Four in Ten, SLaM’s LGBT Service User Group LGBT History Month Update

Film Screening ‘Queen’s Evidence’ – Thursday 28 February 

5.00pm to 7pm at 1st Floor, Marina house, 63-65 Denmark Hill, SE 5 8RS

You are invited to join Four in Ten LGBT Service User Group’s LGBT History Month event – screening of ‘Queens Evidence’ by Clare Summerskill, followed by a service user-led discussion on the themes raised in the film. Clare Summerskill, Stand Up Comedien, Queens Evidence is a series of dramitised recollections of older LGBT people and looks at the relationship between the police and the LGBT community over the last 60 to 70 years.

Clare has been described by Radio 4 Woman’s Hour as “A Lesbian Victoria Wood!” and by What’s On Magazine as “One of the funniest women in the country.” Clare performs an original cocktail of stand-up and comedy songs to mainly Gay and Lesbian audiences up and down the country and has even been known to make straight people chuckle just a little bit! She brings “Dyke” humour to the forefront of alternative comedy! For several years she has appeared on the LGBT comedy and cabaret circuit.

See the flyer attached.  Four in Ten LGBT History Month Film Screening. If you would like to come email Peter on peter.vittles@slam.nhs.uk or call 07711 376 258

Other news from Four in Ten

Four in Ten Group Night 

4 in 10 poster

Feb March Programme (3)

Four in Ten currently meets in the Jane Fielding Room at Maudsley Hospital on Tuesday evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The group offers LGBT people who have or are currently experiencing mental distress a safe place to meet and socialise, get and give peer support, take part in activities and discussions, get involved in Trust wide initiatives, and contribute to the Four in Ten Project to improve LGBT service user’s experience of Trust wide services. You could help promote the group in your service, at your team meetings, to service users, User Involvement Groups by downloading and printing our Four in Ten programme and poster and giving to staff, service users or pinning on your notice board or making available in your nearest waiting area or service user event.

LGBT History Month Articles for SLaM Staff Enews

Four in Ten have been marking History Month with a series of news articles in SLaM Staff Enews. The final history month article goes out next Monday and will include some key facts about LGBT mental health issues and practical steps that staff can take to deliver more LGBT inclusive services. Our final History Month instalment is next Monday – so keep an eye out! If you want copies of our articles featured in this series then email Peter on peter.vittles@slam.nhs.uk

LGBT History Month event, 16 April

5.30pm to 7.30pm At Ability Media Centre, 65 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 0AS

With a small grant from Southwark LGBT Network, Four in Ten will screen their 2011 film and invite a panel of speakers to examine the issues and challenges faced by LGBT people in mental distress who use services and how services can improve. The event will be chaired by Jonty Heversedge, Patient and Public Engagement Lead for Southwark Clinical Commissioning Group and we have invited a number of speakers, including clinicians from SLaM and mental health commissioners from the CCG. It would be great to have your support at this event (flyer ready soon).

Four in Ten Project Steering Group

The Four in Ten Project is overseen by a Steering Group that meets bi-monthly to ensure that the project elements are delivered and any issues raised and problem solved. The group is made up of service users and staff, who can comment and contribute to the delivery of the project. The Steering Group would welcome the contribution of staff and service users. To find out more or come to the next meeting on Thursday 28 March from 12pm to 1.30pm at Room 1, The Felix Post Unit, Maudsley contact Peter on 07711 376 258 or email peter.vittles@slam.nhs.uk

Steering Group Mailing List

The Steering Group recognises that SLaM staff and service users are incredibly busy (but no less committed!) people and would love to be kept up to date with what is going on with the Project and Group. Perhaps you would are interested in attending a particular meeting because an agenda item is right up your street, or you want to get involved in a particular event, or for any other reason you want to know what’s happening, then you are invited to join the mailing list. Again, just pop Peter an email to peter.vittles@slam.nhs.uk

Other news from Four in Ten

•       For the first time ever, the Group have been awarded a small grant from Southwark Community Council Fund 2013 to deliver a programme of wellbeing workshops in 2013/14 covering a range of topics, including; Mindfulness Meditation, Yoga, Healthy Eating, Aroma Therapy and Fitness. We will keep you updated on when these will take place!

•       The Group have a small amount of money from SLaM to produce a trifold leaflet to promote the various elements of the Four in Ten Project – the group and its activities, our partnership with Metro, our Equalities work on LGBT issues within SLaM and involvement mechanisms via the Steering Group. This will be made available for services with in SLaM and to groups and organistions in South East London. Let us know if you want some mailed to you!

•       The group are developing a new short film over the coming months and hope this will be ready in time for a screening in the week before London Pride 2013. If you are LGBT and use mental health services and have something to say, get in touch with us on 07711 376 258

•       The group is busy planning our next newsletter and hope this will be ready in time for London Pride. We are looking for budding writers to put pen to paper (or fingertip-to-keyboard!) and get featured in our next edition. Call us or send us your story by 20 April!

About The Four in Ten Project

Funded by SLaM Charitable Trust and delivered in partnership with the Metro Centre and Four in Ten LGBT Service User Group, SLaM is working to improve the experience of LGBT service users across the Trust with a number of initiatives over the next few years, including:

•       Improving LGBT service user involvement at SLaM by strengthening the Four in Ten service user group

•       Setting up a steering group for LGBT service users to meet regularly with SLaM staff

• Provide opportunities for LGBT people who use services opportunities to get involved in SLaM service improvements

•       Developing a survey for staff on their awareness of LGBT issues

•       Providing LGBT training to staff aimed at improving service user experience

•       Improving LGBT policy and LGBT data collection across the trust

• Strengthen arrangements for reporting homophobic and transphobic incidents experienced by our service users

Peter Vittles

4 in 10 Project Coordinator

(Tuesday, Thursday and Friday)

South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

1st Floor, Marina house, 63-65 Denmark Hill  SE 5 8RS

Mob: 07711 376 258

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