The Brunswick Centre Impact Report 2022/23

Making a difference in Calderdale and Kirklees

Impact Report 2022/2023

CHANGING LIVES, CHANGING PERCEPTIONS

Chair’s Report

Tom Mapplethorpe, Chair of Trustees

Once again, the writing of my piece for this year’s report has crept up on me and it seems like no time at all since I was writing the last one. This is probably a reflection of how busy this year has been, both for myself and the organisation.

In the last year, the Brunswick Centre has moved from its previous location at Marten House to our new home in Brian Jackson House. This new location places us right in the heart of Huddersfield and close to key town centre facilities and transport links. The move has allowed us to further enhance our sustainability as an organisation, whilst still continuing to deliver high quality services for our beneficiaries.

For many of us, myself included, the last year has been characterised by the cost of living crisis, with more people than ever impacted and struggling to feed their families and pay their energy bills. Times are incredibly tough at the moment, which is why the Brunswick Centre continues to be committed to supporting and making a difference for the communities we serve, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. We will work in partnership with commissioners and stakeholders to mitigate the worst impacts of the crisis where we can and signpost to wider offers of support where needed. And, as always, we will continue to engage with and listen to our beneficiaries and communities, acknowledging the value of their lived experience and insight, advocating for their needs and lifting them up and amplifying their voices where we can.

It’s been a year of change for the board of trustees at the Brunswick Centre with Graham Brown deciding to step down. However, I am happy to report that we have also had a number of new trustee colleagues join us, and I would like to welcome Lily Huggins, Vi Assal, Edwin Buckley and Phil Greenham to the board. It’s exciting to have so many new colleagues join the board, bringing fresh skills, experiences and perspectives with them. I’d also like to thank all staff for their hard work and dedication over the past year. Chief Officer John McKernaghan frequently goes far above and beyond to deliver for the Brunswick Centre and his hard work and dedication to the role is both exemplary and hugely appreciated. Our amazing staff are a huge asset to the organisation and to Kirklees and Calderdale, and we couldn’t do what we do without them.

It remains my huge pleasure and privilege to be the chair of such an amazing organisation and, as ever, I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved together. I have no doubt that we’ll continue to rise to the challenge in the coming year, delivering for the communities we serve.

Tom Mapplethorpe, Chair of Trustees

Chief Officers Report

John McKernaghan, Chief Officer

The cost-of-living crisis was emerging as we wrote last year’s report, and I don’t think many of us realised how bad it would become and how persistent it would be.

The cost-of-living crisis was emerging as we wrote last year’s report, and I don’t think many of us realised how bad it would become and how persistent it would be.

It has impacted every aspect of our work and services. Our two main priorities were to ensure service users got additional financial help and that the Brunswick Centre remained sustainable. We worked incredibly hard, taking every opportunity to apply for Household Support Fund and Cost of Living grants. We secured and distributed 15k in payments to service users in greatest need, supporting families and individuals to eat and heat! Moreover, within our young people’s services our staff were noting that young people were presenting hungry at groups. They acted quickly to ensure resources were secured to provide additional hot, healthy and nutritional food at all youth groups and events.

As an organisation we moved premises to cut costs and to ensure we are more agile in this post lockdown/hybrid working world. We have worked to get additional funding for projects and services, and we were successful in winning a 5-year contract with

Calderdale Council to provide support services to LGBTQ+ young people. We mobilised the service in time for the contract’s commencement on the 1st December with young people engaging and benefiting from a quality LGBTQ+ youth work offer.

The challenges and opportunities of the last year were dealt with head-on as we are a robust and values driven charity. I take great pride in what our team has become and for the immense support given by our dedicated, skilled and knowledgeable trustees. The support and input of the Chair, Tom Mapplethorpe and Vice Chair, Ben Whalley has been invaluable to me personally and contributed enormously to the Brunswick Centre.

I also want to thank our commissioners, funders, allies and supporters who invest and champion the work we do, and must also thank our amazing service users, people with HIV, LGBTQ+ young people and their parents/carers who show remarkable courage and resilience in the face of hostility, hate and stigma – they inspire us every day to be the best we can as advocates and as a service provider.

John McKernaghan, Chief Officer

HIV Service

Prevention Services

HIV Point of Care testing sessions were delivered at various community venues, giving most at-risk populations an awareness of their HIV status. be.

HIV Point of Care testing sessions were delivered at various community venues, giving most at-risk populations an awareness of their HIV status. We delivered 392 HIV tests across Calderdale and Kirklees, along with information around sexual health, how to access free condoms, PEP and PrEP, U=U, vaccinations and information around monkeypox (Mpox), along with the opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any issues.

