8pm Monday to Friday and 11am-4pm Saturday and Sunday, providing advice and signposting. Call 0300 123 1044
• Smoke Free App: If you’d rather start your quitting journey without accessing other services, the Smoke Free app provides 24/7 stop-smoking support at the touch of a button. Use it to get expert, personalised support to crush your cravings, set goals to keep motivated, monitor health improvements and money saved. If you live in Greater Manchester, you’ll receive full access to all premium features in the app free for six months, usually worth £60. You’ll also be able to get a free 4-week vaping starter kit straight to your door as part of the national Swap to Stop scheme.
• Local stop smoking services across Greater Manchester: Each borough of Greater Manchester has community-based stop-smoking support. You can use Make Smoking History’s local services page to find a service near you.

Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Arts and Culture Network is looking for two LGBTQ+ artists or companies based in Greater Manchester to develop new performances to be showcased at local Pride events across Greater Manchester this summer. 

The PRIDE STAGES Bursary 2024 is part of a range of initiatives from the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Arts and Culture Network, led by LGBT Foundation and supported by Arts Council England (providing support, training, and development for over 30 cultural organisations in the region working with LGBTQ+ communities) that are creating opportunities for LGBTQ+ performing artists across Greater Manchester to develop and present new work. 

Supported by our Network partners (Factory International, Global Grooves, Manchester Pride, Octagon Theatre, Peshkar, The Lowry, The Met, The Old Courts, Touchstones, Waterside Arts) the PRIDE STAGES  Bursary 2024 opportunity will include a cash grant of £1000, access to rehearsal space, and tailored development support from partner venues. 

Artists will present their work from May – September 2024 at events including Bolton Pride, Bury Pride, Manchester Pride, Oldham Pride, Pride in Trafford, Tameside Pride, and more TBA. 

Previous recipients of the PRIDE STAGES Bursary have included Cheddar Gorgeous (who went on to become a finalist in Rupaul’s Drag Race UK S3), and award-winning choreographer Jaii Andrew. 

Artists are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest by Fri 15 March, 12pm (midday). 

To find out more, including how to apply, click here.

Dr. Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive, LGBT Foundation said: 

‘I’m thrilled that Arts Council England continues to support LGBT Foundation’s work with the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Arts and Culture Network, providing more opportunities for LGBTQ+ artists, supporting our cultural organisations engage further with LGBTQ+ communities, and creating more space for Queer Hope and Joy.  

‘Thanks to this year’s partners we’re incredibly excited to take our PRIDE STAGES artists to even more parts of Greater Manchester, and can’t wait to see what they develop for our local Prides!’ 

The 2024 edition promises to be an unforgettable, identity-affirming event, brimming with an array of joy-inducing workshops, enchanting performances, and engaging activities.

Special highlights for 2024 include:

• Friday, March 8th: Sapphic Showcase – Immerse yourself in a night dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary talents of queer women through a special showcase at HOME, Manchester.
• Saturday, March 9th: Creative Workshops at LGBT Foundation’s Community Café – Dive into creative workshops including an upcycling coin pouch workshop and lino-print workshop, as well as community cafe space.
• Sunday, March 10th: Wellbeing Workshops at LGBT Foundation’s Community Café – Indulge in enriching well-being workshops including a Women’s Circle and sexual health workshop, plus we’ll end the weekend with a special film screening.
  

Jax Effiong (She/Her), Chair of LGBT Foundation’s Board of Trustees said: “Sugar and Spice is more than just an annual event; it’s a testament to the strength and resilience of queer women. For 18 years, this festival has been a powerful showcase of their diverse voices and experiences here in Manchester. It is without a doubt one of my favourite moments of the year; I hope you’ll join us in celebrating all the fabulous women in our lives and revel in the joy of being queer!”

