By Anne Marie Stewart LGBT+ Community Development Worker
WP 1: LGBT+ stakeholder and infrastructure mapping
Activity update:
Initial mapping
- Identified over 70 LGBT+ groups and related activity through outreach and online research – identifying grassroots and community groups, and activity
- Contacting groups and networks that have been identified so far about the project – gather information about the groups, their aims and purpose and history and request participants for further consultation ( over 40 so far)
- Beginning to identify some emerging gaps in LGBT+ landscape, issues with sustainability and capacity – particularly related to social activity and support for young LGBT+ people in Leeds and BME LGBT+ groups, people with learning disabilities, older people
- A number of LGBT+ groups and communities to consult with in 2017 have been identified – incl young LGBT+ people, Deaf LGBT people, LGBT+ people with experience of mental health issues
Next steps:
- Further mapping – including focus on faith
- Spatial mapping of LGBT+ activity in Leeds
- Develop a typology of groups and activities, and developing themes
- Identify relationships between activity and groups
- Start identifying potential case studies/profiles for the project report
- Look at how GIS mapping might contribute to the project – training on 6th December VAL
WP 2: Governance and stakeholder participation
Activity update:
Project Advisory Group development
- Successfully recruited 15 people Project Advisory Group from Leeds’ LGBT+ community – with experience in mental health, community health and advocacy, education, activism, arts and culture, youth engagement and disability inclusion . The PAG group also has achieved a diverse spread of people regarding sexuality, age, gender and disability.
- First Meeting (December 2016)- Mapping Stage
- Second Meeting (January 2016)- Consultation Stage
- Third Meeting (March 2016) – Findings and Implications
Project set up and updates
- Update meeting with Leeds City Council and Leeds Community Foundation
Next steps:
- PAG Meetings set for 12th December, 25 January, 15 March
- Meeting format – ensuring it is accessible and engaging
- Project updates with LCC and LFC
WP3: Outreach and consultation with LGBT+ community and stakeholders
Activity update:
Online
- Information about the project has been shared on LOPF, Tenfold, Volition, Gay Leeds, Through the Maze websites, mailing list for LGBT+ Hub and BME hub
- Created a Facebook page for the Project https://www.facebook.com/MapLGBTLeeds/?fref=ts – promoted the project online, and on social media – generated interest leading to groups sharing information and interest in PAG, (137 likes)
Meetings:
- Introduced the Leeds LGBT+ Mapping project via LGBT+ mailing lists, Four Forums networks and at LGBT+ Hub Meeting, TenFold meeting
- Meetings with community members and professionals working with or on LGBT+ issues in Leeds – building relationships, recruiting to the PAG and participants for consultation
- Set up meetings with bar managers on Gay scene
- Set up meetings with Sauna managers
- Set up meeting with Leeds GATE to discuss ABCD and Gypsy and Traveller LGBT engagement
- Engaged with staff at Leeds City College re. recruiting LGBT+ young people for consultation
Online survey
- Planning online survey to find out about LGBT+ community engagement in Leeds, relationship to the city, access etc
Next steps:
- Ensure comprehensive promotion of Leeds LGBT+ Mapping project across Leeds – all city areas
- Arrange consultation with different groups and LGBT+ communities for 2017
- Develop and distribute online survey
WP 4: Market research
Activity update:
Learning from other LGBT+ infrastructure models
- Set up visit to LGBT Foundation Manchester and LGBT Centre Leicester in January 2017
- Reviewing other hub websites – LGBT Foundation, Centered in London – LGBT Community and Voluntary Sector Almanac
Learning from social research and methods
- Gathering learning from community mapping, social impact assessment, community participation resources
- Reading recent social research on LGBT+ communities in the UK
Next steps:
- Visit and gather learning from LGBT+ models in other cities
WP 5: Website development
Activity update:
Information gathering
- Building database of LGBT+ groups and community activity
- Identifying different LGBT+ stakeholders through the mapping exercise – understanding website users and audience
WP 6: Business development and funding
Activity update
Beginning early March
WP 7:Gap analysis and write up
Beginning late February
