Ageing Better in Birmingham

LGBT Community Local Action Plan

Final Version V1.0• 31/05/17

Page 2 of 18

CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 3

1.1 Role of Local Action Plans 3

1.2 The Older LGBT Community 4

1.3 Key Causes of Social Isolation Amongst the Older LGBT Community

5

1.4 Key Outcomes Wanted 6

2.0 LOCAL ACTION PLAN – THE PROJECTS 7

2.1 Project 1: Ageing with Pride Campaign 7

2.2 Project 2: LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme 9

2.3 Project 3: Changing Practice in the Adult Social Care Sector 10

APPENDIX: Project overviews and budgets 13

Page 3 of 18

1.0 INTRODUCTION Ageing Better in Birmingham is a six-year, £6m programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund to reduce social isolation amongst older people in Birmingham. BVSC is the accountable body for the project and leads the Ageing Better in Birmingham Partnership. https://www.ageingbetterinbirmingham.co.uk The project aims to facilitate change in the way older people are considered by communities, inspiring and empowering citizens of all ages to participate, organise and influence activities to reduce isolation in later life. Using a grassroots, asset-based approach, we aim to create a new movement for community action on ageing and isolation. 1.1 Role of Local Action Plans Four Local Action Plans (LAP) have been developed – Sparkbrook; Tyburn; Older Carers; and the Older LGBT community. The function of these LAPs is to:

Build on local consultation.

Address the underlying causes of social isolation for the community in question.

Tackle the specific causes of isolation that consultation and research have identified for each community.

Be different to existing activity.

Test what works best in reducing social isolation for each community.

Increase community resilience with regard to social isolation.

Have a strategic and an operational impact on social isolation.

Result in outcomes (rather than specific activities) that are sustainable and long-lasting beyond the Ageing Better programme.

They have been developed by building on initial Ageing Better research, consultation with local residents, organisations and stakeholders in the areas (or thematic groups) the plans refer to, and in small planning groups. Detailed project specifications will be written to enable the activities to be commissioned using a fair, open and transparent procurement process. It is anticipated that activity will commence in Summer/Autumn 2017 in order to allow time for commissioning where required. 1.2 The Older LGBT Community

Page 4 of 18

The older LGBT population was identified as a priority for the Ageing Better in Birmingham programme as research showed that older LGBT people face additional problems which are likely to trigger or exacerbate social isolation in later life. It is recognised that the LGBT community is not a homogenous group and there are variations in experience between lifestyles, individuals and groups. Having said this, respondents to the survey and consultation carried out by Birmingham LGBT in its role as Ageing Better in Birmingham LGBT Hub identified a range of additional factors that contribute to social isolation amongst older LGBT people. These include:

Discrimination and cultural isolation.

Being compelled to “go back in the closet” after losing a partner, entering care, or in some cases accessing services.

Poor experiences and outcomes in using statutory services because of discrimination, prejudice or lack of LGBT awareness in service delivery and service models.

Poor take-up of statutory services because of an expectation of discrimination, prejudice or stereotyping.

Family disapproval and rejection.

The greater mobility and geographical dispersal that can result from LGBT people relocating to escape prejudice or to find safety and acceptance.

Ageing without children.

Perceived and real Ageism in society and the LGBT community.

The loss of friends, partners or social networks as ageing makes ‘scene’ activities less appealing.

The potential for LGBT people to experience social isolation at a somewhat younger age that heterosexual groups.

In the first phase of Ageing Better in Birmingham, members of the LGBT community are being supported to create more social connections through citizen-led activity to reduce isolation. The second phase of the programme is to look at the underlying causes of isolation in the older LGBT community, to reduce isolation now and to prevent others becoming isolated in the future. To undertake this work, the programme is creating a Local Action Plan with the LGBT community so that as well as immediate action there is also a longer-term strategic plan to address the underlying causes of social isolation. The programme has worked with older LGBT people to start the process of co-designing the content of the Local Action Plan. This has been achieved through an online survey, face-to-face consultation and the creation of an older adult steering group facilitated by Birmingham LGBT. This information represents the initial findings of this work for review by members of the community as part of an ongoing process of consultation. 1.3 Key Causes of Social Isolation Amongst Older LGBT Community