National HIV Testing week took place in February 2023, during which Public Health directors from Calderdale and Kirklees Councils provided their support and had HIV tests themselves to raise awareness around the importance of knowing your HIV status during this national campaign.

Delivered 392 HIV tests across Calderdale and Kirklees

48 outreach sessions undertaken across Calderdale and Kirklees, engaging with 720 individuals around HIV prevention

Our team distributed 18,000 condoms

We distributed 212 units of formula milk to 8 mothers, supporting them to prevent onward transmission of HIV

2,780 condoms and 8 slam packs were mailed out to Calderdale and Kirklees residents

I’ve tested for HIV, have you? campaign on the Kirkgate Shopping Centre electronic billboard Southgate/Queensgate roundabout.

Our team marked World AIDS Day in December by being interviewed by Pulse radio, giving out red ribbons at Huddersfield train station, running awareness sessions at the University of Huddersfield and with LGBTQ+ young people in Kirklees and Calderdale. The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin popped in to say hello and to show her continued support for the Brunswick Centre as she was in town giving an interview on the day.

Throughout the month of February, we ran our ‘I’ve tested for HIV, have you?’ campaign. We were delighted that Kim Leadbeater (MP for Batley and Spen) along with members of our local communities and some well-known faces from TV supported this.

Staff undertook 48 outreach sessions across Calderdale and Kirklees, engaging with 720 individuals around HIV prevention. This meant that 720 individuals had up-to-date and relevant information on HIV prevention, enabling them to make informed decisions about their proximity to HIV infection and what they can do prevent transmission, providing them with vital information around sexual health.

Our team distributed 18,000 condoms at public sex environments, supporting safer sex and reducing HIV and STI transmission. The impact of condom provision reduces HIV and sexually transmitted infections, keeps people and their partners safe, improves sexual health and reduces pressure on clinical sexual health services.

We were invited to take part in a panel discussion around partnership work at the Spring 2022 BHIVA conference in Manchester and were asked again to speak about the same subject at a HIV Prevention meeting at the Terrance Higgins Trust in London.

In partnership with Locala, we secured funding from UKSHA to run three community-based clinics in Kirklees delivering HIV PoCT testing, sexual health screenings and vaccinations against monkeypox, HPV and Hepatitis A&B. The funding allowed us to deliver on-screen adverts at the local adult cinema and sauna promoting the clinics and the availability of vaccines.

Left, Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director Corporate Strategy Commissioning & Public Health Kirklees Council. Right, Debs Harkins, Director of Public Health Calderdale Council having an HIV test to support National HIV Testing Week.

Our staff with Sister Polly greeting the public on World Aids Day

Formula milk plays an important role in ensuring babies born to HIV positive mothers do not acquire the virus. Through our prevention work, we distributed 212 units of formula milk to 8 mothers, supporting them to prevent onward transmission of HIV.

As a result of this work, 8 babies did not acquire HIV meaning they will not have to face the complexities of treatments and will not have to grow up with a lifelong stigmatized condition. Lifetime HIV treatment costs range from £73,000 to £404,300, depending on the drugs used (generic or branded) and the age of the individual (aidsmap.com). Preventing HIV therefore has huge cost savings to the health economy.

Staff delivered a total of 118 online sessions through internet sites and phone apps getting sexual health and HIV messages to 48,522 individuals. As a result of outreach and online engagement work, individuals were better informed on how protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, where and how to test for HIV, and how to receive free condoms through the post from us.

Our Condoms By Post service continued over the year with 2,780 condoms and 8 slam packs mailed out. Our packs support people to practice safer sex, and the slam packs in particular provide unused IV equipment and harm reduction information, reducing the risk of HIV and other blood borne infections.

Providing condoms helps support safer sex, reduces HIV and sexually transmitted infections, improves sexual health, and again, reduces the impact on clinical sexual health services.

Our team were out and about supporting Prides across Kirklees and Calderdale, including Batley Pride, Happy Valley Pride, Kirklees Pride and Calderdale Pride. Our staff had stalls at these events offering information about our organisation and the services we provide, along with some specific information around HIV Prevention.

Following the launch of the national HIV Action Plan our prevention team has been working with partners from Kirklees Public Health and Locala to develop a local plan for the area so we can realise our ambitions and ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to zero transmissions of HIV by 2030.

Feedback from people who have accessed our HIV prevention service:

“ Your sessions at the Plastic Ivy Sauna are not only delivered in a friendly and understanding way, but your staff are extremely professional and non-judgemental . ”

“ Thank you very much for the condoms and for the great work you do.”

