(you may need flash installed on your PC or Mac to view the following video)

We’d love for you to take a look at the strategic plan and let us know any comments you have about it. If you think it’s good, bad, missing something important, or just think a little bit needs adjusting or tweaking let us know by emailing info {at} qalliance.org(.)uk.

If you’d like to get more involved strategically, operationally or doing stuff on the ground with LGBT people in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas email volunteer {at} qalliance.org(.)uk.

Also feel free to print off our Services Leaflet and display in appropriate places. To see either document click on the images below.

(PDF file, 115KB)

(PDF file, 106KB)

Do you have 4 hours a month to spare?

Q:alliance is looking for a representative for the LGBT community on the MK Anti-Hate Crime Policy Group…

Role: MK Anti Hate Crime Policy Group LGBT Rep.

The job: Attend the 6 weekly hate-crime policy group in MK, canvas the views of LGBT people in MK on Hate Crime Policy, contribute on the LGBT/homophobia/transphobia perspective at the meetings and then report back to LGBT communities in MK via Q:alliance’s website, Facebook, etc.

Time commitment: 4 hours a month.

Skills needed: Awareness of and ability to take a collaborative approach to tackling racist, homophobic, disablist and transphobic incidents. Confident, good communicator. Strategic thinker.

Other info: Representatives from police, community safety, housing, probation and MK Equalities Council commenting on policy and ways to increase reports of hate-crime. Daytime meetings – usually 2 – 4pm in Acorn House, Midsummer Blvd CMK. Q:alliance can provide background and training.

For  further details: email Gwil Roberts (a Q:alliance Trustee) at gwilym.roberts {at} relatemk(.)org  or visit SaferMK.

I attended a conference on 1st Dec to look at what’s out there for people living with HIV in Milton Keynes. We had an interesting presentation by a HIV support organisation from Leicester which showed us what a good service looks like and spent time looking at what our needs were to live happily with HIV in MK.

Over half the people at the event were living with HIV, there was only one local gay positive man – most of the others were African people and there were a small number of white heterosexual women too.

It felt exciting to be in a safe space where people could talk honestly about their HIV status – their lives and the way they (often) need to keep it secret to avoid social stigma.

It was clear that there were vastly different needs for the different groups (gay men will often need different messages and services to African women) and also different needs at different stages – a newly diagnosed person will need very different things to someone who’s been on therapy for 10 years.

I was struck by the lack of communication at strategic level between people interested in HIV prevention and those interested in care services. This needs changing.

I was also struck by the importance of communications and advertising – most positive people in MK are unaware of the services available to them – we all need to get better at telling people about whet we do.

I was pleased to learn that MK has some specialist services – but I really don’t blame the (many) gay men I know who choose to access stuff in London – they just have more experience and resources there.

So, where’s it all going? If you are living with HIV and would like to tell us what you think of current services in MK, please get in touch (we will not share your details with anyone) – Q:alliance can let you know who’s out there to help or even talk directly to commissioners on your behalf if you prefer.

In the meantime, watch this space for news of NEW outreach in MK’s popular cruising areas next year and regular visits to Pink Punters.

Current HIV services in MK include:

• STaSS – HIV support organiastion
• H4 – Counselling for people living with HIV
• HIV Quick Testing – Free and confidential testing

Rainbow, the biggest gayest bus in the world outside the British Museum for the LGBT History Month pre-launch

In this posting are some highlights of what our volunteers have been up to in the past week and things that have caught our attention. You can follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts to get the latest from Q:alliance and can check out our Events Calendar to keep up to date with LGBT-focused or related activity in MK.

We went to the LGBT History Month pre-launch on Thursday and learnt lots about some fabulous projects that took place across the country for the last LGBT History Month, as well as hearing some great news about what’ll be happening next February. There’s *lots* of exciting and/or interesting things that’ll be happening in MK -from Q:alliance and others – and we’ll make sure to tell you more about them when things are firmed up. We’ll also link to the presentations we went to when LGBT History Month make them available.

Ask Jo is coming back! Our website advice column for LGBT, or questioning, people in MK is back after far too long an absence. If you have a problem or dilemma that you want advice on send an email to jo {at} qalliance.org(.)uk – In the past Jo has helped people with coming out, relationship issues, coping with bullies, how to date well, sex advice and a whole range of other issues. We’re also looking for more of your coming out stories.

One of our volunteers popped along to CMK Library to see their Out & Proud section, and we asked people for book suggestions we could send the library to make it even better. If you have any suggestions, do email us at info {at} qalliance.org(.)uk or, even better, tell the library service yourself.

Our counsellors have some appointments available. If you want to talk to someone in confidence, or find out more, see our Counselling page.

Today is International Transgender Day of Remembrance. The 20th of November is set aside to memorialise those who are killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. This year 117 trans people worldwide are known to have been murdered out of hate and ignorance. Many hundreds, if not thousands, more have taken or attempted to take their own lives. In the past two months, two transsexual women have been murdered in the UK – Andrea Waddell from Brighton and Destiny Lauren who was killed in Kentish Town, London…

If you’re of the Twittering variety, you can now also follow us on Twitter. You can  see our Twitter feed on the right hand column of this very page, but that’s much less fun than Twittering with us yourself.