Ellie White (She/Her), Community Engagement Coordinator for LGBT Foundation, said: “Sugar and Spice is a special celebration that perfectly fits with Women’s History Month, International Women’s Week, International Women’s Day, and LBT+ Women’s Health Week. Join us in this fantastic celebration, where we give space to LGBTQ+ women to celebrate themselves and each other in their wonderfully unique experiences, plus learn some new skills from each other. LGBTQ+ women’s spaces are so important for us as individuals and as communities to uplift each other and have some fun. It’s a joyous event filled with diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment. Be part of this incredible space created just for LGBTQ+ women!”

All Sugar and Spice events are free, and event registration will go live soon at lgbt.foundation.

Stay in the loop with the latest updates about Sugar and Spice by following LGBT Foundation’s social media channels, @lgbtfdn.

LGBT Foundation welcomes organisations and businesses to collaborate in supporting various events and activities, such as Sugar and Spice, and the charity’s life-saving health and wellbeing services. For details on partnership opportunities, kindly contact charity@lgbt.foundation.

LGBT Foundation is a leading charity for LGBTQ+ health and well-being, providing support, education, and resources to empower individuals within the community. Established in 1975, and working all over the UK, LGBT Foundation has been at the forefront of positive change, fostering a more inclusive society through various initiatives, events, and support services that give a lifeline to those in need while on their journey towards achieving their aspirations.

Wednesday, the 11th of October is Coming Out Day, and as people across the UK celebrate the courage and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities, LGBT Foundation, George House Trust and Homobloc are proud to announce the 14 recipients of Round Three of the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Community Fund.

The fund gives financial support to groups and organisations dedicated to addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities while promoting equality, social change, and raising awareness of HIV and tackling HIV stigma.

The diversity of projects spans a broad spectrum, including projects that prioritise trans inclusion, educate about HIV, give resources back to communities, provide safe spaces for women, and amplify LGBTQ+ people and communities within Greater Manchester and beyond.

The recipients of Round Three and their plans for the funds are:

1. Bury LGBTQI+ Forum – Engagement of LGBTQ+ Women:

Bury LGBTQI+ Forum promotes inclusion in the Bury District and will support an art project led by LGBTQ+ artist Sara Joy Ford, aimed at reducing social isolation among LGBTQ+ women in Bury.

2. Gay Gordons – ICT and Technology:

This Manchester-based LGBTQ+ community dance group will use the funding to improve its ICT provision, enhancing their online presence and recruitment process.

3. Prestwich Pride CIC – Prestwich Pride 2024:

Prestwich Pride CIC will expand their community events in 2024, celebrating and including the local LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Their events feature family activities, drag acts, and DJ-led gatherings in Prestwich, and engage local businesses to support chosen charities through Pride-themed window art and raffles.

4. Tranuary CIC – Tranuary Festival 2024:

Tranuary CIC, led by trans people, will host a two-day festival in January, including creative skills workshops, an art exhibition, a commissioned short film screening and an in-conversation session with a trans activist.

5. Trans Pride Manchester CIC – Operational costs and Trans Pride 2024:

Trans Pride Manchester CIC will use the grant to continue their annual pride event for trans and non-binary people in Greater Manchester. It will include a protest march, community-building activities and workshops addressing unique issues faced by the trans and non-binary community.

6. Out In The City – Group Activities:

Out In The City is a vibrant social and support group catering to LGBTQ+ individuals aged 50 and above that combats social isolation. The funding will cover the costs of a range of community activities that enhance the well-being of older LGBTQ+ individuals.

7. Emmerson and Ward – Interactive Art Installation:

Emmerson & Ward will use the funding to develop an interactive art installation with workshops for LGBTQ+ youth and military veterans. This project will foster a sense of community, boost confidence, and raise awareness among these groups, particularly focusing on the Bi+ community and LGBTQ+ veterans.

8. Creative City England CIC – LGBTQ+ sessions in Levenshulme:

Creative City will pilot a weekly LGBTQ+ session at Levenshulme Old Library, offering free, inclusive, two-hour creative arts sessions for five weeks.

9. Studio 409 – Podcast Equipment:

Studio 409 will use the funding for new equipment that will enhance the quality of existing shows and support the recording of public events at Islington Mill.

