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.

Our commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans and non-binary individuals, remains steadfast. In the words of Hilary Cass, “I would urge everybody to remember the children and young people trying to live their lives and the families/carers and clinicians doing their best to support them. All should be treated with compassion and respect.” 

We understand that our communities have been eagerly awaiting this review and will have questions about its implications for them, their friends, family, and loved ones. We are collaborating with various sector peers in advocating for the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. Together, we will delve further into the findings of the Cass Review and provide our analysis and guidance in due course. 

In the meantime, we urge individuals and organisations working with or for LGBTQ+ and trans and non-binary youth to prioritise their psychological and physical well-being in any discussions concerning their experiences. Long-standing research consistently and clearly demonstrates the harmful effects of unsupportive environments on trans youth. It is paramount to uphold their right to express their identity, as well as to establish safe spaces where LGBTQ+ youth can freely explore their gender identity without fear of stigma or discrimination. 

We acknowledge the concerns and uncertainties many may feel about the future, but we are one of many dedicated charities, service providers and organisations tirelessly working to find a way forward. We welcome conversations with organisations and service providers who want to join us in fostering safe spaces, spreading compassion, collaborating for change, and working towards a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth. 

The charity asks the Government to carefully consider the review findings, understand the profound and lasting impact of systemic homophobia, biphobia and transphobia on LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds, and renew efforts to remove inequalities to improve the well-being of our communities, so people can reach their full potential.

Dr Carl Austin-Behan, an RAF veteran who was discharged because he is gay said: “I hope Lord Etherton’s report is a catalyst for change in which all LGBT veterans can thrive and appreciate the joy of being once again proud of their Service.”

On the review, LGBT Foundation Trustee Dr Mike Hill, who served in the Royal Navy since shortly after the ban was lifted said: “Having seen the toxic culture when I first joined, which undoubtedly negatively impacted on me and others, I have the utmost respect for the Service of those who worked under the ban. I have seen first-hand the positive changes that have occurred in the military since the lifting of the ban, which is more effective due to greater diversity and inclusion. Despite this, we must work to ensure reparations for all who were affected by the ban.”

“We stand alongside our partner organisations and with our LGBTQ+ veterans and military community through our armed forces Operation Equality programme. We are working to bring this community together in celebration of queer hope and joy as we collectively work to tackle the ongoing impact that the ban continues to have today.”

LGBT Foundation is inviting those affected by the review and the findings to contact their helpline on 0345 3 30 30 30.

Operation Equality is a national programme of wellbeing support and activities for LGBTQ+ veterans, service personnel and their families working to reduce isolation and loneliness within the community.

To find more information about Operation Equality, email operationequality@lgbt.foundation.

Since its beginnings in 1975 as the Manchester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, LGBT Foundation has evolved to become a major provider of health and wellbeing support services, information, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ communities. Today, LGBT Foundation unveils a new visual identity and revitalised mission, vision, and values reflecting its commitment to celebrating togetherness, promoting inclusivity and valuing queer hope and joy.

Furthermore, LGBT Foundation has shared details of its plans for the next five years, setting out a roadmap for the development of even more high-quality LGBTQ+-centred health and wellbeing services and means of helping LGBTQ+ people to flourish. This includes improving access to health and social care services, promoting equality and inclusion, tackling discrimination, connecting LGBTQ+ communities, and increasing awareness and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.

Dr Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation, said: “Through our new five-year plan, we are taking huge steps towards achieving our mission of empowering LGBTQ+ communities to realise their potential, every day. As a forward-thinking charity, we have continuously adapted to the growing needs of LGBTQ+ people and have made a conscious effort to reflect the changes in society and politics for more than 45 years. Our unwavering championing of inclusivity and togetherness has led us to refine our mission, vision, and values with input from our staff, peers, and community.