Also, don’t forget that we still are accepting applications for our 4 hour a week Marketing & Sales Assistant position. It’s a great opportunity to earn money implementing your marketing and sales assisting skills whilst really helping to make a difference for local LGBT people. For more details view the vacancy.

…wondering what to do with your time?

Q:alliance Needs You !!!

We are looking for new volunteers, in particular for Admin Support, Web Contributors & a Minute Taker (see below for more info).

Admin Support
- You can help us with anything from simple filing and sealing / stamping envelopes to replying to letters, emails, phone calls and recording data on spreadsheets.
- We also need help to keep our offices tidy and the centre clean.

Web Contributors
- The Q:alliance website (www.qalliance.org.uk) is *your* website and we’d love for you to be a greater part of it!
- We’re currently looking for some LGBT bloggers / writers to help contribute to this website.
- You can blog / write about almost anything – topics you’re into, your daily life, opinions on news stories / LGBT issues.
- Blogging is really easy, you can even just email us your entries and we’ll do the techy bits.
- Have a look at Bex’s Bits for inspiration!

Minute Taker
- The minute taker for Q:alliance needs to prepare and send out agendas to Trustee’s, as well as write and type up meeting minutes for distribution.
- You will need to be able to attend Trustee meetings, currently held on a six weekly basis on a week night.
- It would be helpful if you have previous experience of minute taking in a voluntary or community organisation.
- You will need to be familiar with MS Word and able to send the minutes out via email. Training can be given.

If you are interested in any of these volunteerining opportunities, please email Jim our Volunteer Co-ordinator at volunteer {at} qalliance.org(.)uk

You can also find out more about volunteering with Q:alliance here.

Do you want to see more things happening for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Trans people in Aylesbury Vale?

Do you want to make a difference in your community?

Q:alliance, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Trans (LGBT) charity for Bucks & MK is looking for Community Champions to develop, support and promote local LGBT services, community groups and events; along with other volunteering opportunities in Aylesbury.

Community Champion’s are caring and proactive people with ideas about how they can make their community more interactive. Q:alliance helps its Community Champions with support and training. Together, they build better communities for LGBT people.

Want to find out more? Come along to our open evening on Monday 21st July at 7:00pm in the Multicultural Centre, Friarscroft, Aylesbury.

- WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER FOR Q:ALLIANCE? Q:alliance is a strongly community and volunteer-led organisation, therefore we are always seeking new volunteers to become involved in our work. For all roles, you should be a LGBT-friendly person and have a non-judgemental understanding of some of the issues that may affect LGBT people. You do not need to be LGBT yourself.

- AM I THE RIGHT SORT OF PERSON? If you are proactive and enjoy talking to people then this opportunity can make a big difference to the LGBT people who are looking to make contact with each other.

- WHAT COMMITMENT IS NEEDED? Just a few hours once a month. Q:alliance is very flexible around time volunteers can commit and recognises people lead busy lives.

For more information, see http://www.qalliance.org.uk/volunteer/

‘Celebr8′ is a celebration of the diversity of our community which welcomes people from all horizons. This is the closing event for the first Milton Keynes Big Moo Fringe Festival of the Arts (BMFFA) and the launch of next year’s festival. We wish to raise the profile of international human rights and promote all strands of diversity and understanding through the arts.

‘Celebr8′ will set off from outside the Church of Christ the Cornerstone after the close of the evening Creative Meditation. It will then proceed with flags and banners through the shopping and theatre districts into Margaret Powell Gardens, where there will be juggling, live music and spoken performances from TLC Creative as well as guest speakers. This is an event for people of all ages, backgrounds and disabilities who may take part as actively or as passively as they feel appropriate.

Organisations participating and supporting the event include: * BMFFA * Q:Alliance * MAD * MKC *MK REC * MKCVO * Blueprint Bar * KIK Music * The Big Moo2 * The Church of Christ the Cornerstone (non-denominational, ecumenical) * CMKP* and many more….

- 6.00pm Evening Creative Meditation at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone
- 7.00pm End of service. Groups gather outside front of the church. Blessing from Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
- 7.30pm Start of pedestrian procession, led by the Wolverton Samba Band and followed by flags representing the six strands of diversity, accompanied by street performers and jugglers
Route: From the front of Christ the Cornerstone Church to Margaret Powell Gardens. MK Theatre
- 8.30pm Closing speeches and thanks, followed by the launch of next year’s Fringe Festival. Speakers: John Goss, Charles Buckman, Gavin Anderson and Sally Annett, plus special guest speaker.
- 9:00pm end

For further information go to – www.bmffa.co.uk

Want to learn how to help?

Q:alliance is holding a support training session on Wednesday 9th July from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the David Baxter Centre.

The training session is will be fun and informal. It is for anyone who wants to be volunteer for online support, answering phones at Q or even being involved with our outreach work. It will involve listening skills workshops, telephone answering methods and learning about outreach.

So come along on Wednesday 9th July and to the 2nd session on Wednesday 16 July at 7:00pm