10. To Bee Productions – Queer Cabaret:

To Bee Productions plans to produce “Queens of the Desert, a Queer Cabaret” during LGBT+ History Month, celebrating Manchester’s LGBTQIA+ culture. This cabaret fuses storytelling, drag, music, burlesque and poetry, with authentic stories told by diverse and talented LGBTQ+ artists and provides a platform for intersectional topics including bi-phobia, houselessness, neurodiversity as well as celebrating chosen family, relationships and queer joy.

11. Manchester Village Spartans RUFC – Trans and Gender-nonconforming recruitment drive:

The Manchester Village Spartans aim to launch a campaign focused on recruiting more trans and gender-nonconforming rugby union players. Their goal is to demonstrate to the Greater Manchester trans and gender-nonconforming rugby community that gender identity should not hinder participation in team sports.

12. Connect – Increasing accessibility for trans people:

Connect is a social group for trans individuals aged 18-35 in Greater Manchester. The grant will support access provision for members, meeting space costs and help cover a wider variety of activities, including sporting activities, benefitting member’s physical and mental health.

13. Drag Kings of Manchester – Safe sex, HIV and awareness amongst women:

Drag Kings of Manchester will host monthly butch and drag king nights, emphasising sex positivity and HIV awareness in AFAB communities and accessibility for marginalised individuals, such as queer people of colour, working-class individuals, and those with disabilities and personal assistants.

14. Trafford Hongkongers CIC – Promoting inclusion in the Hongkonger community:

Trafford Hongkongers CIC will promote LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Hongkonger community in Greater Manchester with a two-day project that offers a safe space for LGBTQ+ Hongkongers to network and discuss the challenges they face alongside a public exhibition showcasing bilingual information about LGBTQ+ acceptance and rights in the UK, LGBTQ+ Hongkonger life stories, and LGBTQ+ representation in popular culture.

Alexandra Herbert, Trustee for LGBT Foundation, said: “We’re excited about the ongoing success of this initiative and we’re especially proud of the numerous proposals from organisations expanding outreach to trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals and groups looking to support LGBTQ+ people of colour. Inclusion of trans voices and the voices of people of colour is crucial in every aspect of LGBTQ+ life, and this inclusivity in the proposals reflects our city region’s commitment to supporting each other and making positive changes.”

Vanessa Jackson, Deputy Chair of George House Trust, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to drive positive change and promote inclusivity and equality for all. It shows the power of partnerships and the importance of uplifting each other to make a huge difference to communities across Greater Manchester. I am pleased to see more and more proposals come forward that talk about HIV, especially amongst women, which is something that people still shy away from.

Rod Connolly, Homobloc’s promoter said: “Homobloc is proud to stand alongside LGBT Foundation and George House Trust in supporting the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Community Fund. The vital work of Grassroots groups strengthens the local community and has a deep impact to the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals and those affected by HIV in Greater Manchester.”

The selection process for Round Three proposals involved independent representatives from the NHS, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Village Licensed Business Association (VLBA), 10GM (Greater Manchester’s voluntary sector support organisations) and LGBTQ+ community members, supported by a trustee from both LGBT Foundation’s and George House Trust’s Board of Trustees.

LGBT Foundation and George House Trust have played pivotal roles in promoting the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals across the UK, providing essential support, services, and assistance to those living with and affected by HIV. Homobloc has in turn become a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people and their allies to celebrate queer joy. The Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Community Fund underscores their unwavering dedication, serving as a vital resource to support the valuable work undertaken by individuals, groups, and charities throughout the Greater Manchester region.

For more information about LGBT Foundation, please visit lgbt.foundation. For more information about George House Trust visit ght.org.uk. For more information about Homobloc visit homobloc.co.uk

VLBA Target £100K Fundraiser Surpasses £100,000 Goal, Sustaining Vital Support for LGBTQ+ Communities and People Living Well with HIV

After two years of your generous donations, LGBT Foundation, George House Trust and the Village Licensed Business Association are thrilled to share the news that the VLBA Target 100K Fundraiser has achieved its £100,000 goal.