“ Continue doing what you do as you provide a first-class service.”

Support Services

In the last year, our team delivered 1093 appointments to 145 people living with HIV in Calderdale and Kirklees.

Engagement activities can cover a range of issues; we find people living with HIV experience difficulties that require varying levels of support. For some, it may be brief contact regarding a specific issue that they require more information about; others may have multiple and complex difficulties requiring more intensive support over a longer period. These difficulties may be directly related to their HIV status or may be other difficulties that negatively impact their overall wellbeing, or could be a combination of both.

Our community workers co-produce an assessment of need with service users to identify how to action plan and address their needs. Through this approach, service users take control of meeting their needs and have better outcomes, such as improved physical health and emotional health, better access to and adherence with their HIV medication, reduced isolation, and improved coping and resilience skills for the future.

We continue to work closely with local HIV clinics in Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury to ensure a wraparound service is in place for people with HIV

The cost-of-living crisis had a significant impact on many of our service users, and we were able to provide support and assistance during this time. For those service uses who were destitute, our staff made sure they had access to additional hardship payments through our welfare fund. In addition, our team:

Secured £15,380 through various household support funds to assist service users with the cost of living

Provided 136 emergency payments to service users who found themselves in unexpected and urgent financial hardship

Gave out 87 personal hygiene packs to service users who find themselves in acute hardship

Wellbeing Service

The wellbeing service has had another busy year, supporting service users with their health and wellbeing. Our allotment continues to flourish and expand.

Service users choose the foods to grow and eat, which has been a great opportunity particularly for our Black African gardeners who were able to plant vegetables, such as kovu and maize, that are not as commonly grown in the UK and therefore expensive to buy. We had a slight set back in the new year when our greenhouse and shed were broken into, with the offenders causing significant damage. Rather than feeling deflated by this our gardening group took the attitude that they would build back better and that’s exactly what we have done. With some very generous donations to support us we were able to show that we have a thriving, supportive community of service users all enjoying time out in nature.

Another group that is going from strength to strength is our monthly walking group, who are exploring Kirklees and Calderdale, discovering a new walk each month. Just like our allotment group, this is a diverse group, bringing people together from all areas of our HIV support service. More than anything, people tell us that they benefit from the peer support.

We continued with the online wellbeing and fitness sessions that started during lockdown, offering regular dance, pilates, yoga and Zumba classes.

Our wellbeing co-ordinator was also instrumental in securing funding for 3 days out at the outdoor activity

centre Eden’s Forest. These days were extremely well received by all who participated. Activities included zip wire rides, wood whittling, woodland walks, cargo net climbing and sitting round the campfire with our homemade pizzas.

Finally, but by no means least, the changes we made last year following our work with Active Calderdale has meant that all service users, especially those new into service, can discuss their individual health and wellbeing with our wellbeing co-ordinator, helping them to make healthier choices and discover movement activities that work for them.

“ Walking group and allotment helps me with my health issues. It helps me to be fit. Walking group helps me to come out of my house and meet people, talk and laugh. Allotment helps me learn how to grow different vegetables. I also learned how to cook some vegetables I have never thought of eating e.g. Artichokes. I am learning different cultures and different staple foods. Some allotment members taught me how to make strawberry jam and apple crumble. ”

“ The allotment and walking group have really helped my mental health. Really enjoy going to them because since going to the allotment and walking group my confidence has grown and been able to connect with people.”

Our allotment

Service user’s walking group

Dietician Service

HIV Point of Care testing sessions were delivered at various community venues, giving most at-risk populations an awareness of their HIV status. be.

Nutrition plays an important part in living a long and healthy life. Our dietitian provides tailored specialist advice to people living with HIV to enhance and sustain wellbeing, which includes advice on nutrition and HIV treatments, along with advice for handling nutrition when also dealing with the side effects of treatments or symptoms of illnesses. Service users new to us are automatically referred for dietitian support. Moreover, our colleagues at the local HIV clinics in Huddersfield, Halifax and Dewsbury can refer direct to this element of the service as they need to.

Most appointments are over the phone or online, as per the service user’s needs. During the last year, our dietitian supported 22 people with HIV. Service users have been supported through setting achievable diet and lifestyle goals within the context of their existing knowledge, skills, and financial and social circumstances.

The aims of dietary change are to improve both short and long-term health gain; e.g. symptom management and chronic disease prevention for healthier ageing. Taking a ‘make every contact account’ approach, medication adherence, smoking, drinking, stress management and activity levels are discussed during a holistic assessment The impact has been that service users are now better equipped to manage their health, particularly with weight gain

and loss, healthy eating, gut problems and longterm condition risk reduction, as well as increased nutritional literacy.