Page 5 of 18

Consultation with around 90 older LGBT people identified the following key causes of social isolation in the older LGBT community:

a) There are many members of the older LGBT community who become isolated once their partner passes away. Some individuals do not have any other family connections other than their partner and it can be a very isolating experience when a partner dies. Older LGBT people are less likely to have children and/or may not have the support that having children can offer in later life. Often the friends that people have are considered to be as important as family ties.

b) Older LGBT people are dispersed across the city and can be isolated within

the communities where they live. Fear of prejudice and homophobia can prevent people connecting with others locally within their community. It is sometimes difficult to find out what LGBT-specific activity is happening. In addition, local community activity that does exist is not always LGBT-friendly or inclusive.

c) Taking the first step out of isolation to meet new people can be hard. If you

have been isolated, building the confidence to meet new people is a difficult process to go through – particularly when compounded with fear of homophobia or rejection.

d) LGBT social activities often revolve around the club and bar scene which tend to cater primarily for under 50s LGBT people. This can make it more difficult for older members of the LGBT community to meet new people. Older LGBT people have also described widespread ageism in the LGBT community.

e) Social isolation amongst older LGBT people is not in the public consciousness.

More needs to be done to make people aware of the specific causes of isolation for older LGBT people and what can be done to encourage more people to take that first step to connect with others and reduce isolation. Because of the other factors noted it is also recognised that LGBT people can become socially isolated at a younger age and for this reason it is felt that preventative work should start at a younger age.

f) While many of the causes of isolation for older LGBT people are no different

to those that exist for older people from all backgrounds, feelings of isolation can be exacerbated by consciousness of being part of a minority group.

g) Causes of isolation can also be service delivery-related. Often health and

social care services are heteronoramative and many older LGBT people report having to go back into the closet when accessing such services. They speak of homophobia and prejudice, a lack of LGBT-specific ‘care skills’, poor LGBT awareness, lack of LGBT-specific provision, and widespread stereotyping and assumptions regarding sexuality.

Page 6 of 18

1.4 Key Outcomes Wanted The key outcomes older LGBT people want to see addressed in their Ageing Better in Birmingham Local Action Plan are:

1) That more LGBT people are better prepared for ageing and the social isolation this can bring.

2) That more LGBT people have increased confidence to create connections across all communities.

3) Change commissioning practice and change attitudes amongst providers,

staff and residents to prevent prejudice in care settings.

4) More visible and open LGBT-friendly activities and services for older people in Birmingham.

5) Raise awareness and understanding of, and respect for, the older LGBT

community across all generations and groups.

6) Increase knowledge about the causes of isolation for older LGBT people and methods to prevent this.

Three projects have been identified that have the potential to address all of these priority outcomes. They are:

Ageing with Pride.

LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme.

Changing Practice in the Adult Social Care Sector. NB: In section 2.0 ‘Local Action Plan – The Projects’, the outcomes for each project activity described refer back to these outcomes. These are described in the next section.

Page 7 of 18

2.0 LOCAL ACTION PLAN – THE PROJECTS 2.1 Project 1: Ageing with Pride 2-year project Ageing with Pride will be an intensive, integrated city-wide campaign that combines community development techniques, marketing and communications, and active citizenship. It will be co-designed with older LGBT people and its aims will be:

To celebrate older LGBT people’s lives.

To present positive images of LGBT ageing.

To raise awareness and understanding of the causes of social isolation amongst older LGBT people and means of preventing this.

To address ageism in the LGBT community.

To challenge homophobia and stereotypes.

To change behaviour and attitudes and help older LGBT people prepare for ageing.

To increase visibility of the older LGBT community.

To promote positive messages about all members of the LGBT community and from all backgrounds.

To publicise the issues and causes of social isolation amongst older LGBT people, and highlight positive human interest stories about coming out of isolation to encourage others to take the first step.

To utilise volunteers/active citizens wherever possible. Delivery of the campaign will include:

Key media partners, both LGBT and appropriate ‘mainstream’ media.

