Juice is part of the Metro Youth Service and provides Alcohol Counselling and Support to young people who identify as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and those Questioning their sexual orientation and/or identity) in the South East London area through 1:1 support, therapeutic youth groups and general outreach.

This is an exciting new initiative based on a 6 week course designed to reinforce and support resilience and self esteem. Topics that were thought to be helpful are alcohol and substance misuse, coming out and positive identity, dealing with peer pressure, good decision making, positive communication, stress management and relationship negotiation, these are not concrete as the group will play a huge part in discussion, the topics will be based around their needs. The group meets weekly for 1 hour in Greenwich and there’s also plenty of time to socialize and make new friends.

For more information please contact juice@metrocentreonline.org

Given the current climate this is a very welcomed ruling and will benefit all young people within the care system alongside assisting Asylum seekers and young people leaving custody. The Children’s Society was granted leave to intervene and highlighted the importance of supporting Young People as they leave care.

This is a breakthrough for children’s Rights Campaigners, but the news may not be as welcomed by Local Authorities as the cost of the result of this ruling could be very significant given the fact that these young people by law are excluded from mainstream social welfare and social housing.

Action for Children conducted a study in 2006 on Asylum Seekers examining their perspectives on their in care experience, preparation for leaving care alongside after care support. A number of issues were identified relating to the age at which unaccompanied asylum seekers left care, needs assessment and pathway planning, and assisting young people to acquire practical and financial skills. The young people in this study felt inadequately equipped for independence, especially with regard to financial responsibilities. The new ruling framework for Asylum Seekers leaving care is intended to support Young People with the transition from care to independent living, and this new legislative ruling is a breakthrough for all young people within the re system and is the way forward to a positive start to adult life.

Related Links
LOOKING FORWARD: UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKERS LEAVING CARE. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

Run by and for young trans people aged 11-26, Trans Youth Network is a new UK-wide long-term project to provide advocacy, support, social, empowerment, signposting and training opportunities to young trans people and young people unsure of, questioning, and generally exploring their biological sex, gender or gender identity in any way at all.

Spectrumlondon

a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender along with partners, family, friends and allies

Mermaids

Family Support Group for Children and Teenagers with Gender Identity Issues

a:gender

a:gender is the support network for staff in government departments / agencies who have changed or need to change permanently their perceived gender, or who identify as intersex.

Depend

Organisation offering support to all family members, spouses, partners and friends of transsexual people in the UK

FTM International

The voice of FTMs throughout the world…

FTM Network

The FTM network is an informal and Ad hoc self help group, open to all female to male transgender and transsexual people, or those exploring this aspect of their gender.

Gender Advisory Bureau

Providing Transgender awareness training for professionals either in the Public or Private sector in the midlands.

GENDYS

GENDYS is a network for all who have encountered gender identity problems personally, transsexuals, transgendered people and gender dysphoric people of either sex, and for those who provide care, both professional and lay..

Gender Matters

Gender Matters is a registered charity covering the west middlands and all bordering regions.

Gender Recognition Panel

Official site for guidelines and applications for a Gender Recgnition Certificate in the UK

Gender Spectrum UK

Campaigning for respect, equality and rights for Gender Variant people in the UK

GIRES

Gender Identity Research and Education Society… Is also a resource for gender dysphoric people and their families; the medical and other professionals that provide their care; HealthAuthorities; Members of Parliament and other policy makers.

Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide

This Guide is intended to provide information on topics of interest to female-to-male (FTM, F2M) trans men, and their friends and loved ones.

Press For Change

Campaigning for respect and equality for trans people, mainly transsexual.

The Beaumont Society

the largest and longest established transgendered support group in the UK

The Gender Trust

UK Charity Helping with Gender Identity Issues

The Seahorse Society of Great Britain

A self-help and support group for Transvestites, those who see themselves as being Transsexual, their Families, Friends, and others involved with their welfare.

The Yogyakarta Principles

The Yogyakarta Principles are a set of principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The United Kingdom Intersex Association (UKIA)

education, advocacy, campaigning and support organisation which works on behalf of intersexed people.

