Whoo Cares is a community interest company working to support those on the Hoo Peninsula, with the overarching aim of reducing social isolation. Since 2015 we have been working towards this using a person-centred model of support for both vulnerable people and their carers.
We understand that the lives and circumstances of each of our Partners (beneficiaries) are unique, this is why we utilise a personalised Life Plan as the basis of our support. The Life Plan, developed with one of our Community Life Planning Coordinators, works to identify practical steps and supports that will make a real, positive difference to an individuals life. Support offered is highly variable, ranging from a weekly chat and cuppa or regular phone call, through to help getting to a local coffee morning, club/ group, GP or Hospital appointment. Our in person befriending has also proved valuable to carers, providing an hour or so of respite.
Currently our services look slightly different to comply with social distancing measures – however, we our doors remain firmly open for anyone in need!
UNISON is the UK’s largest union, serving more than 1.3 million members. We represent full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors. We represent members, negotiate and bargain on their behalf, campaign for better working conditions and pay and for public services. And more besides.
A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. Trade unions bargain for better pay and conditions and provide assistance and services to their members.
Representing our members is a key part of UNISON’s work. Our reps form the vital links between members and the union as a whole and are volunteers, trained by UNISON to support members at work.
Campaigning is a vital part of our work. It is one method we use to raise awareness of issues, fight for employment rights and gather support for local, national and international issues. One of UNISON’s main aims is to help workers fight for fairness and equality in the workplace and beyond. Challenging discrimination and winning equality is at the heart of everything UNISON does.
UNISON fights discrimination and prejudice in the workplace on behalf of its LGBT+ members. We work together in local and national groups of LGBT+ members to campaign and provide support for our members. We do this by building local and national groups of LGBT+ members, negotiating with employers an offering individual support to anyone experiencing discrimination.
The South East region has a very active LGBT+ committee; we meet throughout the year to discuss campaigns and issues affecting our members. The committee are great supporters of many local pride events across the region and are delighted to be sponsoring Medway and Gravesham for the first (but hopefully not last) time!
UNISON Q&A Session: LGBT+ Rights and Community & Workplace Organisation
UNISON is the country’s largest trade union, with over 1.3 million members. We represent people in the public sector, including those in the NHS, schools, local government, utilities, probation, social care and more besides. The union is divided into 12 separate regions under a national body, including here in the South East, where we have over 100,000 members!
Please join Lucy Power and Patrick Young for a special Q&A session. We’re here to discuss a range of issues including discrimination or bullying by colleagues, how to make sure that the voices of the LGBT+ community are heard in the workplace, how we support a range of LGBT+ charities and organisations, and any other questions or topics you may have for us!
Lucy Power
Lucy Power works for Kent Police, and is a member of UNISON’s South East and National LGBT+ Committees, and LGBT+ Representative on both the Regional Women’s Committee and the Regional Police & Justice Service Group.
Patrick Young is an Area Organiser for UNISON South East and Regional Co-Lead for our LGBT+ Self Organised Group. He works to support a number of local government, health, and police and justice branches across the south, and is also the Regional Social Care Lead.
See you there!
Pride month – during a pandemic
June usually represents a time when we come together to celebrate Pride in a spirit of love, acceptance and inclusion; a time when we honour the memory of the original Stonewall activists and organise to face the challenges still ahead.
Sadly, the devastating effects of the coronavirus have meant the cancellation of over one hundred Pride events across the UK, depriving the LGBT+ community of much needed social contact.
MGSD Centre with support from the Test Bed Fund are starting three new befriending & support services for the LGBP Community. These services will initially be virtual support groups but will eventually if the members wish develop into meeting both virtually and face to face for those who wish to.