Targetted messages/activity for LGBT and ‘mainstream’ commercial venues, community venues and the widest range of stakeholders/supporters possible.

Recruitment and support of Ageing with Pride ‘ambassadors’ to help illustrate and spread the message. Ageing with Pride Ambassadors will be volunteers and will help older LGBT people take their first steps out of isolation. Ambassadors will be trained in engagement, befriending and outreach techniques.

The organisation of age-friendly events and activities to coincide with significant dates and events in the LGBT calendar.

It is anticipated that the Ageing with Pride campaign will be delivered by an LGBT specialist organisation in conjunction with a marketing and communications provider skilled in campaign delivery/management and social marketing. It is vital that this campaign achieve the following:

Page 8 of 18

It should change behaviour and help older LGBT people prepare for ageing.

It should challenge homophobia and stereotypes.

It should raise the visibility of older LGBT people and present positive messages and images of being ‘gay and old’.

It should raise the visibility of and promote positive messages about all members of the LGBT community and from all backgrounds.

It should change attitudes both in the LGBT community and amongst the wider population – it should especially seek to change attitudes amongst older age groups whose views on sexuality are often the most intractable and prejudiced.

It should inspire confidence amongst the LGBT community. Key milestones Appropriate providers and delivery model identified and agreed

Integrated campaign plan developed and approved

Key media partners identified and engaged

Ageing with Pride Ambassadors recruited and supported

Activities/events to coincide with significant dates and events in the LGBT calendar.

Outcomes 1) LGBT community better prepared for ageing and the social isolation this can bring.

2) LGBT community has increased confidence to create connections across all communities.

5) Awareness, understanding of, and respect for, the older LGBT community is increased across all generations and groups.

6) Increased knowledge and understanding of the causes of isolation for older LGBT people and methods to prevent this.

Sustainability

The Ageing with Pride campaign will be sustainable by changing attitudes in the long-term and by more positive attitudes and messages being passed down the generations and across all communities.

Theory of Change model

LGBT community faces discrimination and older LGBT people face multiple causes of social isolation

Ageing with Pride counters this with positive images of older LGBT people and of all LGBT groups

Confidence of and respect for all LGBT groups improved; older LGBT people more visible and better understood

(Further information in Appendix.)

Page 9 of 18

2.2 Project 2: LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme 2-year project Some of the clearest messages to come out of the LGBT consultation and survey concerned older LGBT people’s desire for a wide and varied range of activities and interests as are enjoyed by all older people across the city, and the need to be able to identify these activities, places and groups as LGBT-friendly. To assist with this a two-year LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme will be commissioned. The project will enable a wide range of providers within communities to draw on practical guidance to become more LGBT-friendly, be assessed against a set of quality criteria and, if successful, be ‘awarded’ an LGBT-friendly badge. That more activities badge themselves as LGBT-friendly is also considered beneficial in terms of changing wider attitudes, especially in localities where LGBT-friendly activities or places currently have little visibility. The LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme will:

Develop a set of LGBT-friendly ‘quality criteria’.

Develop a how-to-do-it toolkit/resource pack to support those applying for the badging.

Enable activities, venues, services and groups (both commercial and non-commercial) that demonstrate that they meet these criteria to identify themselves as LGBT-Friendly using provided publicity material (window stickers, posters, a ‘values’ card etc).

Develop a means of enabling the withdrawal of the badge in instances where holders persistently fail to meet the quality criteria or poor customer experiences are reported. (it may be reputationally important for the delivery agent/agencies to be able to demonstrate that some sanctions do exist for poor performers.)

Develop a means of enabling/promoting customer feedback on badge-holders’ services and activities.

Recruit and train a cohort of volunteers/active citizens to help promote the scheme in their localities or the places they go to and encourage sign-up.

A central co-ordinator will have responsibility for managing delivery of the scheme for two years, including recruitment and management of the volunteers. This project should draw on key messages/activities of the Ageing with Pride campaign. There should also be the potential to share some promotional materials and other resources, as there should for the Ageing with Pride campaign to publicise the badging scheme and stories of LGBT-friendly providers. We anticipate there being as much integration as possible between the two projects in order to maximise impact and harmonise messages and materials.