The impact of the work the dietitian undertakes alongside the wider clinical and support team at the HIV clinics has meant that service users who are not seeing the dietitian directly have also been able to access healthy lifestyle information, allowing them to make informed choices.

22 people with HIV supported with food and nutrition service

by our dietician

Benefits and Welfare Rights

Our Benefits and Welfare Rights worker delivered 405 appointments and helped secure £122,685 additional benefits entitlement for service users during the 12 months from April 2022 to March 2023.

They also achieved non-financial gains, such as Blue Badges, plus access to free prescriptions and dental treatment through HC2 certificates (full help with health costs).

The ever-increasing complexity of the benefits system, the continued expansion of Universal Credit and the cost-of-living crisis has kept our Benefits and Welfare Rights worker busy this year.

Alongside the core work of providing benefits calculations and advice, form filling, attending assessments and other interviews, lodging Mandatory Reconsiderations, preparing for and representing at Tribunal Appeals, advice and assistance has been provided in a number of other areas, including:

• Employment and HIV

• Unrecognized bank transactions

• Housing right to buy and shared ownership

• Eviction proceedings

• Care Act Assessments

• Problems with electronic GP records

• Department of Work and Pensions reviews of previous benefits entitlement

• Home adaptions

• Motability vehicles

• Social care charges being wrongly calculated

• Recovering debts through the small claims court

• Complaints against the NHS

• Difficulties with Universal Credit (UC) not recognizing identity of citizens from outside of the UK

• Difficulties with other agencies providing incorrect benefits advice

• Changing jobs and hours or starting/leaving work

• Landlord problems

• Incorrect Tribunal decision notices

• Miscalculated benefit backdates

• Street homelessness

• UC claims ‘closed’ with no formal decision being made

• Accessing the Household Support Fund and Council Tax rebates

• Loss of Severe Disability Premium and Transitional Protection issues

• Notional income

• Overnight carer and the Bedroom Tax

• Not being registered for Council Tax

• Problems with the Payment Exception Service and missing/lost payments

• Death of relatives abroad

• Benefits whilst imprisoned

• Benefits abroad

• Domestic violence

• Destitution

• Food banks

yOUTh SERVICE

Over this year we have worked with 407 young people, held nearly 150 sessions and had an average of 12 young people attending each session with some sessions seeing attendance of 30 young people.

This includes our youth groups, school groups, trips, social events and having stalls at school and college events.

It has been a really exciting year for the yOUTh team. We have collaborated and worked in partnership with a range of community organizations such as The Base, Locala Sexual Health, the fire service, housing, Children’s Society, Kirklees Council, Independent Office for Police Conduct, Lush, Northorpe hall, Edens forest, Conscious Youth, the voice and influence team, Out Together, Woven in Kirklees, Mermaids, Youth Work Unit, Lawrence Batley Theatre, CK Careers, LV= Insurance, and many more. Working collaboratively has been a vital element to ensuring young people have access to the services they need, creating new opportunities as well as providing plenty of information to help young people make their own informed choices about their life and the community in which they live. A key part of our work has been following the National Youth Agency (NYA) youth work curriculum. Every week within our sessions we have looked at different curriculum areas including mental health, economic wellbeing, careers, sexual health, queer history, life skills, arts, crafts and creativity, culture, drugs and alcohol, HIV, personal safety and looking

at current events. Our team have strived to do this in fun creative ways, providing young people a safe space to ask questions and explore their own opinions and identity. Alongside the planned curriculum we also ensure there is time for every young people to socialise, play games, do crafts and speak to workers in an informal environment.

Young people have been keen to raise funds for the Brunswick Centre and spent time making badges and jewellery to sell at various prides over the summer. This was a great project, and the young people were really proud of their hard work. The money raised went into our welfare funds.

407 young people supported, 150 sessions delivered

LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES AT THE BRUNSWICK CENTRE

One thing we have noted over the last year is the impact that the cost of living has had on our young people. Families are struggling and we noted that many young people were speaking of food poverty, eating less and not being able to afford basic necessities such as coats, shoes and heating. In response to this we started to do cook and eat sessions during our youth groups, teaching young people how to make cheap, healthy meals, while also providing every young person who walks through our doors access to a warm meal. We also started hosting clothes swaps and used our welfare fund to help young people get the clothing they needed to cope in the colder months.

