June 2008

KiS announces Key Stakeholder Event to consult the LGBT voluntary and community sector about the LGBT Social Action Centre Feasibility Study

Have your say when it really matters

Do you want a London LGBT Social Action and Community Centre?

Key Stakeholder Consultation Event

Tuesday 1 July 2008 2pm to 5pm

Dear Colleague

You are warmly invited to attend a targeted consultation event for key LGBT voluntary and community organisations.

Book here or telephone 020 7437 6063

The event is likely to be over-subscribed and booking is essential.

BSL sign language interpretation will be provided.

Booking is essential Deadline for booking is Tuesday 24 June 2008

The event is being hosted by London South Bank University's Social Policy and Regeneration Research Institute (SPUR) - thank you.

More details about the event

Venue details including accessibility

Details of evening event here (hosted by the South Bank University Sexual Orientation Network)

June 2008

Kairos in Soho Friends Event 2008

KiS is pleased to announce its 2008 Friends Event, which we hope will be more energetic and creative than the last.

The Chair for the event is Anjum Mouj, Trainer and Consultant

We are delighted to announce that at the afternoon Conference Jackie Kay will be performing work about the notion of shared LGBT space. Renowned academic Anita Naoko-Pilgrim will explore the concept of identity, community and space, and Westminster City Council will present on the background to the project and their aspirations in funding a feasibility study for a London LGBT Social Action Centre.

In the evening we will be highlighting the work of the KiS Walking Tour and new developments to explore Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT history in Soho. We also have spoken word from Jackie Kay and two emerging young poets Dean Atta and Jay Bernard, followed by a short presentation about the Open House ‘My City Too – Young People’s Initiative’ – ‘Young Voices.’

The event is on Wednesday 30 July 2008 2pm to 5pm – food – 6pm to 9pm

The event will take place it two parts, with an Afternoon Conference and the Friends Celebration and Thank You in the evening.

Booking is essential - book here

Booking closes at 5pm on Friday 25 July 2008

Participants will need to identify whether they wish to attend in the afternoon, the evening, or both, on the booking form

Download the invitation/programme

Venue

 

 

February 2008

The development of the Feasibility Study begins.

Three years of KiS community consultation, beginning with the ‘Speak Out about Soho’ series, have consistently informed the content of the Soho Action Plan and ensured the inclusion of LGBT community aspirations. The final draft contains commitments from the Council to work with KiS and to fund a ground breaking study to explore the provision of an LGBT Community and Social Action Centre.

In January 2008 Westminster City Council formally launched its regeneration and civic renewal plans for Soho: the Soho Action Plan.

Since then KiS and the West End Team have been developing the process for the feasibility study through a series of interviews with organisations and stakeholders.

Have your say at a key stakeholder event in July 2008

Download the plan and press release from Westminster City Council

“The ambitious proposal by the local community – which could model itself on the famous San Francisco LGBT Center and could be the largest dedicated LGBT centre in the UK - is part of a wider Soho Action Plan launched by Westminster City Council this week (Jan15)” WCC Press Release.

In February 2008 Pink Paper voters voted 70% to 30% for a London LGBT Social Action Centre and Editor Tris Reid –Smith urged the community to back the scheme.

Read related articles here

The Study is likely to begin in January 2009 and take up to twelve months to complete. The process will be engaging and creative. If you wish to be kept informed about the project leave your details here links to KiS email address

January 2008

Kairos in Soho is awarded London Councils Funding

Kairos in Soho has been awarded £40,000 per year for four years to deliver a new project shortened to the ‘IN’.project, which in full stands for IN-terested – IN-volved – IN-vested. This is a four year policy and infrastructure project which builds directly on the findings of the Phase One LGBT Infrastructure Development Project. More details will be followed once the project starts mid-2008.

 

Vote HERE

June 2007

KiS has a long-term aspiration to develop a LGBT community and social action centre, in partnership, in Soho. We know this is a major challenge for the community for many different reasons.