Please email us if you are intrested in joining any of the groups below
A Lesbian Befrending support group
A Bisexual & Panseuxal Befrending and support group
A Gay Men befrending and support group
If you are intrested in any of these new groups please contact us at
The South East Gender Initiative was formed in October 2011 by members of the LGBTQI+ community who formed the management committee. SEGI is a Constituted Not For Profit Community Group who manage the Medway Gender & Sexual Divesity Centre (MGSDC) which is based in Rochester, Medway, Kent. The members of our management committee come from a diverse background and have direct experience being part of, and/or working with, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, trans/non-binary, gender diverse, gender non-conforming people and people with gender incongruance, people who have or are undergoing gender reassignment, people who are questioning their gender or sexual identity.
We work with partners providing health promotion programs for LGBT people, deliver trans awareness training to organisations i.e. Kent Police, NHS Trusts, Social Care Providers, Counsellors and other health professionals and providers of health and wellbeing services.
MGSD Centre Services
The South East Gender Initiative (SEGI) project Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre (MGSDC) provides a place where LGBTQI+ people their families and friends can meet in a safe environment to enable them to receive peer support, education, training, advice, and information, signposting opportunities for service users to access services with partnership organisations and other service providers.
SEGI / MGSDC also provides a resource to other organisations, public bodies and private companies to enable them to understand the needs of the Transgender / Non-binary & Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual community in Medway, Kent and the South East of England.
Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) evolved out of the North West Kent Racial Equality Council and came into being in April 2010.
We work in partnership across Kent with both the voluntary and statutory sector to promote community cohesion and to eliminate discrimination. We currently have partnership arrangements with Kent County Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council, Gravesham Citizens Advice North & West Kent, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and Kent Police.
Cohesion + St Georges Day
We provide free advice and support around a range of diversity issues relating to Race, Faith, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender and Age. Our service is fully confidential. We are also specialists in community development, community outreach and community cohesion work across the County of Kent and provide training and policy development as and when required across both the voluntary and statutory sector.
SHOWCASE – Providing affordable space to exhibit in Chatham & Rochester
SUPPORT – Promoting access to the Arts for over 15 years throughout Medway & Kent
Nucleus Arts is the Award Winning flagship arts organisation founded by the Halpern Charitable Foundation. The Foundation was the brainchild of the late Hilary Halpern and it was his dream to promote the Arts in Medway and Kent. Nucleus Arts has become the cultural and creative heart of Kent & Medway over the past 15 years (founded in 2002) and focuses on affordability, accessibility and excellence in the Arts.
Featuring a wide variety of works by local artists, Nucleus Arts aims to prove that beautiful, original and unique works of art can be both attainable and affordable, whilst at the same time providing low-cost studio space to artists in order to enable them to be able to practice their Art.
Now in our 15th year, Nucleus Arts has sites in Chatham where artists can create and display their work. Open to the public (and free to enter), constantly updated, the Nucleus showrooms are a haven for local art lovers and a wonderful retreat for those who want a little something different from their shopping trip.
Remnants HC is still the only openly gay women’s hockey club in London – maybe in the UK! Remnants HC is a friendly club which welcomes gay, bi and straight women alike.
We welcome all hockey abilities from, “I’ve never even held a stick,” to, “I used to play at school,” and even “I’m world-class and looking for a fun new club.” We don’t discriminate!
Many of our club members are also here for our social scene, meeting new friends whilst getting fitter. Our members mostly come from south-east London and Kent so we can usually organise transport for those who need it. So get in touch and we look forward to welcoming you to our club.
The season runs from September to April. In the summer months we often play Rush Hockey and this year, we also took part in the first London Pride cup organised by London Royals HC in June 2018. Many of our members also take part in other sports events, like Pride 10K, Park run, London Marathon…
Off the hockey pitch, we also have a number of social events like escape room nights, swingers golf club, cocktail nights, London pride, country walks… In the summer, we also run Rush Hockey sessions every two weeks. Keep an eye on the calendar for events during the new season.
We play our games in the Kent league on Saturdays from September to March. When we play at home, our games take place at Colfe’s School at 12:00 or 10:30. We play teams all over Kent, from Dartford, Sevenoaks, Marden, Blackheath or Faversham. Feel free to come and along and cheer.
