Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender

Local Initiatives

Project Oscar (Central Lancashire)

Project Oscar is based in the Public Health Directorate at NHS Central Lancashire, and aims to promote the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Central Lancashire, both directly via the helpline service and indirectly by promoting awareness of LGBT people and their well-being needs generally in the community and by challenging homophobia.

The project is based at NHS Central Lancashire, telephone number 01772 644470 or Freephone 0800 783 5345.
Services offered:

Helpline, office hours generally whenever the project worker is not out and about. Call the Helpline to ask anything related to LGBT issues, here are the sort of questions that get asked:
- Is oral sex safe?
- How do I deal with my attraction towards men when I still really love my wife?
- How do I meet other lesbians?
- How do I report homophobic harassment from neighbours?
- What does HIV testing involve?
- My partner died and I am just so lonely, what help is there?
- How do I know whether I’m gay or just bisexual?
- Who should I come out to?
- Can you recommend a lesbian-friendly GP?
Monthly newsletter for any LGBT people and interested agencies.
Free condoms, lube and safer sex leaflets on request.
Helping to develop the local LGBT non-commercial community infrastructure, e.g. Chorley and South Ribble LGBT Residents’ Forum.
Distributing the “Pink Paper” by post to local LGBT people.
Training and awareness raising on LGBT issues to local organisations, schools etc.
Representing the views and issues of LGBT people at local partnership meetings with organisations such as the local councils, the police etc.
Managing the CLANGLES LGBT Community website – www.clangles.com

Preston LGBT Centre Group

A community group that puts on LGBT community events such as the annual Red Ribbon Cabaret, and is aiming to work in the long term towards getting a Lesbian & Gay Centre for Preston. Meets first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm at Preston DISC (Disabilities Information Services Centre) in Church Street, Preston. Contact number 07936 712478.

There is a monthly drop in for LGBT people 1st Thursday of the month click here for details.

Friends of Dorothy

Friends of Dorothy is a befriending and support service for Senior LGBT people in Preston and South Ribble, run by Age Concern Preston and South Ribble. Contact the LGBT project worker there on 01772 552850.

Breakout LGBT Community Radio Group

This group produces a weekly 2-hour LGBT community radio programme going out on Chorley FM (www.chorley.fm or 102.8FM in the Chorley area). Email: johnmiller@chorley.fm or website www.breakoutshow.co.uk.

Blackpool LGBT (SHIVER Project)

Drugline Lancashire now branded under SHIVER (Sexual Health HIV Education and Resources) has directly supported the LGBT community in Blackpool for several years now. Projects include

PSE (Public Sex Environments) and Sauna projects which distribute resources and health information to men who have sex with men in local cottaging and cruising areas and local saunas
the innovative S&M (Sex and Men) project utilising drag queens to get messages and resources on the local clubbing scene
SWOSS - Sex Workers Outreach Support Service
Sexual Health Trainer offering capacity building opportunities
LGBT Community Development Worker supporting the LGBT community with information, or either group or individual support with general, sexual or mental health issues.
One Stop.Shops situated inside several separate LGBT venues offering signposting, resources and self service relevant information pick up points.
SHIVER and CLASS Projects offering holistic support for the sexual and emotional health needs of all those living with or affected by their HIV diagnosis as well as opportunities for volunteering and accredited learning.

Contact the LGBT Development officer on 01253 411431 or 07875 355390 for further details on any Blackpool LGBT support services.

Lancaster & Morecambe LGBT

There is a comprehensive website listing support and social opportunities for LGBT people in the Lancaster & Morecambe area, at http://virtual-lancaster.net/gay/index.html

LGBT Youth Groups

Lancashire groups for LGBT young people include POUT in Chorley, PYRO in Lancaster and Ok2be in Blackpool, plus groups in Rossendale and Pendle. They generally meet weekly in safe spaces which are kept confidential. POUT and PYRO are part of Lancashire County Council’s Young People’s Service provision.

To contact POUT telephone 0800 783 1524 or email pout99@hotmail.com, or make contact via Project Oscar.
To contact PYRO telephone 07717 301 821 or email pyro@ed.lancscc.gov.uk.
To contact Ok2be, telephone 07887 770141 or Blackpool Young People’s Service on 01253 754841, or email: hayley.mills@blackpool.gov.uk.

There are also LGBT groups at most of our universities:

University of Central Lancashire LGBT Group
University of Lancaster LGBT Society
Edge Hill University LGBT Society

Navajo

Navajo is a Lancashire-based partnership promoting health and equality for LGBT people. Having begun in north-west Lancashire (Blackpool and Preston), it’s now been rolled out across the whole county.

Navajo has established a very successful Charter Mark award scheme for organisations that can prove they strive to offer an LGBT-friendly ethos to their service users, staff and volunteers. Around 100 organisations now hold the award.

Other issues addressed by Navajo partner organisations have included trying to get funding for safe spaces for LGBT people, outreach work in public sex environments, and training trainers to deliver LGBT awareness courses. For further information contact Drew at drew.drake@55plus.org.uk or phone 01772 552862.

Support for lesbian & bisexual women

Lancashire Lesbian Connection, based in Preston. E-mail lesbian_connection@yahoo.co.uk.
Women Supporting Women is a volunteer-led organisation that runs self-help and development groups for women in Lancashire. Contact details: email: womensupportingwomen@tiscali.co.uk or text 07847 385691.

Support for transgender people

Transinclusion is a Blackpool-based group dedicated to promoting awareness of the issues affecting transsexuals and people with gender identity disorders. Website at www.transinclusion.org.
Renaissance Transgender Group is also based in Blackpool. This is a social group.with meetings held twice a month. Website at http://www.gynwayblackpool.com/renaissance_transgender_forum.htm
Lancashire Lads is an informal group for trans men in all stages of female-to-male transition. E-mail Lancashirelads@googlegroups.com.
Inner Enigma is a charity supporting intersexed and transsexual people, and those questioning their gender identity. www.innerenigma.com.
Morf is a social and support group for trans men in Manchester. www.morf.org.uk.
LGBT Youth North West has a Trans youth worker who can be contacted by email at: trans.youth@yahoo.co.uk. The Manchester Trans Youth website is at http://www.lgym.org.uk/transweb/
Northern Concord, a social and self-help group based in Manchester. See www.northernconcord.org.uk for more information.
Press For Change, a national campaigning group for transgender people, with an excellent website at www.pfc.org.uk.

The Navajo Consultative Partnership

The NCP is a partnership between a large number of organisations interested in promoting equality for LGBT people in Lancashire. Its objectives include:

mainstreaming LGBT issues within organisations.
supporting training on LGBT issues.
providing advice on policy development.
representing the needs of the LGBT community including young people.
celebrating the diversity of sexual identity and of achievements.

Gay Cumbria

Cumbria’s largest online LGBT community, website www.gaycumbria.com, featuring support, forums and chat.