Donations are shared between LGBT Foundation and George House Trust, and they have helped to continue LGBT Foundation’s Condom and Lube Distribution Service throughout Manchester’s Gay Village. In 2022/23, LGBT Foundation distributed a whopping 63,000 free Safer Sex Packs to LGBTQ+ people across 33 venues.

Thanks to Target £100K, George House Trust was able to continue to provide wellbeing support through the Welfare Fund so that people could live healthily and confidently with HIV.

Donations also support local LGBTQ+ organisations and community groups, through the Greater Manchester LGBTQ+ Community Fund, to develop creative projects, events and initiatives that have a clear positive impact on LGBTQ+ communities and people living well with HIV. The Community Fund was set up in 2021 by the Village Licensed Business Association to help continue vital funding into sexual health and HIV support for local LGBTQ+ communities.

Councillor Phil Burke, Chair of the Village Licensed Business Association, said:

“Two years of your incredible support and donations have brought us to this amazing moment. The VLBA Target £100K Fundraiser’s success reminds us how important it is to help charities like LGBT Foundation and George House Trust, which provide crucial health and wellbeing and HIV support to LGBTQ+ communities.”

“This achievement shows how powerful it can be when we come together to do something wonderful for LGBTQ+ communities. Your donations have not only supported on-going programmes but have also made it possible for new projects and initiatives that benefit LGBTQ+ communities and people living well with HIV.”

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us make a significant impact in the lives of those who need it most. “

LGBT Foundation and George House Trust can’t thank the VLBA enough for their continued support for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV and would also like to thank them for the donations and all the individuals and other supporter organisations that contributed to the ‘Target £100k’ campaign.

These donations have been the bedrock of life-saving work and will continue to nurture queer hope and joy in the future.

For more information about LGBT Foundation visit lgbt.foundation, for more information about George House Trust visit ght.org.uk.

Kunal – a proud gay man with an Asian heritage – has personally experienced the crushing prejudice that, sadly, still comes with coming out and has vowed to use his own life lessons to help vulnerable people who are facing the same issues.

The owner and founder of Manchester-based Touched Interiors and one of the newest stars of the cutting-edge BBC interior design show, Virtually Home, Kunal (39) will take up his post on the 25th of August, with his first official engagement taking place at Manchester Pride’s annual Pride Parade, which will see with tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies gathering to march through the city for equality.

LGBT Foundation operates on a national scale and provides invaluable advice, support and information to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. As part of Kunal’s new role, he will help to promote LGBT Foundation and the services they offer, as well as provide additional support to the charity’s infrastructure, including the provision of a complimentary interior design consultancy service for LGBT Foundation.

Kunal said: “I am so honoured to be one of the faces of the charity – it’s a community that I have so much love for and I am so proud to be a part of it, so it is a complete privilege to be involved on such a practical level.

“I am really excited to work collaboratively with LGBT Foundation to support those who are struggling. It can be a lonely place to come out, especially when there is a lack of support network behind you. I am looking forward to our working together to alleviate that sense of alienation and bring a sense of togetherness to those who are feeling alone.

“I’m looking forward to using this platform to make a real difference and create some positive noise about all that the LGBTQ+ community has to offer and celebrating its rich heritage, culture and influence far beyond Pride month.”

Kunal was raised in a loving Indian family, including his mum, dad and two sisters. He was raised in Wolverhampton, but it was upon his move to Manchester that Kunal truly discovered who he was. Kunal said: “The support and light I found personally within the community helped me to foster my sense of self and enabled me to have the security and the confidence to come out to my family, which could have carried some additional challenges for me, coming from an ethnic minority.

“My love for Manchester really stems from those early years of self-discovery and my continued admiration for the city I am proud to call home is reflected in the roots I have set down here: building my business and making a life here.”

