According to Stonewall there are over 1.5 million LGBTQ+ people living in the UK and in article written for Stonewall in 2020, one in five LGBT people have experienced a hate crime or incident due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and one in three disabled people feel that disability prejudice is still commonplace.
Being both disabled and LGBT means there is a greater risk of discrimination and the reality of living with these identities means facing multiple barriers and adversity with their day-to-day lives.
Disability is one of those things that others rarely think about, many rarely seek out the first-hand experiences of disabled people and instead choose to discuss issues with those who are abled. If you or your cared for is part of the LGBT community it is important to remember to advocate for yourselves and ensure that your voices are heard.
Recognition at Carers Support West Sussex
Here at carers support we value diversity and inclusion. As a caring organisation, we aim to ensure that LGBTQ+ carers are treated with the same respect and dignity afforded to other carers.
We aim to create a safe and welcoming environment that supports and encourages LGBTQ+ Carers to ask for the help they might be missing. Furthermore, we want to ensure that support services are tailored to the LGBTQ+ community’s needs and that carers do not anticipate or experience stigma or discrimination. It is of the utmost importance to us that our carers stay connected and supported.
Pride in Care award
In 2022, Carers Support West Sussex (CSWS) became the first Carer organisation in the UK to earn the Pride in Care (PiC) quality standard in recognition of its commitment to continuously improve the quality of its care and support for LGBTQ+ people over 50 years old.
PiC is managed and awarded by Opening Doors (OD) – the largest organisation for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, non-binary or gender fluid (LGBTQ+) people in the UK – and is championed by Care England, with accompanying training endorsed by Skills for Care.
Some of the support available to you as a carer:
Support from your local council: Carer Assessments
Carers Health and well-being fund: Health and Well-being Fund
Counselling and call back service: Counselling
Carer response line and online support: Contact Us
We recognise that those with different backgrounds, skills, attitudes, and experiences can shape our organisation by contributing fresh ideas, valuable insights, and new perceptions. If you have ideas or suggestions for improving our work with LGBTQ+ carers, please get in touch – we are very keen to hear from you.