On Tuesday nights we train at Colfe’s school from 7pm and there are also a number of indoor rush hockey session during the winter.
Coop Store SO 04 06. 4 Wainscott Road, Wainscott, Rochester, ME2 4L,
Happy Pride to Gravesham & Medway Virtual Pride today. Having to celebrate with online events as their main event was cancelled due to Covid19. #ItsWhatWeDo #Beingcoop
Local causes Fourth Reserve In 2019 we delivered £17m to over 4,000 local causes, thanks to our members.
When Co-op members shop with us, 1% of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through our Local Community Fund. Members can choose a local cause that they want their 1% to support.
Are you good with people and passionate about helping others? Could you be #MoreThanTheBadge?
The role of a police constable can be demanding but it’s that variety which makes it one of the most rewarding jobs around. Every day presents a new challenge and you’ll deal with different situations to make sure public order is maintained, at all times.
You’ll be responsible for protection of life and property as well as prevention and detection of crime. Working as part of a close team, you’ll help to serve and protect the diverse communities and businesses of Kent.
Join #TeamKent as a police officer and you’ll receive a starting salary of £25,582, rising to £42,128 within your first 7 years.
Note: these figures include a yearly £2,500 South East allowance. As of April 1 2020, the allowance has increased to £2,500 and the starting salary is £25,582.
Join Gravesham & Medway Pride 2020 wherever you are during August 2020 via any internet enabled device. You will be able to access the event via our web sites,
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoPrivacy policy
You can revoke your consent any time using the Revoke consent button.Revoke consent
Last Updated: 13/08/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
wHoo Cares
Whoo Cares is a community interest company working to support those on the Hoo Peninsula, with the overarching aim of reducing social isolation. Since 2015 we have been working towards this using a person-centred model of support for both vulnerable people and their carers.
We understand that the lives and circumstances of each of our Partners (beneficiaries) are unique, this is why we utilise a personalised Life Plan as the basis of our support. The Life Plan, developed with one of our Community Life Planning Coordinators, works to identify practical steps and supports that will make a real, positive difference to an individuals life. Support offered is highly variable, ranging from a weekly chat and cuppa or regular phone call, through to help getting to a local coffee morning, club/ group, GP or Hospital appointment. Our in person befriending has also proved valuable to carers, providing an hour or so of respite.
Currently our services look slightly different to comply with social distancing measures – however, we our doors remain firmly open for anyone in need!
Michelle Trumper
07584 285016 / 01634 272138
Community Engagement Officer
wHoo Cares (Hoo Peninsula Cares CIC)
www.whoocares.org.uk
www.facebook.com/whoocarescic
www.twitter.com/whoocarescic
co*******@***********rg.uk
Last Updated: 20/06/2022 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
UNISON LGBT+ Pride
: https://www.unison.org.uk/
UNISON is the UK’s largest union, serving more than 1.3 million members. We represent full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors. We represent members, negotiate and bargain on their behalf, campaign for better working conditions and pay and for public services. And more besides.
A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. Trade unions bargain for better pay and conditions and provide assistance and services to their members.
Representing our members is a key part of UNISON’s work. Our reps form the vital links between members and the union as a whole and are volunteers, trained by UNISON to support members at work.
Campaigning is a vital part of our work. It is one method we use to raise awareness of issues, fight for employment rights and gather support for local, national and international issues. One of UNISON’s main aims is to help workers fight for fairness and equality in the workplace and beyond. Challenging discrimination and winning equality is at the heart of everything UNISON does.
UNISON fights discrimination and prejudice in the workplace on behalf of its LGBT+ members. We work together in local and national groups of LGBT+ members to campaign and provide support for our members. We do this by building local and national groups of LGBT+ members, negotiating with employers an offering individual support to anyone experiencing discrimination.
The South East region has a very active LGBT+ committee; we meet throughout the year to discuss campaigns and issues affecting our members. The committee are great supporters of many local pride events across the region and are delighted to be sponsoring Medway and Gravesham for the first (but hopefully not last) time!