Page 10 of 18

This project will aim to badge 200 applicants (places, activities, groups, businesses) successfully across Birmingham (50 in North Birmingham; 50 in South Birmingham; 50 in East Birmingham and 50 in West Birmingham.) Badge-holders should not be existing LGBT venues and/or LGBT-friendly – these can of course be badged but should be additional numbers. Key milestones Appropriate provider identified and engaged

Appropriate delivery model agreed

Quality criteria for LGBT-Friendly badging scheme developed

Guidance toolkit/resource pack developed

Volunteers/active citizens recruited and supported

Means of enabling customer/user feedback to be posted

200 places, activities badged

Outcomes 4) More visible and open LGBT-friendly activities and services for older people in Birmingham.

5) Awareness, understanding of, and respect for, the older LGBT community is increased across all generations and groups.

Sustainability

The outcomes from this activity will be sustained through encouraging more non-LGBT assets to advertise themselves as LGBT-friendly, increasing visibility and awareness for members of the LGBT community across localities in Birmingham.

Theory of Change model Difficulty finding out what activity is happening locally that is LGBT friendly. Fear of prejudice & homophobia can prevent attendance to local activities/assets.

Badging scheme and support encourages & enables more venues/ activities to become LGBT-friendly and identify themselves as such.

Increase in visible LGBT-friendly venues, activities and places; greater community confidence.

(Further information in Appendix.)

Page 11 of 18

2.3 Project 3: Changing Practice in the Adult Social Care Sector 2-year project A key outcome that older LGBT people who have contributed to this plan want to see is improved practice in care. For reasons of scale and complexity, the project will focus only on those services that are commissioned as part of Birmingham City Council adult social care provision. This will be a two-year research and evidence-gathering project to identify the care problems experienced by older LGBT people, develop and test new best practice models of care, and work with Birmingham City Council commissioners to embed these new standards in its care commissioning practice. The project will:

Identify and document the problems of poor care and poor outcomes of older LGBT people.

Develop a model of best practice care in discussion with the older LGBT community.

Carry out small-scale testing of this model with care provider partners to develop an evidence-base for influencing and change.

Produce best practice toolkits/guidance and associated policy documents (e.g. relevant to commissioners and providers).

Work with service leads and commissioners at Birmingham City Council to: o Promote the raising of standards in care. o Promote specific LGBT-aware models and practice of care. o Inform and improve commissioning. o Inform and improve care quality standards and Birmingham City

Council’s compliance regime. The successful outcome of this project should be confirmation that its care practice recommendations are in the process of being included in Birmingham City Council’s commissioning practice. The provider for this project will need:

To be skilled in research, including observing the requirements of research ethics.

To understand the issues involved in care delivery and practice as well as the commissioning of care.

Page 12 of 18

To be skilled in influencing and able to work constructively with local authority officers, and partnerships such as the Health & Wellbeing Board and other appropriate bodies.

To be confident in identifying specific services within adult social care where standards most need raising.

Key milestones Identify and document the problems of poor care and poor outcomes of older LGBT people

Develop a model of best practice care in discussion with the older LGBT community

Carry out small-scale testing of this model with care provider partners to develop an evidence-base for influencing and change

Produce best practice toolkits/guidance and associated policy documents

Work with service leads and commissioners at Birmingham City Council to embed this best practice in BCC commissioning practice and improve care standards and delivery models

Outcomes 1) LGBT community better prepared for ageing and the social isolation this can bring.

3) Change commissioning practice and change attitudes amongst providers, staff and residents to prevent prejudice in care settings.

Sustainability

The outcomes from this activity will be sustained through long-term improvements in care commissioning and new best practice care models.

Theory of Change model Older LGBT community experiences prejudice, disadvantage and poor outcomes in care

Project addresses this by researching and testing best practice care models

Long-term improvements in care commissioning and new best practice care models

(Further information in Appendix.)

