Broken Rainbow is the only UK-wide domestic violence service offering confidential support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. In addition to our helpline (see number below) we work to raise awareness around the devastating impact domestic violence can have on victims’ lives, by providing training and support to generic domestic violence agencies and others.
Broken Rainbow is keen to build links with individuals and organisations throughout the UK, so get in touch if you think we can help you in any way.
Contact:
Website - www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Administration - 08452 60 55 60
e-mail - mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
HELPLINE: 08452 60 44 60
Opening times: Monday 2-8pm, Wednesday 10-1pm, Thursday 2-8pm
Domestic abuse affects around one in four LGBT people in the UK. It is not always physical; it can take many forms including emotional, financial and sexual abuse. It can include controlling a person’s contact with family and friends, withholding affection, isolation and verbal threats.
IN AN EMERGENCY: CALL 999
This week ended with a trip to sunny Margate where we shared a stall at Thanet Pride with our colleagues from Unison South East LGBT Committee. We are doing 4 Prides altogether with Unison over the summer – Oxford, Reading and of course the biggy next week at Brighton.
Thanet Pride was a small affair. The sun shined brightly, the day trippers were out in force on the beach and a dedicated team of the North Kent LGBT community were working hard on their second Pride event. We were pitched near the main stage and had a good view of the entertainment including the “Boy George experience”. I overheard one young lady telling her boyfriend that it definitely was him and that she was staying to watch. He didn’t look too happy - obviously not a Boy George fan or was it that he wasn’t comfortable being surrounded by a large number of rainbow bedecked individuals singing along to all the hit numbers! You decide?
Although we made a few contacts and had a number of conversations with people who had experienced domestic violence, the numbers who visited our stall were not high. Having said that it is important that national organisations support local groups in their efforts to put on prides and celebrate our sexuality – so hopefully there will be more people there next year and more national organisations having stalls.
Before I ventured to the seaside, we had spent the previous two days interviewing for our two vacancies. I was delighted with the standard of the candidates and feel we have found two excellent individuals to be our Helpline Operations Co-ordinator and our Training & Marketing consultant. They will hopefully be in place in September and I am looking forward to welcoming them to the team.
I am at present sitting in North Devon enjoying a couple of days rest away from work at the timeshare holiday retreat of my significant other! Sadly the sun which we all enjoyed at the weekend, left North Devon the moment I arrived and it has been overcast and rainy ever since. Oh well the place has got a nice indoor swimming pool to enjoy.
On Saturday it is of course Brighton Pride - large numbers as ever expected and the weather forecast is good. This is one of the biggest LGBT events in the calendar and we hope to make many contacts and get our message out to many people in our community about the existence of the domestic violence within same sex relationships and equally importantly the help that is available out there for victims and survivors through our national LGBT domestic violence helpline (08452 604460). Do come and visit us at the stall and please let me know what you think of the website and the blog.
So it is almost August…hopefully the sun will return, if you are going to Brighton, come and see us, have fun, be safe, enjoy and be proud of who you are.
