Reaching Out: Older LGBT People

This ‘On Our Doorsteps’ project contributed to the University of Brighton’s (UoB) objectives of social engagement; complementing the School of Health Professions Healthy Eastbourne Project. The population of Eastbourne is approximately 90,000 of which 26% (23,400) are of pensionable age (www.eastbourne.gov.uk/eastbourne/). Stonewall estimates that the UK LGB population to vary between 5%-7% (www.stonewall.org.uk). This means that potentially 1,170 (5%)-1,638 (7%) retired people in Eastbourne are LGB. The number of people who are transgender is difficult to estimate because of reluctance to ‘come out’ to official surveys due to concerns of discrimination. Also for transgendered people the issue of who is being counted arises; those who have had surgery, transitioning or considering transition (East Sussex County Council – Adult Social Care: Assessment of the needs of LGBT people, 2011).

The project brought together the University of Brighton with local charitable and community groups and organisations to discuss issues of social exclusion and inclusion of older LGBT people living in and around Eastbourne. From these discussions plans for a further long term project have been developed which will train and support volunteers to befriend and support socially excluded and isolated older LGBT people.

The aim of the seed project was to promote an exchange between interested groups to discuss and promote learning for all partners about LGBT elder issues and devise a new community service which will tackle the isolation and loneliness of older LGBT citizens. This longer term project would provide volunteering opportunities for members of the local community and UoB staff and students through Active Student helping to establish long term relationships between university and community, contributing to building neighbourliness and the longevity of the longer term project.

The partnership promoted ‘neighbourliness’ by establishing an effective level of communication with UoB and community partners. Bringing UoB and community groups together to foster partner learning of the potential of each group, cultivate collaborative practice respectful of each partner’s expertise, and enable effective discussions and planning to take place. Together the partners joined resources to support each other and devised a longer term project to reach into the local community to provide contact and support for isolated and lonely elder LGBT citizens. We believe the seed project had a neighbourly focus in promoting community partnership towards a greater joint community goal, and that the longer term project will epitomize neighbourly and community partnership working for a disadvantaged group.

The project produced a needs assessment which highlighted the need for a be-friending service for older LGBT isolated and lonely people and gave authority to the groups aim.

There is now a plan for a be-friending service specific to older LGBT people, which has the potential to be useful to the community and sustainable because of the commitment of community partners engendered through engagement in the project.

This project helped develop a clear vision of what is need for the be-friending service, an idea of how the service could develop and be sustainable and also got people talking and working together who ordinarily would not have because of preconceptions about values and interests of others and the assumptions we all make.

Stronger links and networks between University and community have developed, which may lead to further collaboration and potential for research project development.