In June 2007 The Westminster City Council Cabinet members formally approved the feasibility study for a LGBT Social Action Centre.

The lead member for Soho, Danny Chalkley said at the meeting: ‘we are very grateful to Shaftsbury Plc (property investment company) and Kairos in Soho for their support with this piece of work’.

The Soho Plan also prioritises future work with Kairos in Soho on LGBT community development issues, community confidence initiatives, increased community facilities and volunteering.

Your ideas matter

So click HERE to find out more
and register your support.

June 2007

The Equality Act 2007, which goes some way towards combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, came in to force on 30 April 2007.

A summary of what the law does and does not mean can be found on the website for the Department for Communities and Local Government HERE
www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510339

The full guidance can be found HERE
www.communities.gov.uk/pub/370/
GuidanceonnewmeasurestooutlawdiscriminationonthegroundsofsexualorientationPart3t_id1511370.doc

A copy of the Statutory Instrument Number 1263 can be obtained HERE
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20071263.htm

Implications and issues in relation to the trans community are dealt with comprehensively in the equality section of the Press for Change website HERE
www.pfc.org.uk

The government has committed to encompass the prohibition of discrimination against trans people in the provision of goods & services within the remit of the Single Equality Act, and as part of the role of the Commission on Equality & Human Rights, website HERE
www.Cehr.org.uk

June 2007

The Equality Act 2007, which goes some way towards combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, came in to force on 30 April 2007.

A summary of what the law does and does not mean can be found on the website for the Department for Communities and Local Government HERE
www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510339

The full guidance can be found HERE
www.communities.gov.uk/pub/370/
GuidanceonnewmeasurestooutlawdiscriminationonthegroundsofsexualorientationPart3t_id1511370.doc

A copy of the Statutory Instrument Number 1263 can be obtained HERE
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20071263.htm

Implications and issues in relation to the trans community are dealt with comprehensively in the equality section of the Press for Change website HERE
www.pfc.org.uk

The government has committed to encompass the prohibition of discrimination against trans people in the provision of goods & services within the remit of the Single Equality Act, and as part of the role of the Commission on Equality & Human Rights, website HERE
www.Cehr.org.uk

The KiS Friends Event 2006 took place on
the evening of 4 July 2006

Despite 90 degree heat and a competing World Cup Semi-final (!) sixty people attended the event and worked together to develop a set of shared values and aspirations for a LGBT Centre.

These will appear on the website shortly, along with photographs and feedback.

The "My Soho" project

Artwork and photographs were displayed around the room was from a creative arts workshop entitled "My Soho".

It's a mixed-media sculpture/collage created by a number of artists (some with no formal training) from within the Kairos in Soho constituency (service users, facilitators, staff and trustees) as part of the project.

This sculpture is available for hire,
     contact us for further details

Home

A 'home' was created using the photographs, creative writing and digital art that emerged from a workshop embracing the 300 year relationship that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community has had with Soho.

Providing a different look at the area of Soho and it's link to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community, the work metaphorically plays with the fact that Soho has become the most visited 'home' to the LGBT Community in the UK and indeed one of the largest 'homes' internationally.

The 'living room' contains a rich tapestry of Soho, the depth of which requires effort and endeavor to properly discover, mirroring the LGBT Community.

Old Compton Street alone is a myriad of experiences that could be glanced and missed.

Visitors were invited to 'Look again', if what you see is a collection of photographs.

The photograph of the caged glitter balls tells a story of a long oppression alluding to past jail sentences.

The quote - "Many men with muscles, Alas no women" - alas is self explanatory.

The brown suede shoe symbolizes the lost story of men constrained into clandestine meetings.

The two men hugging with the text "No: It is the boring ordinary joys we seek" says it all.

Special thanks for the "My Soho" project go to all those who took part!

Creative writing was also performed to the quiet delight of a captive audience.

[ Read the programme of events here ]