History
In 1998 research was conducted into the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people in Calderdale. The research found that LGB young people were a vulnerable group and that very little existed in the way of support for them. The findings were published in a report, "ACTION for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Young People in Calderdale" in 1999 and the researcher, Jan Bridget, along with several of the young people who took part in the research, set up Gay and Lesbian Youth in Calderdale (GALYIC).
Calderdale Youth Service provided a small set up grant, free use of premises and one part-time youth work session for Jan. We met once a week in Halifax and members drew up a constitution and opened a bank account.The constitution was later developed into the 'Articles and Memorandum' of GALYIC when it became a company limited by guarantee in 2004. The aims and objectives of GALYIC are still much the same as members agreed back in 1999 but with the addition of trans young people. GALYIC acquired charity status in 2005.
Without much funding in the early days there was little room for development so support mainly concentrated on the more vulnerable members of the group. Indeed, we lost one of our original members, Louise, who died from a heroin overdose.Along came the cavalry in the form of Comic Relief who supported GALYIC for six years (2001-2007). This enabled us to develop our services but concentrating on the 1-1 work whilst two grants from Connexions West Yorkshire meant we could employ Liz North as Project Administrator on a part-time basis. Liz developed sound administrative and financial procedures and helped GALYIC acquire company limited and charity status. Meanwhile, Paula Atherill became the assistant youth worker, a post that was later taken over by Julie Smith until 2008 when Julie got a full-time job in Leeds.
Calderdale Council awarded us a Community Services grant of £9,000 per year (2004-2007) to run the youth group, an award which drew homophobic comments from Tory councillors and the local media. The Council grant was later increased to £20,000 per year (2007-2010). In 2006 we had enough funding to employ James Field on a half-time basis for a year. James was able to bring in extra money for projects, residential work and to develop an exciting programme of activities for the youth group. Because of lack of funding we were unable to keep James and he went down to working one session a week and then left GALYIC for a full-time post in London.From 2007-2008 we had to tighten our belt and Jan took over running the youth group and drop-in again. We were successful in a consortium bid for Vinvolved funding and from April 2008 were awarded £9,000 a year for three years to develop volunteering opportunities.
Also in 2008 we received a grant of £13,000 p.a. for three years from Lloyds/TSB to help towards core costs. This meant that in September 2008 we were able to recruit two new part-time members of staff, Moni Noszkay as the Senior Youth Worker and Debbie Clements as assistant youth worker. We had hoped that we would have enough funding to increase Moni's hours to half time but this was not to be and in March 2009 Moni resigned.In May 2009 we learnt we had been successful in our application to BBC Children in Need, and we recruited our new Crisis Intervention and Support Worker, Helen Whitehouse who began work in October 2009. In the same month, the Calderdale Youth Offending Team seconded Kellie Bond to GALYIC for one day a week, whilst Debbie left at the end of the year.
Another significant event in 2009 was the launch of our report "Ten Years on: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People in Calderdale". The report includes the findings of interviews with 50 members using the GALYIC Needs Assessment Tool (NAT). We were able to compare the findings with the original research of 1998. In many respects, there is little change in the situation facing LGBT young people; they are still isolated; they are still experiencing homophobic abuse in school and on the streets, although there appears to be a slight rise in this; they are still experiencing homelessness and using substances as a way of coping, although again there appears to be a rise in the level of substance use. They are still experiencing rape and sexual abuse, although the levels of sexual abuse are higher. There is still little positive information in schools about homosexuality, although teachers appear to be more supportive. The four significant differences between the two groups are that the 2008 group are coming out at a younger age; they are experiencing more parental rejection/non-acceptance; and self-harm and attempted suicides are a lot higher.The research also showed that the majority of children and young people's services in Calderdale were still not meeting the needs of LGBT young people.
In April 2009 members gave a presentation of the findings to Calderdale Children's Trust. This was well received. We made the following recommendations:-
1. Sufficient funding for GALYIC to be able to provide core service.
2. Ensure LGBT youth part of Integrated Children and Young People's Services:
3. Survey of all Children & Young People's Services to identify:
It was proposed, and agreed, that the Children's Trust send the recommendations to relevant groups with actions to be met by January 2010, these included:-
And that the issues be addressed in commissioning arrangements.
Since then, members have given presentations to the Calderdale Association of School Governors Board; heads of strategic partnerships; and the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel.
Jan has also given presentations to the Sexual Health Strategy Group; CAMHS Strategic Group and provided training for the Youth Offending Team. We have also been involved in the Youth Homelessness Strategy, the Suicide Prevention Strategy and continue our links with the Calderdale Anti-Bullying Strategy. It is hoped that all this strategic work will result in LGBT young people being included in relevant strategies and, ultimately, in services that are more likely to meet their needs, as well as GALYIC getting better funding.We now regularly have between 15 and 20 members attending the weekly youth group and drop-in and on occasions have had as many as 26! As a result we have moved to a larger venue, which is still in the town centre.
The new venue is enabling us to have a wider choice of activities: pool, table-tennis and other games. We are also using a separate, smaller, room on occasions so that the Youth Council and Presentation Group can meet; this extra room also means we can run short courses.
As from January 2010 the youth group, drop-in, forum, and other activities such as the annual residential, go-karting, etc., will only be accessible to young LGBTQ people aged up to 21 years. We are not abandoning the older members: they can still take part in the Presentation Group. We are hoping to set up a new Older Members' Network as well as a Youth Volunteering Scheme; so watch this space!
In June 2010 we moved our office to Hebden Bridge Town Hall; the new premises will shortly be accessible. We are optimistic that this move will give GALYIC a higher profile.
Future?
Based on current needs of the youth group and the research findings, we have developed the following priorities:1. acquire sufficient funding to cover our core costs and employ a Participation Youth Worker;
2. expand our Youth Council to work with the Calderdale Youth Council and School Youth Councils to tackle homophobic bullying; and
3. continue to encourage other agencies to develop services which are sensitive to the needs of LGBT young people by developing member presentations and training.
We are optimistic that the passing of the new Equality Bill will bring about big changes in 2010, not least because
public services will, by law, have to provide appropriate services to meet the needs of all young people (including
those who are LGBT) as well as tackling homophobia.
2010 will also see a duty placed on schools to record incidents of
homophobic bullying alongside racist bullying, PSHE lessons will include homosexuality, and Ofsted are already
giving as much emphasis to equality and child safety issues as they do to exam results. This should all result in
schools providing more support for LGBT young people.
GALYIC, and our members, are in an ideal position to help agencies
and schools in Calderdale fulfil their obligations under the new legislation and make Calderdale a safer place.
For further information, see various GALYIC reports.