Broken Rainbow News
Currently working or living in London? Are you experiencing any form of domestic violence from an intimate partner or family member?
What is Domestic Violence?
We define domestic violence as:
“any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”
Domestic violence can take many forms:
You may be in a civil partnership/living together or separated (recently or some time ago). You may have been in a relationship for a short time or for many years. You may be being abused by a member of your family.
There is a new fast track service available.
The London LGBT Domestic Abuse Project (DAP for short) consists of 5 LGBT agencies with their own specialist workers. Broken Rainbow, Galop, London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, PACE and Stonewall Housing are working together to provide specialist support services for lesbian, Gay, bisexual and trans people who have experienced domestic violence.
How we help?
The Broken Rainbow DAP telephone service is open on Thursdays 10.30am – 1.30pm and is run by LGBT people for LGBT people. Trained staff who have an understanding of sexual and gender identities of LGBT people and the impact of domestic violence are available, and we can:
Opening times: Thursday 10.30 – 1.30pm
0300 0110 DAP (327)
After hours call London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard 0207 837 7324 and ask to be referred to the domestic abuse project (DAP)
(0300 calls are the same price to ring as 01/02 landline numbers and are included as part of any inclusive call minutes)
Broken rainbow's logo
Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK) is the UK charity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people experiencing domestic violence.
P/T Helpline Operations Co-ordinator
£22,693 – 26,739 (inc ILW)
(up to 21hrs p/week pro rata – review pending)
We need a dynamic individual to co-ordinate the smooth running and ongoing development of our national LGBT domestic violence helpline. Split between Broken Rainbow Office (SE16) and Helpline Base (London).
The successful applicant will ideally have experience of running a helpline, domestic violence work, supporting helpline staff, experience in the LGBT sector and confidently represent the organisation. This post requires the
applicants to positively identify as an LGBT person*.
For more information, job specification and how to apply please see our website
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Closing date for applications Sunday 19th June 2009
Interviews will be on Wednesday 24th June 2009
If you would like to talk about the role please contact us on mail at brokenrainbow.
org.uk
*A genuine occupational requirement applies to the post under the Employment Equality (Sexual
Orientation) Regulations 2003
Hello all.
The hunt for volunteers for our joint stall with UNISON at Reading, Margate, Oxford, Brighton and Thanet; and our Broken Rainbow London stall, went so very well that we thought, “why don’t we see if we can get more people together for some of the other UK pride events?”
We have a fantastic Pride coordinator, James, gathering all of the information so we can make this an even bigger year for raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) domestic violence.
If you’d like to help out then please see our facebook group for more details.
Look at the EVENTS and you will see approx 30 UK Prides. If you can help out then contact our admin, James (details on Facebook)
For immediate release
Domestic Violence continues to be on the national agenda as the rate of victimisation is so devastating. The levels of abuse to heterosexual women are 1 in 4 – the same figure experienced by LGBT people.
“Domestic violence is still invisible in our communities,” says Rita Hirani, CEO of Broken Rainbow, funded by the Home Office to run the national LGBT domestic violence helpline.
“Limited research in terms of domestic violence and abuse amongst transgendered people suggests the figure may even be higher,” adds Denise Anderson from Spectrum London, a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender.
In previous research carried out by Brighton’s Spectrum LGBT Forums Count Me In Too project, along with Press For Change’s research in their Endangered Penalties report, it was shown that an alarming figure of 64% of Trans people had experienced Domestic Violence at some time.
“This is a large percentage of transgendered people, one that when presented to various organisations brings looks of surprise and alarm, because many have not encountered transgendered people contacting them for assistance,” says Denise.
With this in mind Spectrum London along with Broken Rainbow feel it is time to revisit this subject, consulting Transgendered people, investigating if these levels are more indicative of a wider audience nationally. The survey hopes to confirm previous research, and raise awareness to agencies and service providers of the issues surrounding domestic violence in the transgendered communities.
“With increased awareness of these issues to support organisations, we hope transgendered people will feel more comfortable to be able to report issues of a domestic violence nature, knowing support is available,” says Denise.
The Online survey can be found here: http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1012451
The survey will be open from 1st June 2009 until the 1st September 2009. We will then collate the information and will be presenting the findings from early October.
Please can you share this survey with as many organisations as possible within the LGBT community and beyond so that the message can be spread far and wide to transgendered people in the UK.
END
Editor’s Notes:
Spectrum London is a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender.
http://www.spectrumlondon.org.uk/
Broken Rainbow is a registered charity in the UK, number: 1103624
http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Broken Rainbow run the national LGBT helpline on 0300 999 LGBT (5428) on Monday 2-8pm, Wed 10-1pm, and Thursday 2-8pm.
Research:
Women’s Aid: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-articles.asp?section=00010001002200410001&itemid=1280&itemTitle=Statistics%3A+how+common+is+domestic+violence
Spectrum LGBT Forum Brighton’s Count Me In Too: http://www.spectrum-lgbt.org/cmiToo/downloads/
Press for Change Report: http://www.pfc.org.uk/files/EngenderedPenalties.pdf
We are looking for volunteers for some of the Pride events we are going to. Now, at these events we will be sharing stalls with UNISON South Eastern Region, so it will be good fun and you’ll get to meet some great people (at pride, from the other stalls – but espeically from ours because we are pretty awesome 
Why do you need people? Because with the best will in the world we physically can not attend every event (although we try).
