Support the work of Out In The Bay

Out in the Bay was established and has been in operation since 2008 to combat the lack of LGBTQ+ support in the area: https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/how-one-man-s-life-led-to-launch-of-vital-lancaster-charity-1-9243542  The organisation aims to provide a wide ranging and holistic level of support to the LGBTQ+ community in Lancaster, Morecambe and the surrounding areas, as well as raising awareness around LGBTQ+ issues and campaigns. A large part of our work is also focused on support and recovery from substance misuse, as well as providing information and support regarding sexual health and well being . We do this by providing one to one support, either through peer groups or trained caseworkers, organising social events and support groups, and running an outreach programme for outlying areas. We also campaign and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and campaigns in the local area in the following ways:

·         Accommodate university placements from degree programmes such as Social Work, Nursing and Mental Health, instilling an awareness of LGBTQ+ inclusive practice and ethics for future health and social care professionals

·         Organise and run Lancaster Pride 2017 and 2018, with Lancaster Pride 2019 currently being organised

·         Currently organising Morecambe’s first Pride for 2019

·     Work with other agencies such as Little Dale Hall and Red Rose Recovery, in order to facilitate and learn from other agencies around issue such as mental health and substance misuse whilst raising the profile of these issues within the LGBTQ+ community

·         Deliver training of LGBTQ+ issues for other industries and professionals, such as the Police Service, Fire Service, Universities in the area and organisations such as the Princes Trust.

 Our work is long lasting and future forward, as we aim to address the ‘revolving door’ which LGBTQ+ individuals often face when accessing services, that is their gender and sexuality being side-lined as they enter a stagnant cycle of support which ignores a core issue. By providing intensive and continuous support, if the individual so wishes, we aim to alleviate issues not just temporarily but on a permanent basis, as many of our service users access our one to one and peer support groups on a long-term basis, with many becoming volunteers in the long run.

Please support our work in order for it to continue into the future, as your charitable donations will go towards funding and maintaining our support work in the form of our casework and our support groups, providing materials, expenses etc.  
 

Find our website here - oitb.co.uk