Q:alliance » Volunteering

Weekly Bits & Pieces for 20th November

Admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:38:35 +0000

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.

We went to a meeting with the council and once again underlined the importance of asking people’s sexual orientation and transgender status on monitoring forms and surveys. For example, in one of their surveys they ask about how happy you are living in MK, or if you’re fearful of crime, but because they don’t ask your sexuality, or if you’re T, there’s no real understanding of LGBT experience of the city. It’s important to get this changed so that all agencies working in the city can understand LGBT needs and issues and see what they can do to start making things better.

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…

TDOR day of remembrance 20th November 2009 @ Yahoo! Video

It was anti-bullying week this week, so we posted about some of the activities going on in MK as well as the following links to anti-bullying resources:

65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. This rises to 75% in faith schools. So we *love* Stonewall’s idea of sending in postcards to your old schools to see what they are doing to challenge homophobic bullying. There are some sample templates you can use here.

Other things we’ve linked to this week:

Finally, don’t forget that next Saturday (the 28th) is another of A Day in Hand’s wonderful Sshh! (Same Sex Hand Holding) days. More info at their site.

New Volunteering Opportunities

Jim Dalziel — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:03:11 +0000

The summer is over, nights are getting shorter…

…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.

Q in The Vale

Jim Dalziel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:35:21 +0000

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/