Why is it important you go to so many? We get to raise awareness of LGBT domestic violence and the services Broken Rainbow offer simply by having a stall in the community area. It’s important to us and the people who may need help that they know there is somewhere to turn.
Where do you need volunteers?
Oxford – 6th June
London – 4th July
Margate/Thanet – 18th July
Brighton – 1st August
Reading – 5th September
What will I need to do? We’ll give you a tee shirt and UNISON will have the stall with our leaflets on. This means you need to turn up with a smile and a great attitude, and having spoken to a lot of you I know that won’t be difficult.
But I don’t know a lot about LGBT DV! That’s okay. Our Chair of trustees has volunteered to put a pack together with all the info you may need on the day. Remember, UNISON will be there and we work very closely with them. Also, BR staff/trustees will also be in attendance at a couple of the events.
If it sounds like something that interests you then you can contact us through facebook, or by e-mailing our office:
mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you
Want to make a difference to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic violence? You may know we have helpline volunteer vacancies, but we’re also looking for more trustees.
What is a trustee, you might ask? Do-it.org describes it best so forgive me for nabbing their words:
Charity trustees are the people legally responsible for the overall management and decision-making in a charity. Other than in exceptional circumstances, trustees are volunteers.
What do trustees do?
Trustees are responsible for the direction and performance of their charity.
Who can be a trustee?
No-one under the age of 18 can be appointed as a trustee, and some people are disqualified by law from acting as charity trustees. This includes:
- anyone who has been convicted of an offence involving deception or dishonesty, unless the conviction is spent
- anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt
- anyone who has previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the court or the Charity Commissioners
- anyone who is under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
Here are some Broken Rainbow specifics:
- we’re a LGBT organisation so you need to positively identify as LGBT.
- we’re UK based and would love to have trustees from areas such as Wales, Scotland, NI – and also rural regions.
- we’re especially looking for a treasurer.
Sounds interesting? Want more information?
You can look at our site for more info: www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
You can also get the trustee application forms here:
Trustee role description: http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/JobDescriptionTrustees.doc
Trustee application form: http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/ApplicationFormTrustee.doc
We are holding trustee interviews on the 2nd June so grab a form and whizz it back to the office: mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
Thanks!
Do you deal with domestic violence in your job? Does your company/charity/service provider?
We’d love to hear from you in our super short, super important survey on service provider’s knowledge of LGBT DV.
Five questions. 5 minutes.
85% of you have responded with a no.
Have your say on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans domestic violence: http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/polls.html
Do you have 3 hrs per month spare? Do you want to volunteer for a well known lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans charity?
Helpline Workers (Voluntary)
1 in 4 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people will experience domestic violence. Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK) provides a helpline service to all LGBT people, their family and friends around the issue of domestic violence.
We provide signposting, referals, information and active listening – or we listen with a non-judgmental ear.
During hard economic times, we receive increased numbers of calls from people in need and so we need more helpline volunteers to provide this much needed service to our communities.
We are looking for volunteers who can give some time to support callers. You will be a good communicator who is calm and non judgemental. This post requires the applicants to positively identify as an LGBT person.
Currently we are looking to increase cover on:
Mondays & Thursdays 2pm to 5pm
Mondays & Thursdays 5pm to 8pm
Wednesdays 10am to 1pm.
Please E-mail CV (max 2 A4 pages), with an outline of your suitability and stating why you wish to volunteer and join us.
mail@broken-rainbow.org.uk
If you can’t volunteer but have a mailing list , then we’d be grateful if you could pass this volunteering opportunity on for us. We have a specially prepared PDF or you can copy and paste the above text.
http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/br%20recruit%20helpline2.pdf
Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Training
Date: 2nd June 2009.
Time: 10am – 4pm
Price: £89 per person
Address: Broken Rainbow,J414, Tower Bridge Business Complex, 100 Clements Rd, London, SE16 4DG (free parking)
Details:
LGBT & DV issues: Survivor and Perpetrator Awareness
We examine how the power and control theories manifest differently in LGBT communities, look at case studies, cultural contexts, and misconceptions. The program also explores the concerns for professionals when working with LGBT survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence.
Aim:
The aim of this course is to provide participants with a firm grounding in domestic violence issues within the context of LGBT relationships. On completion of the course candidates will be able to identify patterns of abusive behaviour, distinguish patterns and support for survivor and perpetrator, have an increased awareness of the impact of stereotypes, and improve practice with Broken Rainbow endorsed risk assessment and safety planning.
Objectives:
A range of learning methods will be used in a workshop setting to increase awareness of LGBT DV issues.
Training Outcomes
On completion participants will be able to:
• Define same sex domestic violence
• Recognise abusive behaviour
• Recognise abusive patterns within a LGBT cultural context
• Identify risk factors
• Demonstrate an understanding of the cycle of violence
• Carry out individual risk assessment
• Support survivors
• Address perpetrator/s issues appropriately
Booking forms and more info: http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/offer.html
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