Page 13 of 18

APPENDIX Project overviews & budgets

Page 14 of 18

Project 1: Ageing with Pride Campaign Ageing with Pride will be an intensive, integrated two-year city-wide campaign that combines community development techniques, marketing and communications, and active citizenship. It will be co-designed with older LGBT people. Key milestones Appropriate providers and delivery model identified and agreed

Integrated campaign plan developed and approved

Key media partners identified and engaged

Ageing with Pride Ambassadors recruited and supported

Activities/events to coincide with significant dates and events in the LGBT calendar.

Outcomes 1) LGBT community better prepared for ageing and the social isolation this can bring.

2) LGBT community has increased confidence to create connections across all communities.

5) Awareness, understanding of, and respect for, the older LGBT community is increased across all generations and groups.

6) Increased knowledge and understanding of the causes of isolation for older LGBT people and methods to prevent this.

Sustainability

The Ageing with Pride campaign will be sustainable by changing attitudes in the long-term and by more positive attitudes and messages being passed down the generations and across al communities.

Theory of Change model

LGBT community faces discrimination and older LGBT people face multiple causes of social isolation

Ageing with Pride counters this with positive images of older LGBT people and of all LGBT groups

Confidence of and respect for all LGBT groups improved; older LGBT people more visible and better understood

Budget: £155,800

Page 15 of 18

Project 2: LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme A two-year LGBT-Friendly Badging Scheme which will enable providers of all sorts to draw on practical guidance to become more LGBT-friendly, be assessed against a set of quality criteria and, if successful, be ‘awarded’ an LGBT-friendly badge. Key milestones Appropriate provider identified and engaged

Appropriate delivery model agreed

Quality criteria for LGBT-Friendly badging scheme developed

Guidance toolkit/resource pack developed

Volunteers/active citizens recruited and supported

Means of enabling customer/user feedback to be posted

200 places, activities badged

Outcomes 4) More visible and open LGBT-friendly activities and services for older people in Birmingham.

5) Awareness, understanding of, and respect for, the older LGBT community is increased across all generations and groups.

Sustainability

The outcomes from this activity will be sustained through encouraging more non-LGBT assets to become LGBT-friendly.

Theory of Change model Difficulty finding out what activity is happening locally that is LGBT friendly. Fear of prejudice & homophobia can prevent attendance to local activities/assets.

Badging scheme and support encourages and enables more venues and activities to become LGBT-friendly and identify themselves as such

Increase in visible LGBT-friendly venues, activities and places; greater community confidence

Budget: £77,800

Page 16 of 18

Project 3: Changing Practice in the Adult Social Care Sector A two-year research and evidence-gathering project to identify the care problems experienced by older LGBT people, develop and test new best practice models of care, and work with Birmingham City Council commissioners to embed these new standards in its care commissioning practice. Key milestones Identify and document the problems of poor care and poor outcomes of older LGBT people

Develop a model of best practice care in discussion with the older LGBT community

Carry out small-scale testing of this model with care provider partners to develop an evidence-base for influencing and change

Produce best practice toolkits/guidance and associated policy documents

Work with service leads and commissioners at Birmingham City Council to embed this best practice in BCC commissioning practice and improve care standards and delivery models

Outcomes 1) LGBT community better prepared for ageing and the social isolation this can bring.

3) Change commissioning practice and change attitudes amongst providers, staff and residents to prevent prejudice in care settings.

Sustainability

The outcomes from this activity will be sustained through long-term improvements in care commissioning and new best practice care models.

Theory of Change model Older LGBT community experiences prejudice, disadvantage and poor outcomes in care

Project addresses this by researching and testing best practice care models

Long-term improvements in care commissioning and new best practice care models

Budget: £77,800

Page 17 of 18

EVALUATION A test and learn approach will be taken to evaluating all three projects. The combined budget for evaluation is: Budget: £38,400

* * * TOTAL INDICATIVE BUDGET Ageing with Pride campaign 155,800

LGBT-Friendly Badging scheme 77,800

Changing Practice in the Adult Social Care Sector 77,800

Combined budget for ‘test & learn’ approach project evaluations 38,400