______________________________________________________________________________
Solent Gay Men’s Chorus
We are delighted to present two special videos from our friends at Solent Gay Men’s Chorus, many of whom are UNISON members!
For more information please see their website here: https://www.sgmc.org.uk
UNISON Q&A Session: LGBT+ Rights and Community & Workplace Organisation
UNISON is the country’s largest trade union, with over 1.3 million members. We represent people in the public sector, including those in the NHS, schools, local government, utilities, probation, social care and more besides. The union is divided into 12 separate regions under a national body, including here in the South East, where we have over 100,000 members!
Please join Lucy Power and Patrick Young for a special Q&A session. We’re here to discuss a range of issues including discrimination or bullying by colleagues, how to make sure that the voices of the LGBT+ community are heard in the workplace, how we support a range of LGBT+ charities and organisations, and any other questions or topics you may have for us!
Lucy Power works for Kent Police, and is a member of UNISON’s South East and National LGBT+ Committees, and LGBT+ Representative on both the Regional Women’s Committee and the Regional Police & Justice Service Group.
Patrick Young is an Area Organiser for UNISON South East and Regional Co-Lead for our LGBT+ Self Organised Group. He works to support a number of local government, health, and police and justice branches across the south, and is also the Regional Social Care Lead.
See you there!
Pride month – during a pandemic
June usually represents a time when we come together to celebrate Pride in a spirit of love, acceptance and inclusion; a time when we honour the memory of the original Stonewall activists and organise to face the challenges still ahead.
Sadly, the devastating effects of the coronavirus have meant the cancellation of over one hundred Pride events across the UK, depriving the LGBT+ community of much needed social contact.
Read more here Pride Month During a Pandemic
Please find links for more information from Unison below
Out in UNISON – Our regular newsletter for LGBT+ Members in UNISON
UNISON Guide to Tackling Bullying At Work
Race and Sex Discrimination: A Practical UNISON Guide To Identifying Unlawful Discrimination
How to be a Good Bi+ Ally to People at Work
Gender Identity: An Introductory Guide for Trade Union Reps Supporting Trans Members
Isle of Wight UNISON Support Trans Rights
How to be a Good Ally to Trans People At Work
Trans? Leaflet
Why the Gender Recognition Act Needs Reform
UNISON Intersex Equality Leaflet
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Workers Rights
LGBT+ Working Abroad (attached above)
UNISON LGBT+ Members – How to Get Involved
Sponsor Stall
UNISON LGBT+ Members Page
Equality and Diversity: A Trade Union Priority
Organising for Equality: UNISON Guidelines on self-organisation
Tackling Hate Crime & Hate Incidents: A Workplace Issue
Harassment at Work: A Trade Union Guide
LGBT+ Workforce Modelling
Last Updated: 22/07/2022 by Hilary Cooke 1 Comment
MGSD Centre
New Services for 2020
MGSD Centre with support from the Test Bed Fund are starting three new befriending & support services for the LGBP Community. These services will initially be virtual support groups but will eventually if the members wish develop into meeting both virtually and face to face for those who wish to.
Please email us if you are intrested in joining any of the groups below
A Lesbian Befrending support group
A Bisexual & Panseuxal Befrending and support group
A Gay Men befrending and support group
If you are intrested in any of these new groups please contact us at
in**@*********re.org
www.mgsd-centre.org
South East Gender Initiative
The South East Gender Initiative was formed in October 2011 by members of the LGBTQI+ community who formed the management committee. SEGI is a Constituted Not For Profit Community Group who manage the Medway Gender & Sexual Divesity Centre (MGSDC) which is based in Rochester, Medway, Kent. The members of our management committee come from a diverse background and have direct experience being part of, and/or working with, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, trans/non-binary, gender diverse, gender non-conforming people and people with gender incongruance, people who have or are undergoing gender reassignment, people who are questioning their gender or sexual identity.