Translondon

TransLondon is a discussion/support group for all members of the ‘trans’ community, whatever their gender identity (or identities) and whatever stage in their ‘transition’ they have reached (if at all). However, all members must themselves be trans-identified or ‘questioning’.

Trans Matters

provides trans awareness and diversity training on site which can be classroom led or one to one, along with consultancy focusing on the benefits of being more inclusive with both staff and clients in regards to trans people ensuring the best use of a available workforce.

Trans Oxon

Support group for all trans people and those questioning their gender, along with support for their partners, family and friends.

Special thanks to Spectrum London for use of their links

The announced changes to housing benefits could have a significantly negative impact on some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. The cuts affect three areas which could impact on LGBT people.
• The capping of housing benefit
• The increased age of single persons’ housing allowance to 35
• The continued reduction of social housing and the increase in social housing rents to 80% of market value.

Capping of housing benefit

The cap on housing benefit coupled with a continuing reduction in housing stock could mean that people on benefits and low income are going to be disproportionately affected, pushing them into further disadvantage and reducing the housing options available to them.

The impact this will have has been debated but in London some local authorities have already seen an increase in pressure for resources with a group of 10 Liberal Democrat councillors signing an open letter complaining the actions of their own collation government are “very likely to lead to an increase in evictions, rent arrears, homelessness and demand for temporary accommodation. This will place even greater pressure on councils…”

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather has argued that the reduction in housing benefit will drive down rents. However, a recent study has found 60% of landlords would not consider reducing their rents even by a small amount with 90% of landlords saying they would look to evict the tenant if they fall into arrears.

Bob Green, Chief Executive of LGBT housing association Stonewall Housing, comments that there is a risk that LGBT people fleeing homophobic or transphobic violence “will remain in dangerous situations and some may have to move further away from their support networks. In essence, LGBT people may not be able to afford safety!”

Increased age of single persons housing allowance to 35

Currently if you are under 25 years of age you are only allowed to claim for a single room which already places many LGBT young people at a disadvantage. This means if you have a one bedroom flat, the housing benefit you get will be reduced, meaning many young people under 25 cannot afford to live alone. This already has a negative effect on LGBT people with many of them forced to live in accommodation where they do not feel safe to live as out LGBT people. The government now intends to increase the age to 35 meaning that some people may have to move homes. This may mean they are forced to go back into the closet and trans people may have to revert to their birth gender, if their economic circumstances change such as they lose their job.

The increase in age means that young people are unlikely to be able to live alone unless they achieve a good economic status which seems more and more unlikely in this challenging time of high youth unemployment. This could have a negative effect on the emotional well being of LGBT young people who already suffer higher rates of suicide, discrimination and poor mental health.

The continued reduction of social housing and the increase in social housing rents of up to 80% of market value.

Young people are unlikely to be able to live independently due to the increase of social housing rents to 80% of the market value compounded by the increase in single persons housing allowance age. Youth Homelessness charity Centrepoint’s policy officer Jenny Monsort comments that “this will particularly hit young people in supported accommodation… they will not be able to afford the rent and become homeless again.”

The reduction of social housing stock will put further pressure on the private rented stock available and with the reduction of housing benefit this stock is also likely to become limited, with 26% of landlords planning to reduce the amount of tenants they accept who are on housing benefit.

The reduction in housing benefit payments is likely to significantly reduce the housing options of some LGBT people meaning they could be forced out of their communities into areas with higher rates of hate crime. This could create further social isolation and force some people to back into the closet. Some people may not feel able to have their partner stay over for fear of attack.

What’s likely to happen?

The impact of these cuts is debatable. The government are arguing that the market will adjust to them with a net decrease in rents. However, it is likely that people will be forced to move to areas which are more affordable, which could defragment communities and force LGBT people into areas where they feel unsafe.

The increase in the single persons housing allowance is likely to put further pressure on LGBT young people, reducing their freedom to explore their identity and live their lives openly as LGBT people. It may even force some people back into the closet and/or into living in an environment where they do not feel free to fully express their identities.

We might all be in this together but it would appear it is the already disadvantaged who will take the brunt of the blow.

