Policy

A number of Age Concerns around England are developing work with  older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, often in partnership with local lesbian, gay and bisexual organisations. A selection of projects and programmes is outlined here. If you would like your Age Concern to be included please contact:

Antony Smith
National Development and Policy Officer
Older Lesbians, Gay Men and Bisexuals
020 8765 7576

Age Concern Birmingham
has been working closely with Birmingham Pride Community Trust, who organised a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) Consultation Event in May 2005 for LGBs who live, work, study or socialise in Birmingham. Four workshops for older and younger LGB people considered four key aspects of life in Birmingham – Health and Social Care, Housing and Environment, Life Long Learning and Leisure and Culture – concluding that the LGB community in Birmingham is not currently being adequately and appropriately served by the statutory and voluntary agencies. A second event held in July fed back the findings to representatives from the City Council and the Primary Care Trust. Age Concern Birmingham is also working with the Terence Higgins Trust to further research into discrimination within Sheltered Housing, Care and Nursing Homes. Anyone interested can find out more at the Birmingham Pride Community Trust website and through Age Concern Birmingham.

Age Concern Camden
Following a successful application to the Big Lottery Fund, five Age Concern Organisations in Central London (Camden, Hackney, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster) began a joint three year project in January 2008: “Opening Doors – Supporting Older LGBT Communities in Central London.”  Two newly appointed Development Coordinators have now taken up their posts: Debbie Neil is the new coordinator for older lesbian, bisexual and trans women; and Nick Maxwell is coordinating services for older gay, bisexual and trans men.  The project, which will be evaluated by London South Bank and Manchester Universities as part of the Lottery funding, aims to develop services for older LGBT people that combat isolation through the provision of regular social activities, a telephone advice and signposting service, and a befriending scheme.  The project will also provide information, guidance and training for other service providers, statutory and non-statutory, in order to help them develop appropriate and inclusive services for older LGBT people in the five boroughs.

Age Concern Camden’s existing Older Gay Men’s Group continues to be a success and is now a very important part of the wider Opening Doors in Central London project; currently it continues to meet on the 2nd and the last Tuesday evenings of the month.  For further details on the men’s group, and other developments for men, please contact Nick 020 7239 0419.  For details on the developing services for women, please contact Debbie 020 7239 0409. 

Age Concern Gloucestershire
has been progressing work in this area for a number of years, primarily by awareness-raising, talking to other agencies and exploring ways of working together.  All staff, volunteers and trustees receive basic awareness training; all leaflets carry a statement spelling out a commitment to inclusiveness, specifically mentioning older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals; and rainbow triangles are displayed in windows.   The work has slowed somewhat with the loss of the OLGB project worker post but the organisation continues to try to encourage older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals to look upon them as a safe and welcoming place to visit, and one in which they can have complete confidence of an understanding of any issues which might concern them.

Age Concern London
and Age Concern England have been working with the Metropolitan Police to develop a leaflet that forms part of their True Vision packs, providing information and advice to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people on their rights. The new leaflet entitled ‘Safety, security, protection’ aims to encourage self-reporting of crimes against older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people. The full ‘True Vision’ packs are available from Age Concern London by contacting: Hannah Conning Age Concern London, 1st Floor, 21 St. George’s Rd, London SE1 6ES or by calling 020 7820 6770

Age Concern Manchester
has a weekly social group meeting the needs of older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans people. They currently have a monthly reading group, theatre trips, days out, art and drama projects with many other events planned for the future. The group, named Out In The City, participates in the PRIDE parade every year, with members planning, designing and creating their own costumes.

Age Concern Manchester has now also started a drop-in for older lesbians in partnership with the Lesbian Community Project, meeting at their premises in Sidney St Manchester. The drop-in is every Wednesday 2pm to 4pm and offers the opportunity to meet new friends and old in a safe and friendly environment.

Age Concern Manchester has a dedicated LGBT worker committed to developing support networks for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community. For more information contact Sue Nzilani 0161 833 3944 or mobile 07835303680. 

Age Concern Norwich
started to try to reach out to the local older lesbian, gay and bisexual community last year. The appointment of its Equality and Diversity Officer was publicised in a local gay health newsletter, which is about the extent of the local gay press and consequently has quite a wide readership. Other publicity articles have followed. Age Concern’s offices display rainbow stickers, which were accompanied by informal training to ensure that staff dealing with the public are aware of the implications of the stickers. Efforts have been made to develop links with local services such as Friend. The first meeting of an OLGB group was not very well attended, but it was advertised in all the Norwich gay venues.

All of this work has led to Age Concern raising its profile within the local gay community and it is noticeable that gay people using Age Concern services are more relaxed about talking about issues that affect them. The highlight so far is contact from a gay man who is eager to get more involved in the organisation because he feels it understands him. The process of reaching out is slow and laborious. Results do not come quickly as the gay community is often hidden and cautious.  Keeping at it though can bring results. For further information please contact David Fullman Equality & Diversity Officer

Age Concern Oxfordshire
has a project to identify and meet the needs of older lesbians, gay men and bisexual people. To assist this work, AC Oxfordshire has an on-going programme of staff awareness training to which other service providers in the county are invited. They also participate in Oxford Pride and have stands at various information fairs across the County. Age Concern Oxfordshire also offers regular phone based support to older LGBT people who are housebound or are in isolated rural areas. Please contact Bruce on 01865 378078 for further details.

Age Concern Preston and South Ribble
has been awarded £131,000 from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund. This is to fund a project worker to undertake support work with older LGBT people in Preston and South Ribble over a five year period, and to work with organisations Lancashire-wide to help them improve their practice in this area. The funding will enable Age Concern Preston and South Ribble to run befriending services and a dedicated help line, and to work with Navajo in Lancashire to support and encourage organisations applying for an LGBT Charter mark.

In April 2006 Age Concern Preston and South Ribble published a research report entitled A Welcome on the Mat, which focused on the barriers to accessing services faced by older LGBT people. Since then they have continued to develop project work on this issue with initiatives such as a short LGBT film festival to showcase the Age Concern England Gateway to Heaven film and a book project in the pipeline focusing on reminiscences of older LGBT people in Lancashire. For further information contact Marie Riley 01772 552869

Age Concern Salford
has since 2000 actively participated in the Pride festivals that are held each August Bank Holiday in and around the gay village in Manchester, in partnership with other local Age Concerns and with financial support from all Age Concerns in the North West Region. Activities have included the design of a float, creation of parade costumes, an information stall, heritage walks and cultural/social activities. 

Age Concern Salford has organised local events in Salford for older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people as an alternative to the Manchester Village ‘scene’. The charity has also received funding to pilot a series of LGBT social activities within the area, at which all ages are welcome.

Suggestions, expressions of interest and enquiries for further information are actively encouraged – call 0161 788 7300

Age Concern Stockport
has for the last four years participated in the Manchester Pride Parade and the weekend of activities held over the August Bank Holiday. Last year photographic images of this event were reproduced onto fabric to produce a magnificent wall hanging, which can be displayed at venues across the country. Working with other support agencies across the Borough, AC Stockport has now established a local LGBT social and support network – PLUS People Like Us – which aims to provide a relaxed alternative to the Manchester ‘scene’ and help the most isolated in the community, and supports the monthly Manchester LGBT luncheon club. AC Stockport is actively committed to developing programmes that seek to address the specific needs of older lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people in the area.  Contact Jane Bailey on 0161 480 1211 for further information.

Contact us

Email:
Opening Doors