Agenda item

At the meeting of the Committee on 21 September 2017, approval was given to the Committee's next review topic on homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in the Borough.

The Council's Service Manager for Targeted Programmes in Early Intervention and Prevention Services was in attendance at the meeting to speak to the Committee as part of the review's witness evidence.

Members heard that Targeted Programmes is a division of the Early Intervention, Prevention and SEND Services, commissioned to engage children, adolescents, young adults and adult parents who are vulnerable to negative outcomes in relation to their life experiences. It responds to priority groups identified as being at risk of social, health, and economic exclusion, including young people who self-define as LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex and Questioning). Within this context, Targeted Programmes was commissioned to deliver two key programmes that sought to benefit the lives of LGBTIQ young people: 'OUTreach' drop-in service, and 'KISS' Sex and Relationships Education Programmes.

The Service Manager confirmed that, in 2013, a report entitled "An Assessment of Homophobic Bullying and Health and Wellbeing amongst Young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Hillingdon" was produced, and identified a range of concerns amongst LGBTIQ young people; the report was well received but not formally adopted into policy. Early Intervention, Prevention and SEND Services responded to the recommendation that stated the Council should "offer a social network group for young LGBT people in a safe environment", through the establishment of new public-facing services for LGBTIQ young people.

The Committee was informed that the Council established a LGBTIQ programme in partnership with MOSAIC Youth Centre, which was branded 'MOSAIC Hillingdon' and launched in September 2014. The programme was delivered as an informal drop-in activity, but despite the activity of the Council and MOSAIC to publicise the programme, an initial level of interest was not maintained. Due to changes in MOSAIC Youth Centre's funding arrangements, it was agreed to terminate the partnership, and the programme closed in 2016.

It was noted that in early 2017, Targeted Programmes established a directly-managed programme for LGBTIQ young people, provisionally branded as 'OUTreach LGBTIQ Programme'. This programme is currently delivered on a bi-weekly basis, and to date, seven young people had been engaged on a sustained basis. Targeted Programmes' Sexual Health and Wellbeing Programmes unit also deliver a range of sexual health and relationships education programmes for young people, which are commissioned by secondary schools, young people's centres, residential children's homes, and young adult hostels in the Borough. These programmes address issues relevant to all young people, have engaged over 850 service users since April 2017, and are delivered using 'sexual identity-neutral' language to avoid a presumption of heterosexuality and present LGBTIQ identities as being of equal validity with a range of sexual orientations. Members asked how many schools, youth clubs, or other outside bodies had been visited, and officers stated that this figure would be confirmed to the Committee following the meeting.

Responding to questioning from Members, officers confirmed that the youths targeted by the OUTreach programme were aged thirteen and above, but if issues in relation to sexual identity became an issue for those below that age, they could be engaged. The sexual health and wellbeing programmes were targeted at young people of secondary school-age, to ensure that it was developmentally and age appropriate. It was also confirmed that the interaction between young LGBTIQ people was a balancing act, as inclusiveness was welcomed but many preferred to attend groups for LGBTIQ youths only to improve their confidence, before engaging with other groups that include heterosexual youths. The programmes work to help develop individual capabilities, and confidence is very important to this.

It was noted that secondary school pupils would be more likely to come into contact with LGBTIQ youths, as pupils of this age move towards peer groups and better understand and recognise their sexual identities, often socialising with more like-minded people, but it was vital to ensure a culture of acceptance and normality around LGBTIQ issues. The Service Manager confirmed that, while society on the whole is now much more accepting of LGBTIQ people, there remained groups of young people who were socially excluded due to their sexual identities, and Targeted Programmes sought to offer them additional support to enable their social and economic inclusion.

The Committee commented that it was vital for positive affirmation at these programmes, and asked whether youths who engaged in homophobic behaviour or language were challenged within the targeted programmes. It was confirmed that this would be the case, and the youth groups were fostering a culture of 'respect', noting that there were signs at the youth clubs which informed anyone who engaged in abusive behaviour that they would not be able to remain at the group.

Councillors heard that in the autumn of 2017, the OUTreach programme offer will expand to a weekly session, to be delivered in accordance with consultation outcomes with current service users, and the OUTreach satellite programme at Uxbridge College will continue to be developed in partnership with the college Student Union. Target Programmes will develop its preventative education programme to offer a defined 'menu' of issues-based services for young people, and within this 'menu', a wider range or LGBTIQ-specific workshops will be created to specifically address Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic bullying.

The Committee agreed that it was vital to be more proactive talking about LGBT issues, and ensure that intolerance was not tolerated.

RESOLVED: That the witness evidence was noted, and the review progressed to its next stage.