Kunal’s family experiences have given him a unique insight into the challenges faced by some community members who are dealing with stigma from families from different cultures and walks of life. “I was extremely lucky”, Kunal explains. “My family are completely progressive, understanding and accepting of me and I am blessed with a wonderful relationship with my niece and nephew, having played a prominent role in their upbringings, which has been an absolute joy for me.”

“My niece is bisexual and in a same-sex relationship, so when she faced similar diversity challenges, I was able to support her through that process.”

Kunal’s cultural experiences are just one of the reasons why he is passionate about giving back to the LGBTQ+ community.

“Having lived through the Manchester ‘scene’ for the last 16 years, I am fully aware of the hugely positive aspects of belonging to the LGBTQ+ community but it is also realistic to recognise the challenges and issues that some face and the potentially harmful situations they find themselves in.”

“I’ve seen first-hand, the issues that can come from getting caught up in the hedonistic side of the scene. The combination of negative influences; a lack of support and a struggle to adjust to some of the harsh realities of coming out, can create a really damaging environment for an individual and this is something that I want to work in partnership with LGBT Foundation to protect people from.”

Kunal lives in Cheshire with his fiancé of 13 years, Thomas. “I am so fortunate and blessed to have an amazing group of friends and family around me and have created a life where I feel fully protected, although this has not always been the case. However, I am fully aware that there are many people who do not have that luxury, which is why I want to work with the charity to make a difference. If I can help even one person to get through hardships in their life, which would be a huge success for me.”

Kunal vows that his role as patron won’t be a mere figurehead. “I have a profile thanks to the work I’ve done in the media, but I want to do more than just showboat. I want to make a real difference.”

Kunal’s successful interior design business has attracted international attention from a discerning clientele. “We provide a world-class service, so people seek me out to make their interior design dreams come true. Our consultancy is pretty unique and I work with artisans from across the globe to create bespoke interiors. This mixture of unyielding class, creativity and attention to detail has made my business a success but I am hungry to do more. To give back.”

As part of Kunal’s patronage, he has vowed to support a number of projects to develop them further for the people who need them most. Kunal is seeking to understand the depth of the issue of hate crime and support LGBT Foundation’s hate crime reporting.

Kunal said: “I’m looking to work closely with Greater Manchester Police to give people more protection and make them feel safer.”

“This is a huge area of interest for me. I want to see how complaints are handled and what happens to people who are reported. More importantly, I want to see what the journey is for those from the LGBTQ+ community who report these crimes and how better we can support them.”

Kunal has also pledged to provide mentorship to people who sign up to LGBT Foundation’s programmes. “Working on building confidence and self-esteem gives people some strong tools to successfully cope with some of the challenges that life throws our way”, Kunal explains. “I will also use my professional connections and skills to provide career mentoring to help people find their feet in their chosen careers. Having someone who knows the ropes and who has had some professional success can really help LGBTQ+ people to plan their futures and aspire to fulfil their potential.”

Kunal also plans to hold a fundraising benefit in 2023, to ensure that LGBT Foundation has the necessary funds to fulfil its mission.

Debra Nixon, Deputy Director of Self-Generated Income for LGBT Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to have Kunal join us as our patron. Kunal is passionate about uplifting LGBTQ+ communities and raising awareness. As a confident speaker, he is acutely aware of the challenges and problems that people within the LGBT community face. We love his passion and the experience he brings to the position, which will no doubt benefit LGBT Foundation and our service users. We look forward to supporting Kunal through his patronage and helping him realise his vision with us.”

This year from 6^th-12^th March we’re bringing you a host of online events for LGBTQ+ women to join from across the UK including queer life drawing and self-love workshops. We’ll also be hosting a whole weekend of in-person activities ranging from laughter yoga to the awaited return of our Sapphic Showcase – which has already sold out!

Our Women’s Programme coordinator, Ellie White, has been organising Sugar & Spice for four years and is looking forward to this year’s festival more than ever:

“Our programme is all about bringing LGBTQ+ women from across the UK together and giving them space to celebrate who they are.”