“Our new identity is a testament to, and celebration of, the ever-growing number of diverse LGBTQ+ identities. As we start on this exciting new journey, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a vital lifeline to those in need. We want to create a world where queer liberation enables meaningful and lasting change and we will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving this vision.”

Smyth Harper and Jax Effiong, Chair and Deputy Chair of LGBT Foundation, added: “LGBT Foundation supports and uplifts LGBTQ+ people and communities across England, bringing them together to fully embrace their authentic selves.

The current climate is challenging for LGBTQ+ people, so we’re determined that everything LGBT Foundation does and says will make queer hope and joy flourish.

LGBT Foundation stands as a leading charity dedicated to LGBTQ+ people’s health and wellbeing. It does this through life-saving, identity-affirming services, safe spaces, innovation, and education. It stands up against hate, speak out about the issues that matter, and celebrates loudly and proudly to the future of LGBTQ+ people.

This new LGBTQ+ ISVA service, created for and by LGBTQ+ people, meets the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people of all identities. The ISVA service offers emotional support and advocacy, acts as a single point of contact, provides support whilst navigating the criminal justice system and completes onward referrals and signposting, in an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Rachel Bottomley, Director of Development for LGBT Foundation, said: “While sexual assault and violence can affect people of all identities, we know that trans women, bisexual individuals, gay men, particularly those who engage in high-risk sexual behaviours, and people experiencing homelessness are particularly at risk and have specific needs. We’re excited to deliver a culturally competent service which address these needs and improves the lives of LGBTQ+ people.”

“Access to an ISVA is an important factor in guaranteeing that the criminal justice process meets the needs of victims and survivors. With 1 in 14 of our service users citing an experience of sexual assault as a reason for accessing our well-being services, the introduction of an ISVA specifically for LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester has been wanted for a long time. It will go a long way in making sure that some of the most vulnerable people in our community are treated with dignity and respect throughout the criminal justice process”.

LGBTQ+ communities face unique barriers and challenges when seeking support related to sexual violence. This can include discrimination, fear of judgement, a lack of understanding and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues within services and a lack of safe and inclusive spaces.

This means official figures are often distorted due to under-reporting.

The latest report from Galop (the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity) outlines the experience of almost 1000 LGBT+ survivors of sexual abuse. 53% of LGBTQ+ people surveyed felt that their identity was linked to at least one instance of sexual violence. Almost 20% of those survivors had never told anyone about their most significant experience of sexual violence.

LGBT Foundation’s new ISVA service is supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and The Ministry of Justice. It aligns with Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Gender-Based Violence Strategy which includes a commitment to ensuring there are services that meet the needs of LGBTQ+ people experiencing gender-based violence. It builds on the success of LGBT Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Independent Domestic Violence Advisory (IDVA) service – the only service of its kind in Greater Manchester that has supported over 370 cases of high-risk domestic abuse from across all 10 boroughs.

LGBT Foundation’s ISVA service is available to any LGBTQ+ person over the age of 18, living in Greater Manchester that have experienced recent and non-recent sexual offences.

For more information or to self-refer visit: lgbt.foundation/sexual-violence

While great progress has been made in achieving equity for queer people in the UK, it is easy to forget how recent some of the changes are – it wasn’t until January 2000 that gay and lesbian personnel were allowed to openly serve in the Armed Forces. Prior to the change, queer people in the military could not come out without risking their careers and had no recourse in the event of bullying or harassment on the basis of their sexuality. Many were outed without their consent, with invasive searches and investigations being commonplace.

Though the ban has been lifted, the memory of it is fresh, with many veterans still carrying the weight of its impact on their lives and careers. Operation Equality aims at tackling loneliness and building a community for LGBTQ+ military personnel who may otherwise feel alone or isolated. It has already seen great success in its early stages and is now open to both volunteers and future service users.

If you’d like to volunteer to be a part of the Operation Equality programme, or if you feel that you may be able to benefit from this service, please get in touch with our project coordinator – hirendra.patel@lgbt.foundation.