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Lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations, make up minorities in many parts of the UK. They make up even smaller minorities in the countryside. Negative attitudes towards LGBT people, reported across rural England, are not tackled effectively, mainly because the groups affected are so small that they cannot easily build strong local support networks.
Often, those who plan services are unaware that members of LGBT populations live in rural areas. As these populations tend to be small and isolated, individuals can suffer doubly from being visible within their local community but invisible to those who plan services. This situation can lead to culturally inappropriate services, expressions of homophobia and consequent mental distress.
Key findings from a local rural outreach project tell us that:
- There are many isolation issues for young LGB people living in rural Cambridgeshire
- Youth workers often lack the confidence and knowledge to feel able to work with. young LGB people or to address issues around sexuality with the young people they work with.
- There are still deep rooted attitudes within rural communities that can be a barrier to inclusion for young lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
- Young LGB people feel that confidentiality and having positive LGB role models are the most important things when accessing youth provision.
If you would like to know more about this report or to request a copy of the findings, please contact lara@dhiverse.org.uk
Issues that might affect you
Provision of care and support services
Economies of scale mean that most services are located in urban areas, which are more highly populated. This is especially true of specialist services
Access to transport
The quality of available transport is a major factor in whether urban-based care and support services are accessible to people who live in rural areas.
People in rural areas usually find that public transport does not meet their daily mobility needs. Only 50 per cent of the rural population have an hourly bus service within ten minutes walk from their home. The frequency, reliability and timing of rural public transport can make travelling to services difficult or impossible.
Access to information
Access to reliable, high quality information has a profound effect on mental health and wellbeing. It enables us, as individuals and as social groups, to make the most of our lives, fully aware of our rights and the resources available to us. This applies to local and national community information in general, as well as to information specifically about health.
In rural areas it may be more difficult to obtain information locally due to a lack of infrastructure. Often shops, post offices, libraries and GP surgeries are widely dispersed or run services that do not meet an individual’s needs (for example, shop opening hours may clash with an individual’s working hours).
How can we help?
Below we list services for you in your area as well as travel information to help you get around. SexYOUality run youth services in Cambridge every Tuesday evening and one Saturday per month. If you would like to come to the groups but are having trouble getting here then contact us and we can try to help. lgbyouthproject@googlemail.com
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Youth services
- OASIS (Out and Strong in Suffolk) -
http://www.oasis-lgb.org.uk/
- Suffolk Gay and Lesbian Helpline phone:
Freephone 0808 808 2322
- OUTREACH youth
a youth led project supporting and working with gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and questioning young people aged 13 -19 years – based in
Ipswich and across Suffolk
For more information email:
outreach_ipswich@hotmail.com
Social scene
Information and advice
Travel information
Have a look at www.rail.co.uk for current train timetables and http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bus_timetables/ for buses.
Our usual meeting place is a ten minute walk from both Cambridge bus and rail stations.
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Youth
services
- 4Uth -
4Uth is the
new page for young people in the South Cambs Magazine.
This section of the website will be here in
full later in the year.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2xhyoe
Social scene
Information and advice
Travel
information
Have a look at
www.rail.co.uk for current train timetables and
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bus_timetables/
for buses.
Our usual meeting place is a ten minute walk from
both Cambridge bus and rail stations.
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Youth services
Social Scene
Information and advice
- Sexual Health Advice
Centre:
http://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/shac/
- March Young Person's Clinic,
24B Park View, March Health Centre, Marylebone Road, PE15 8BG.
Tel: 01354 602915
Drop-in clinic on Monday from 6.30 to 8.30pm -
no need to make an
appointment.
Provides contraception, emergency contraception,
free condoms,
pregnancy testing and sexual health advice.
- Young Person's Clinic,
The
New Horsefair Clinic, 27 St Augustines Road, Wisbech, PE13 3AD.
Tel:
01945 488006 (Mon 3.30 to 5.30pm and Tue 6-8pm)
Tel: 01945 488008 (All other Times)
(Tel: Monday and
from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday)
Drop-in clinic held on Monday from 3.30 to 5.30pm -
no need to make
an appointment.
Family planning clinic providing contraception, emergency
contraception,
free condoms, pregnancy testing and sexual health
advice.
- Chatteris Young Person's
Clinic,
Bridgegate Premises, 12A East Park Street, Chatteris, PE16
6LD.
Tel: 01354 694094 - for information
Drop-in clinic held on Wednesday from 3.30 to 5.30pm.
Provides contraception, emergency contraception, free condoms,
pregnancy testing and sexual health advice.
- Connexions March
Young People March, The Centre, City Road, March, Cambs, PE15 9LS
Tel:
01354 651703
march@connexionscp.co.uk
- Connexions Wisbech
4 -6 Stermyn Street, Wisbech, PE13 1EQ
Tel:
01945 585128
wisbech@connexionscp.co.uk
- Fenland
Mental Health Online:
http://www.cambsmentalhealthinfo.nhs.uk/services/fens/index.html
Travel
information
Have a look at
www.rail.co.uk for current
train timetables and
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bus_timetables/ for
buses.
Our usual meeting place is a ten minute walk from both
Cambridge bus and rail stations.
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Youth services
Social scene
Information and
advice
Travel
information
Have a look at
www.rail.co.uk for current train timetables and
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/bus_timetables/ for
buses.
Our usual meeting place is a ten minute walk from both
Cambridge bus and rail stations
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Youth services
Social scene
Information and
advice
Travel
information
Stagecoach Citi
buses run throughout the city and surrounding areas every day until
around 11pm.
The Citi 2 has a stop particularly close to our usual
meeting place.
NB. Remember
that almost all support and advice services listed here are national
organisations which can help you wherever you live.
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