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Kairos in Soho (KiS) is a community development organisation. We extend notions of community development, such as relationship building, awareness raising, empowerment and sustainability, to our collaboration with other voluntary and community organisations. This is different to the role of formal infrastructure organisations and much needed in the present climate. This way of joint working is also critical in a sector working with LGBT organisations, which are few in number and chronically under-funded.
KiS also takes a community development approach to its policy and voice work. Work with individuals continually informs the knowledge building which then forms the foundation of influencing work with statutory and other bodies, for example the current My City Too Project - LGBT Health Equalities.
The key stages to KiS's increasing engagement with other LGBT organisations have been:
Link to:
Publication of the The PIP Report: Phase One LGBT Infrastructure Development Project - this is the first ever major study of the environment in which LGBT voluntary and community organisations operate, and formed the foundation for a grassroots approach to infrastructure development May 2007.
Order a hard copy of the report by contacting KiS here
INformed - INvolved - INvested: KiS gained funding from London Councils for a four year project to begin work on infrastructure development to: increase the influence of LGBT organisations and individuals on policy and London planning, in particular the work of Local Authorities in July 2008
Borough by Borough Analysis: In December 2009 KiS completed its review and analysis of London local authority websites in relation to their stated commitments on LGBT equality and engagement (pdf).
In Our Name: after a further year of development work and relationship building KiS has merged the IN project into a larger partnership project with London Friend, PACE and The Metro Centre (links to their sites). This is a five year project which aims to connect and motivate LGBT action in a way that has not been possible before now. The learning from PiP has enabled a dynamic and creative model of grassroots infrastructure development. For more information on the components of In Our Name (insert link for full details - these are attached below)
The In Our Name Project was launched by Debbie Pippard on 19 February 2010 at London Southbank University.
Full details of the launch event
My City Too - Health Equalities
KiS is currently working on a collaborative project to bring together LGBT people, organisations and statutory bodies to develop a flexible and holistic approach for tackling LGBT health inequalities in Westminster. The model will be used as a learning tool for other work developing around these issues.
The In Our Name Project
The In Our Name (ION) Infrastructure Project (2009-2014) is a London lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) project managed by Kairos in Soho and delivered in partnership with London Friend, PACE and the Metro Centre. The project aims to provide a unique infrastructure model developed within the community, so that diverse LGBT voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) are supported to better deliver their missions. The overriding philosophy of the project is to encourage organisations to reflect together on practice and experience and invest long-term in creating a more sustainable and nurturing environment for LGBT community action and LGBT people.
ION is comprised of the five components, outlined below.
The Learning Network - beginning June 2010
The aim of the Learning Network is to provide opportunities to learn about and inform the sector, to work together and to reflect on practice. This network will bring together officers, trustees and volunteers from LGBT VCOs, LGBT Forums and LGBT projects within mainstream services. Meetings will be held quarterly and will be developed around clear and themed priorities, have specific aims and be facilitated. The content will include issues identified by LGBT VCOs and LGBT Forums and could include contributions from LGBT VCO representatives, policy makers, funders and researchers.
The Almanac - available September 2010
The aim of the Almanac is to highlight statistical and strategic information about the LGBT sector so that LGBT VCOs and supportive funders and infrastructure can argue for better resources, and have access to information for planning and development. It will provide an annual snapshot of the state of the sector, including for example: income; funding sources; number of staff and volunteers; services provided and activities undertaken; examples of good practice; new policy developments and trends; and a focus on specific issues.
The Funding Network - beginning July 2010
The aim of the Funding Network is to provide a range of activities to influence the financial situation of LGBT VCOs.
The network will take up a strategic position to gather evidence and support the overall funding situation of the sector by consolidating expertise and developing joint initiatives to support the sector and influence funders. These meetings will be open to representatives of LGBT VCOs and LGBT Forums who have a specific funding and development role in their organisation.
The Thinking Network - beginning February 2011
The aim of the Thinking Network is to develop policy positions with LGBT VCOs so that the sector, policy makers, service providers, funders, infrastructure organisations and statutory bodies are better informed and better able to serve and support LGBT people. It will provide space and opportunity to explore specific issues which emerge from LGBT VCOs attending other meetings. A group of LGBT VCOs might, for example, wish to develop policy around issues specific to the service that they provide, or to address external policy developments which are adversely affecting LGBT VCOs and people. ION will offer facilitation and support around emerging issues. During the first year of the project staff will be gathering evidence to support the development of an appropriate network function in year two.
Innovation Hubs - beginning March 2011
The purpose of the Innovation Hubs is to enable small units, comprising LGBT VCOs, funders, and infrastructure organisations, to learn together and support each other. LGBT VCOs will be paid a consultancy fee for their time and expertise and will be able to identify their main priorities for development. Also, and importantly, funders and infrastructure agencies in the group will have an experience that enables them to improve the workings within their organisation in relation to LGBT equality. The funder will not have a funding role, and the infrastructure organisation will not have an explicit support role. All parties will participate in mentoring, knowledge development and learning.
The hubs will set their goals and meet a pre-agreed number of times. All meetings will be facilitated. As examples, LGBT VCOs have so far expressed an interest in working on: the intersection between disability and health in an LGBT context; and Management Committee development. Pilot hubs will be developed in preparation of the start date for this component of the project.
Borough-based Engagement
ION is a new project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, which has grown out of the London Councils funded IN Project. Some of the components have emerged from consultation and engagement that has been carried out during 2009 with LGBT VCOs. The IN project initially focused on a wider exploration of the policy context for LGBT VCOs and a summary of this work is now available from KiS:
The Borough by Borough Analysis of Local Authority Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Equalities Policies and Equalities Initiatives (2009, pdf)
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