Lambeth Council and health campaigning charity LGBT HERO have launched the Lambeth Allies programme across the borough after a successful pilot in Vauxhall and Clapham.
The programme offers LGBTQ+ awareness training and practical advice for local organisations to become more inclusive, for example providing space for LGBTQ+ support information such as health leaflets and reporting hate crimes to the authorities or charities like Galop.
On completing the programme, participating organisations sign a code of conduct committing to challenge discrimination and to celebrate all LGBTQ+ identities . They receive display materials to publicly demonstrate they are a Lambeth Ally.
Lambeth Allies was developed in response to the 2022 ‘My LGBTQ+ Lambeth Survey’, which found that although Lambeth has one of the UK’s highest LGBTQ+ populations, one in five LGBTQ+ residents worry about their safety, and nearly two in five want to access more safe spaces, such as sports and leisure facilities.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Jim Dickson, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities, said: “We are very proud to be expanding the Lambeth Allies programme to our town centres across the borough after the successful pilot in Vauxhall and Clapham. This work builds on our collaborative whole systems approach to work with local partners to tackle LGBTQ+ health inequalities and has been co-developed through ongoing engagement with our LGBTQ+ community. The programme is an important priority for Lambeth, promoting safety, inclusion, and better access to social, cultural and sporting spaces for our LGBTQ+ community to connect and keep well.”
Successful pilot
Lambeth Allies piloted in Vauxhall and Clapham with over 30 partners joining the programme to provide more inclusive access to sporting, cultural and social spaces for LGBTQ+ people. Accredited organisations include Clapham Leisure Centre, the Black Prince Trust, Share Community Kitchen, VauxWall West, Better Leisure Vauxhall, the Oval (Surrey Cricket Club), Vauxhall City Farm, Studio Voltaire and Clapham Picturehouse.
LGBT HERO will now engage with other town centres – Waterloo and Southbank, Brixton, Stockwell, Streatham and West Norwood – as well as continuing to support Vauxhall and Clapham.
Tackling discrimination
Ian Howley, Chief Executive of LGBT HERO said: “After the My LGBTQ+ Lambeth Survey it was important to us to tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime and discrimination and increase the number of spaces LGBTQ+ people can access and be themselves. It’s important for Lambeth to lead the way in creating a safer community.”
More information
- For more information and to sign up to the programme please visit: lgbthero.org.uk/lap.
- If you have any questions about Lambeth Allies please email LAP@lgbthero.org.uk.