We work with partners providing health promotion programs for LGBT people, deliver trans awareness training to organisations i.e. Kent Police, NHS Trusts, Social Care Providers, Counsellors and other health professionals and providers of health and wellbeing services.
MGSD Centre Services
The South East Gender Initiative (SEGI) project Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre (MGSDC) provides a place where LGBTQI+ people their families and friends can meet in a safe environment to enable them to receive peer support, education, training, advice, and information, signposting opportunities for service users to access services with partnership organisations and other service providers.
http://www.mgsd-centre.com/segi-youth-group/
http://www.mgsd-centre.com/mgsd-centre.org/segi-drop-in/
http://www.mgsd-centre.com/mgsd-centre.org/segi-pac-group/
http://www.mgsd-centre.com/mgsd-centre.org/counselling/
SEGI / MGSDC also provides a resource to other organisations, public bodies and private companies to enable them to understand the needs of the
Transgender / Non-binary & Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual community in Medway, Kent and the South East of England.
http://www.mgsd-centre.com/mgsd-centre.org/contact/
Last Updated: 20/06/2022 by Hilary Cooke 1 Comment
Cohesion +
Kent Equality Cohesion Council
Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) evolved out of the North West Kent Racial Equality Council and came into being in April 2010.
We work in partnership across Kent with both the voluntary and statutory sector to promote community cohesion and to eliminate discrimination. We currently have partnership arrangements with Kent County Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council, Gravesham Citizens Advice North & West Kent, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and Kent Police.
We provide free advice and support around a range of diversity issues relating to Race, Faith, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Gender and Age. Our service is fully confidential. We are also specialists in community development, community outreach and community cohesion work across the County of Kent and provide training and policy development as and when required across both the voluntary and statutory sector.
For moe information see http://www.kentecc.org.uk/
Contact Us
Kent Equality Cohesion Council
Basement, 8 Wrotham Rd,
Gravesend
Kent DA11 0PA
Tel: 01474 369329
in**@*********rg.uk
Last Updated: 07/08/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Much Laughter
WHAT WE DO
Much Laughter specialises in Charity Comedy Nights, running monthly gigs to raise money for local charities and non-profit organisations.
With new talent cropping up all the time, we also run preview and work-in-progress shows.
Much Laughter are on hand to arrange Charity Comedy Nights in Medway and surrounding areas to suit all budgets.
In the future, we are planning to open a stand-up workshop to help vulnerable children and young adults grow in confidence.
For more information visit https://muchlaughter.co.uk/
Last Updated: 07/08/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Nucleus Arts
CHAMPIONING CREATIVITY TO ENHANCE PEOPLE LIVES.
INSPIRE – Affordable, dynamic and innovative space to create, showcase and retail
CREATE – Inspiring creativity, encouraging diversity, creating inclusivity
SHOWCASE – Providing affordable space to exhibit in Chatham & Rochester
SUPPORT – Promoting access to the Arts for over 15 years throughout Medway & Kent
Nucleus Arts is the Award Winning flagship arts organisation founded by the Halpern Charitable Foundation. The Foundation was the brainchild of the late Hilary Halpern and it was his dream to promote the Arts in Medway and Kent. Nucleus Arts has become the cultural and creative heart of Kent & Medway over the past 15 years (founded in 2002) and focuses on affordability, accessibility and excellence in the Arts.
Featuring a wide variety of works by local artists, Nucleus Arts aims to prove that beautiful, original and unique works of art can be both attainable and affordable, whilst at the same time providing low-cost studio space to artists in order to enable them to be able to practice their Art.
Now in our 15th year, Nucleus Arts has sites in Chatham where artists can create and display their work. Open to the public (and free to enter), constantly updated, the Nucleus showrooms are a haven for local art lovers and a wonderful retreat for those who want a little something different from their shopping trip.
For more information visit https://www.nucleusarts.com/
or******@************co.uk
01634 812 108
Last Updated: 20/06/2022 by Hilary Cooke 1 Comment
Remnants Hockey
REMNANTS HOCKEY CLUBS
Remnants HC is still the only openly gay women’s hockey club in London – maybe in the UK! Remnants HC is a friendly club which welcomes gay, bi and straight women alike.
