LGBT+

Quote / Testimonial:

We pride ourselves on our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

We do everything we can to offer the best service we can to support members of our LGBT+ community.

Non-urgent advice: Have you seen our Rainbow Lanyards?

We signed up to the NHS Rainbow Badge Initiative. This is an initiative that gives staff a way to show that Rowden Surgery offers open, non-judgemental, and inclusive care for patients and their families, who identify as LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, the + simply means that we are inclusive of all identities, regardless of how people define themselves.)

The Rainbow Badge initiative originated at Evelina London Children’s Hospital to make a positive difference by promoting a message of inclusion.

If you see a member of staff wearing this badge, we are trying to convey the message “you can talk to me”. We aren’t experts, and we might not have any answers, but we will try our best to be a friendly ear and know how to signpost to the support available.

We ask all of our staff to
– Use inclusive language in all discussions
– Affirm the identity that a person chooses to use
– Assure confidentiality
– Use the persons preferred name and pronoun.

Please tell us if you have a preferred name or pronoun as we have lots of patients and a lot of names to remember! 
We know it might be a little difficult to tell us, but please do tell us if we get it wrong, hopefully by telling us if we have made a mistake we can try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
  • Our patient and staff toilets are all gender neutral!
    – Back in June 2020 we turned all of the restrooms in the practice to gender neutral meaning anyone can use the restrooms regardless of gender identity of expression. We know how important it is for everyone to feel safe and accepted and we hope this makes your time with us a little more comfortable.

LGBT Foundation

We often suggest to the LGBT Foundation as a good place to look for advice and support.

LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.

The LGBT Foundation believes in a fair and equal society where all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people can achieve their full potential. Every year they voice, provide help and offer hope to 40,000 people. 

Services and activities include: a range of support groups; face-to-face counselling; a helpline, email and pop-in service; a befriending scheme; a sexual health programme, a substance-misuse project; organisational training; a range of guides and resources; a national website; advice surgeries; LGBT infrastructure support; various research projects and policy campaigning.

LGBT Foundation

Off the Record – Bath and North East Somerset (OTR)

Off the Record (OTR) improves the emotional health and wellbeing of young people; doing their best to make sure every young person in Bath and North East Somerset and beyond is emotionally healthy, confident and empowered in themselves.

OTR provide a range of free services including counselling, listening support, youth participation, advocacy and specialist groups, support for care leavers and a LGBT+ focused youth group.

You can refer yourself or someone you know to OTR using their Online Referral Form. 

Visit https://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/ for more information

otr

Information for Trans People

This leaflet is for trans (transgender) and non-binary people in England. It explains the adult NHS screening programmes that are available in England and explains who is invited for screening. We use trans as an umbrella term to embrace the diverse range of identities outside the traditional male/female definitions. These include transgender, gender fluid and non-binary. Find more trans health information on NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/trans-health.

Please be aware that there is an approximate wait time of 4 years for NHS referrals to the gender identity clinic. If you wish to go privately, please check first that any service you wish to use is CQC (Care Quality Commission) registered and the GPs that you may see are GMC registered for your own safety. 

Please see additional support services available below:
Chippenham LGBTQ youth sessions – On Your Mind offer supportive sessions for young people.

Consortium offers a range of practical support for people who run LGBTQ+ groups, projects and networks from fundraising to practical information about running and growing a group.  

Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity working with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence.
LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428  Email: [email protected]
LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline: 020 7704 2040  Email: [email protected]
Conversion Therapy Helpline: 0800 130 3335  Email: [email protected]

Gendered Intelligence is a registered charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people’s quality of life. They are a trans-led and trans-involving grassroots organisation with a wealth of lived experience, community connections of many kinds, and a depth and breadth of trans community knowledge. 

LGBT Foundation’s Helpline Service has been running for 35 years and provides thousands of hours of advice and support to thousands of people every year on a huge range of issues. The Helpline is staffed by a team of dedicated staff and volunteer operators, all of whom receive extensive training and support. The LGBT Foundation helpline is a good first step if you are unsure of how to access support and advice.
Call: 0345 3 30 30 30 Monday to Friday between 10am and 6pm
Email: [email protected] and receive a reply within 10 working days

Stonewall Young Futures | Stonewall is a hub for all young lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace people thinking about their next steps.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride | LGBTQ+ Festival (swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk) stages an annual LGBTQ+ event and their purpose is to promote equality and diversity for the public benefit and in particular the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Including in particular but not exclusively by raising awareness, engaging with the community, celebrating the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities and advancing education. 

Trans Unite is a comprehensive resource for people in the UK searching for support in the transgender community. Their easy to use, mobile friendly directory connects users to an established local network of trans support groups.
Support-for-LGBTQ-in-Wiltshire-Ver01-Jan2022.pdf (wessexcommunityaction.org.uk) 

Find out about local LGBTQ+ groups here LGBTQ groups in Chippenham – Meetup