The film and its content will be written by the young people who take part. It is a chance work with a well respected production company.

The group will lead all aspects of the project – planning the subject matter, finding contributors, costumes etc, filming, editing and publicising the final project.

The project will run from November – January and the group will meet at times that are convenient for them. You will take part in master classes in camera skills, editing, PR and marketing and event planning. There will also be the opportunity to gain a bronze or Silver Arts Award. At the end of the project there will be a screening of the film at the BFI (organised by the group themselves alongside Paris, a group based in Newham). The screening will be open to all LGBTQ youth groups/organisations across London. Once the project is finished we also hope to have the film shown at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (also held at the BFI).

If you or anyone else has any questions please feel free to email ray@boldfaceproductions.co.uk

Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia

Homophobia bruises, batters and kills people every day. People we know. People we love. Homophobia is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. It has never been more important than right now to take action.

Screen and stage legend Sir Ian McKellen and Coronation Street star Antony Cotton, have already signed up to take action against homophobia and both feature in the Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia video see below. Over the coming months Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia will be at Pride events and Festivals, asking people to sign up to join the movement against homophobia

The hard facts
Lesbian, gay and bisexual people still live with the daily reality of homophobia, and many of us live our lives in secret, not publicly acknowledging our sexual orientation for fear of reprisal, ridicule or attack.
In the UK, we have seen a number of high profile homophobic attacks in recent years.
Ian Baynham, 62, died from fatal injuries sustained in a homophobic attack in London, he wasn’t only a gay man,he was a son, a partner, a friend, and a workmate. He was loved.
Homophobia can be felt all over the world.
In South Africa Eudy Simelane, one of the first women to live openly in her community as a lesbian, was gangraped and brutally beaten before being knifed 25 times in the face, chest and legs. Eudy wasn’t only a lesbian, she was a daughter, she was a partner, and a team mate. She was loved.
In 75 countries across the world, being gay is punishable by imprisonment and hard labour, and in 7 countries across the world being gay means you face the death penalty because of who you love.
On our streets, in our homes, in our schools and at work, homophobia is hurting those who are seen as different from the “norm”. Lesbians, gay men and bisexual people are a target of hatred because of who they love. It’s called homophobia, and it needs to stop.

Messages of support
“Your support means we can continue to spread the word that enough is enough, we won’t stand for homophobia in any form. There’s just one more thing you can do today. Ask your friends and family to sign up too.”
Sir Ian McKellen

“I’m proud to say Enough is Enough! because homophobia in any form or context is unacceptable and needs to stop. Sadly, it is still a daily reality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and also their family and friends – on the streets, at school, at work and in the home. Sign up to the campaign and take positive action against homophobia.”
Antony Cotton

Take Action

The first action people can take is to sign up to join the movement against homophobia. We want ordinary people; mums, dads, sons, daughters, grans, grandads, husbands, wives, partners, friends, and workmates – to stand shoulder to shoulder and take positive action against homophobia. Go to www.lgf.org.uk/enough to sign up.

Whatever the action, www.lgf.org.uk/enough will be celebrating it; from same sex partners taking a picture of themselves holding hands in public, to people forming gay/straight alliances and LGB groups, to marching against homophobia at Pride festivals across the country.

Why the time is now?
It has never been more important than right now to take action against homophobia.
Too often the victims of hate are forgotten, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, the stories of Ian Baynham, James Parkes, Michael Causer, Eudy Similane and all those killed or battered by homophobia must be kept alive, and the campaign for justice for each and every one of them will continue.

Too often lesbian, gay and bisexual people tolerate prejudice, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, we will have the confidence to use our rights, to report homophobic hate crime and demand equality.
Too often homophobia is dismissed solely as a lesbian, gay and bisexual issue, now is the time to say Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia, homophobia touches all communities, we must stand together to take positive action against hate.

Join the movement to take action against homophobia now!

“At what point do we say Enough? At what point do we stand up, as a total group, and say we will not allow it to happen anymore? Enough is Enough!” Harvey Milk, 1978

http://www.lgf.org.uk/enough

WATCH THE VIDEO