We welcome all hockey abilities from, “I’ve never even held a stick,” to, “I used to play at school,” and even “I’m world-class and looking for a fun new club.” We don’t discriminate!
Many of our club members are also here for our social scene, meeting new friends whilst getting fitter. Our members mostly come from south-east London and Kent so we can usually organise transport for those who need it. So get in touch and we look forward to welcoming you to our club.
The season runs from September to April. In the summer months we often play Rush Hockey and this year, we also took part in the first London Pride cup organised by London Royals HC in June 2018. Many of our members also take part in other sports events, like Pride 10K, Park run, London Marathon…
Off the hockey pitch, we also have a number of social events like escape room nights, swingers golf club, cocktail nights, London pride, country walks… In the summer, we also run Rush Hockey sessions every two weeks. Keep an eye on the calendar for events during the new season.
We play our games in the Kent league on Saturdays from September to March. When we play at home, our games take place at Colfe’s School at 12:00 or 10:30. We play teams all over Kent, from Dartford, Sevenoaks, Marden, Blackheath or Faversham. Feel free to come and along and cheer.
On Tuesday nights we train at Colfe’s school from 7pm and there are also a number of indoor rush hockey session during the winter.
For more informations visit https://www.remnantshockey.org.uk/
Last Updated: 07/08/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Coop Pride
Coop Store SO 04 06. 4 Wainscott Road, Wainscott, Rochester, ME2 4L,
Happy Pride to Gravesham & Medway Virtual Pride today. Having to celebrate with online events as their main event was cancelled due to Covid19. #ItsWhatWeDo #Beingcoop
@PrideMedway@GraveshamPride with @LauraParryCo_op the wonderful staff #BeingCoop who organised a communty fund donation of £500 to #GMVPride2020 Gravesham & Medway Virtual Pride which will be available to watch 15th to 22nd August http://medwaypride.co.uk http://graveshampride.uk
Local causes
Fourth Reserve In 2019 we delivered £17m to over 4,000 local causes, thanks to our members.
When Co-op members shop with us, 1% of what they spend on selected Co-op branded products and services goes to support local causes through our Local Community Fund. Members can choose a local cause that they want their 1% to support.
Visit store https://finder.coop.co.uk/food/store/ME2-4LB/4-wainscott-road
Last Updated: 06/08/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Kent Police
Are you good with people and passionate about helping others?
Could you be #MoreThanTheBadge?
The role of a police constable can be demanding but it’s that variety which makes it one of the most rewarding jobs around. Every day presents a new challenge and you’ll deal with different situations to make sure public order is maintained, at all times.
You’ll be responsible for protection of life and property as well as prevention and detection of crime. Working as part of a close team, you’ll help to serve and protect the diverse communities and businesses of Kent.
Join #TeamKent as a police officer and you’ll receive a starting salary of £25,582, rising to £42,128 within your first 7 years.
Note: these figures include a yearly £2,500 South East allowance. As of April 1 2020, the allowance has increased to £2,500 and the starting salary is £25,582.
Police Officer recruitment now open
Find out more Join Kent Police
www.hatecrime.app
Last Updated: 30/07/2020 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
STRONGER TOGETHER
#GMVPride2020
Join Gravesham & Medway Pride 2020 wherever you are during August 2020 via any internet enabled device. You will be able to access the event via our web sites,
GET INVOLVED
How can we help?
You can send your images or video clips to he***@************co.uk
You can also help by spreading the word about #GMVPride2020
Medway Pride 2025 Fund Open
Medway Pride Lottery Fund
Support Medway Pride 2025 Fund Play the Medway Pride Lottery with a chance to win £25,000
Play the Medway Pride Lottery
About This Site
This website is managed by Medway Pride CIC to promote Medway Pride events and services for the LGBTQI
Tags
Recent Posts