25 or under?
Would you like your voice to be heard?
Would you be prepared to talk about the experiences you’ve had?

FILL IN AN ONLINE SURVEY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN £50!!!

Solutions are conducting some research in association with Q:alliance and could really do with your input. Results from this survey will help improve the services young LGBT people get from a variety of agencies and help us all to get a better understanding of what life is like for young LGBT people in the city.

Complete our short online survey to be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win £50 of CMK shopping vouchers.

http://www.survey.gabba.net/people_mk_survey
OR
http://tinyurl.com/YoungLGBT

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS POSTER AND DISPLAY IT IN APPROPRIATE PLACES TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD

On the evening  the following will be provided:

• HIV and Syphilis quick testing
• Chlamydia urine tests
• Free condoms
• Free parking (Free car parking will be provided in the disabled car park outside Main Outpatients Entrance 3)
• Coffee and cake.

Come along on your own or with friends, get registered, meet the staff, have a chat and an informal pleasant evening.

Address: The Sexual Health Centre, Main Outpatients Entrance 1, Milton Keynes General Hospital, Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD

On behalf of Q:alliance, Solutions Research will be at the HQMK Youth Group on the 24th & 31st March and the 7th of April, you can come and share your thoughts and feelings with us and help us make the services you’re offered better.

If you are interested in taking part and would like to book a time on either of these evenings, please contact Caroline via caroline {at} solutions-research.co(.)uk

We are able to offer a £20 voucher incentive for taking part in the research.
All interviews are completely confidential and your information would be stored securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and not shared with any third parties.

Solutions are a member of the Market Research Society

(Image from MESMAC North)

Solutions Research have been commissioned by Q:alliance to carry out research into young people’s experiences. both positive and negative. This will include exploring issues such as prejudice, discrimination and bullying.

Whilst most of the project will involve talking with young people themselves about their experiences, part of the research is to obtain the views of staff who work directly with them across a wide range of services.

If you would like to contribute, please contact Caroline at Solutions Research on caroline {at} solutions-research.co(.)uk . Face to face interviews (by appointment) are being held on Thursday 25 March or telephone interviews can be arranged for a convenient time.

For the first event, Bletchley Park will be celebrating the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.

Q:alliance and Pink Punters have been working with Bletchley Park over the last year to co-ordinate this event. Amongst other things, the event will focus on the life and work of codebreaker Alan Turing during his time at Bletchley Park, with special lectures and films.

Alan Turing who was one of many great mathematical minds who worked at Bletchley Park during World War Two, and was also a gay man. He is recognised for his great intellect and for his contribution towards breaking the Enigma codes and the development of the Bombe machine, all of which helped to shorten the war by two years and save thousands of lives. Later of course, his sexuality was to be the cause of his downfall.

• The Wartime Achievements of Alan Turing at Bletchley Park – Frank Carter, a college lecturer in mathematics and a longtime guide and researcher at Bletchley Park.
• Why we need to claim our history – Tony Fenwick, co-founder and Chair of LGBT History Month.
• Local issues around LGBT History Month and Bletchley Park – John Goss from Q:alliance, which provides information, support, representation and fun for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who live, work and play in the Milton Keynes area.

Stephen Kettle the Sculptor of the famous Alan Turing slate Statue will also be at Bletchley Park throughout the day talking about his famous creation.

A selection of films will be shown in the Bletchley Park Enigma Cinema, plus a documentary about the life of Alan Turing.

Dr Andrew Hodges, esteemed authority on Alan Turing, will be our special guest and will also be available to sign copies of his book, ‘Alan Turing; the Enigma’”

Visitors can also see the office in which Alan Turing worked in Hut 8 and the Bombe machine, designed by Turing with Gordon Welchman to speed up the process of breaking the Enigma codes.

The Pink Punters Rainbow Bus will also be on site throughout the day

In addition, later that evening Vagabond Cinema in collaboration with Pink Punters  are screening the amazing film Milk starring Sean Penn.

This is the story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California’s first openly gay elected official.

Tickets for this one are on first come first served basis. Doors open at 5.15pm Screening starts at 6pm and the bar will be open. More details on Facebook.

citizens:mk is a developing alliance of communities – religious institutions, schools, unions, charities and community associations – working together for a better Milton Keynes. Using the methods of ‘community organising,’ the goal is social, economic and environmental justice. They will meet that goal by training people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds to take action together for change, as well as provide a voice for civil society to hold our elected officials to account.

For more details on citizens:mk, there approach and details on the assembly visit www.citizensmk.org.uk.

Got a problem you want to sort out?
Need someone to talk to in confidence?

Our LGBT-friendly counsellors offer weekly or bi-weekly sessions in Milton Keynes. Contact us to book a free initial session at counselling {at} qalliance.org(.)uk. The cost of further sessions will depend on your circumstances, please email us to discuss this further.

People come to counselling to make space to look at issues in their lives. Your issues might be struggling with your sexuality, coming out, homophobia, having a bad time, having too much of a good time, gender issues, too much or too little sex, risky behaviour, body acceptance, addiction, gay kids, loneliness, wanting more confidence, loss….

All of our counsellors are experienced and comfortable in working with people who are lesbian, gay, bi, trans, straight and those who are unsure. They work to the ethics, standards and confidentiality of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. We offer counselling on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Wolverton and in Central Milton Keynes on Saturday daytimes.

Please note that although we try to give you an appointment at a time which suits you as soon as possible, there may be a wait – contact us for details. We aim to reply to all emails within 5 days.

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)

Many organisations are interested in the LGBT community. Who is offering what? What is out there? How can you participate in what already exists?

The objective is to bring together all those who are interested in the LGBT community in the area and facilitate communication. If you are interested in the LGBT community or in finding out what there is; whether you are lesbian, gay, bi- or trans, or whether you are interested, concerned or related to someone who is, come and join us for the day.

The day will include presentations by over twenty organisations that are organising or offering services, events or activities to the LGBT community.

During the day, you will have the opportunity to circulate, listen to the presentations which you believe may be of interest to you, and meet people.

Of particular interest will be a debate with questions and answers between local parliamentary candidates from the three main national parties and a projection of Olivia Humphreys “Latecomers” about older people coming out.

For more information, please contact PeterJLeeson {at} hotmail(.)com

This meeting is provided free of charge to all participants, no financial assistance to the costs of the day can be provided to the groups making presentations. It is recommended that participants bring a packed lunch. Coffee and tea will be available on site; doughnuts will be on sale for £1.00 each. Contributions towards the cost of organising are welcome.

Public Transport:

Free Rainbow Bus to pickup participants from  The Point, CMK at 9:30am.

Public Transport: MK Metro bus 7A from City Centre to Dulverton Drive.

Over the next few weeks theres a wide range of events, including social opportunities, walking groups, HIV Quicktesting, pub nights, counselling, meals out, the LGBT General Assembly (which is going to be HUGE – click here for details), International Day Against Homophobia in Football and a fantastic event looking at the life of Alan Turing at Bletchley Park in honour of LGBT History Month – check the calendar for details. If you have, or know of, an event that should be listed here, please email us at website {at} qalliance.org(.)uk.

Please note that try to provide accurate listings, but always get in contact with the event organiser to double check. Not all social groups are listed on the calendar, for a full list of groups that we know of in the area click here. Unless otherwise noted, the events are not run by Q:alliance.

In addition to the events listed, Pink Punters, the local LGBT club, is open Thurs-Sun from 9pm. For more details on Pink Punters visit www.pinkpunters.com.