In anticipation of Sugar & Spice this year, we also spoke to LGBTQ+ women in Greater Manchester to create a short film about their experiences of womanhood.

We are thrilled to be launching the trailer for “Being an LGBTQ+ Woman” at our International Women’s Day panel discussion, taking place Wednesday 8^th March, with the full film set to be released online, later this month.

Hosted by Jax Effiong, Deputy Chair of LGBT Foundation’s board of Trustees and Diversity & Inclusion Manager at GMCA & GM Fire and Rescue Service, our panel will be discussing all things identity, community and LGBTQ+ womanhood.

The event is taking place in person at our Manchester centre in Fairbairn House and is also being livestreamed online.

Speaking about the trailer launch, Ellie said “That’s why I’m so excited for Sugar & Spice 2023. Our new video puts the spotlight on some of the incredible LGBTQ+ women of Greater Manchester.

“It’s always such a joy to see LGBTQ+ women using their voices and thriving!”

Two resources for the Women’s Programme are also being launched on the night – a refresh of our “Including All Women” guide and our brand new resource to mark International Women’s Day called “What Is a Woman?”

Both online and in-person tickets are still available for our International Women’s Day panel event here: https://bit.ly/3kQ8xcq.

For the full Sugar & Spice schedule and to sign up to any of the free events taking place during the festival, visit our website: https://lgbt.foundation/sugarandspice2023.

Our “Including All Women” and “What Is A Woman?” resources will be available to view and download at the following link this Wednesday: https://bit.ly/3F06wRO.

LGBT Foundation’s Women’s Programme aims to support and empower all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans women to improve their health and wellbeing, to improve skills, increase confidence and reduce isolation.

Our spaces are for all lesbian, bi, queer or questioning women, trans women, non-binary/genderfluid people wishing to access a women-centred space, and for those whose gender identity includes woman some or all of the time. Our spaces are inclusive of women of colour, older women, and disabled women.

We are working with our colleagues at the National Autistic Society (https://www.autism.org.uk/) to develop this new programme, and GMCVO (https://www.gmcvo.org.uk) will be funding the programme as part of their Inclusion Grant to Support Deaf and Disabled People. It will fund a fixed term, part time coordinator role to develop and run the programme, with the added aim of further proving the need for this work in the longer term.

We have consulted with LGBTQ+ neurodivergent community members in the development of this programme, and used their expertise to shape how we aim to expand this work in the future. The programme will focus on creating accessible social spaces for autistic and neurodivergent LGBTQ+ people. Some of these spaces will be unstructured in how people can socialise and meet others, whereas other spaces will be more structured in order to facilitate social engagement for people who may need additional support.

The programme also aims to develop best practice for services supporting LGBTQ+ autistic and neurodivergent people across Greater Manchester. This approach will be led by a community advisory panel, and an organisational steering group.

The advisory panel will be made up of community members with lived experience, who will ensure that the work we do always reflects the needs of the community. The steering group is comprised of various organisations, services, and support groups that work with LGBTQ+ autistic and neurodivergent people, and will focus on how we strategically deliver the programme in order to meet the needs expressed by the advisory panel. The steering group’s existence will also aim to encourage co-learning across sectors, so services and spaces for LGBTQ+ people become accessible for neurodivergent people, and vice versa.

The new programme will be part of LGBT Foundation’s Community Programmes Team. The team is made up of a range of programmes focusing on particularly marginalised people within the LGBTQ+ community to ensure their needs are met. The team currently includes:

• Women’s Programme
• Trans Programme
• Bi Programme
• QTIPoC Programme (Queer, Trans, and Intersex People of Colour)
• Pride in Ageing (LGBTQ+ people over 50)

These programmes work closely with each other to develop spaces for people whose experiences fall across more than one of the programmes, and to also create wider LGBTQ+ community events in which the needs of those who often feel excluded from such spaces are centred. Therefore, we aim for the Autistic & Neurodivergent Programme to be intersectional in its development and delivery from launch.