To further support young people’s development we have been able to take them on many offsite activities so they can experience new things and learn in fun and exciting ways. Trips included going to Eden’s Forest to spend time in nature, going to local prides, spending a day in York, going to art galleries and exhibitions, trips to the theatre, ice skating, national LGBT youth meet ups, the Fire & Rescue Service and Cheetham’s library. One of the young people’s favourite trips this year was funded by LV= Insurance and involved going to The Bookish Type bookshop to buy books for our queer library for young people to borrow. We also saw an exhibition around top surgery which was really interesting for our trans young people in particular. It was also great to see queer people being recognised in the arts.

During the summer holidays several of our young people took part in a three day ‘crash and burn’ resilience course with West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. This was kindly gifted to us and was a great chance for young people to build on their teamwork, emotional resilience and think about the future. It was also a lot of fun and the young people really enjoyed it.

The voice of our young people is at the heart of everything we do at yOUTh, their opinions and influences over our service and other services locally and nationally is really important. We have successfully set up a youth voice group that meets every 6 weeks. Young people have an opportunity to bring issues and ideas to these sessions as well as give opinions to external organisations on issues that have an impact on their lives. One piece of work that stands out in particular was the young people contributing to the Children’s Society research and implementation of practice principles for professionals on a national level.

Images of the young people taking part in events and activities.

The young people also highlighted the importance of celebrating sexual orientation and underrepresented groups in the community, which led to us to create Bi Brunch to reduce bisexual erasure as well as Gay Gathering and Lesbian Lunch. These were opportunities for young people to meet and socialise in a specific space that focuses on the experiences of those individuals.

In December 2022 we were pleased to have the contract to deliver LGBTQ+ support services in Calderdale. This meant a rapid turnaround was necessary to get provision in place, but we successfully built relationships within the community as well as, most importantly, with the young people who accessed the service under the previous provider. We were able to make the transition as smooth as possible and have seen the group members continuing to access the service. We introduced what works well in Kirklees including youth voice and influence sessions and a youth work model to this service. A member of staff was TUPE to our service and went on to gain a full time LGBTQ+ youth worker role with us, which they will be taking up in April. We will be recruiting sessional staff to help deliver the groups sessions.

As part of youth work week our yOUTh service was the subject of a session run by Dr Eleanor Formby, Sheffield Hallam University and Dr Jo Woodiwiss, University of Huddersfield, as part of the Festival of Social Science. Our staff, parents and young people spoke at the online session, which was attended by 100 people from across the UK and Ireland.

Our Henry Smith Charity funded LGBTQ+ Young Person and Family Support Worker has continued to provide support around gender identity and/or sexual orientation. Our worker delivers bespoke and age appropriate one-to-one sessions and family together sessions with LGBTQ+ young people, parents, carers, siblings and wider family members. Our worker supported 79 individuals between 1 April 2022 – 31st March 2023.

The service has delivered social group activity, peer buddying and has facilitated referrals to our counselling service, which has seen service users receive immediate support from LGBTQ+ experienced counselling professionals with no waiting list. This has been a lifeline for many who had previously experienced long waiting lists from other services.

Our worker has advocated for young people and families at Child In Need meetings, Team Around the Family meetings, Early Help Support Multi Agency Panels and at school governor complaints and appeals.

Feedback from Service Users:

“ Thanks so much for my food parcel, I don’t know what I would’ve done without it and your support, you’re like the only one who listens and actually helps.”

(Young person, aged 20)

“ My daughter has really increased in confidence since coming to service, she really likes the youth workers.”

(Parent)

Counselling Service

Our counselling service spans our HIV support and prevention services, and our yOUTh service.

Poor mental health is traditionally associated with these groups, not least because of stigma, discrimination and health inequalities.

A total of 64 individuals from our services (36 from our HIV support and prevention services and 28 from our yOUTh service) accessed counselling in the past year with 408 counselling sessions delivered.

Reported impacts of sessions with our counsellors have included:

• Improved mood, reduced anxiety and a decrease in panic attacks

• Increased activity and social engagement; increased self-esteem and confidence

• Reduced self-criticism and feelings of guilt and shame

• Recognition of inner strength and the ability to challenge and overcome fears rather than ‘run away’ from them

• Becoming more comfortable with self and sexual orientation

• Greater acceptance of HIV diagnoses

• The ability to reach out to support groups to connect with others

• Reengaging with social activities and interpersonal relationships (including better access and engagement with healthcare services)

• Increased resilience and the ability to deal with what is happening around them

• Greater ability to balance their needs alongside those of the child they are parenting

• Reduction of certain ‘unhealthy’ behaviours and a better ability to look after self (such as better sleep hygiene and healthier eating)

• Identification of stress to reduce self-destructive behaviours

Feedback from Service Users:

64 individuals accessed 408 counselling sessions

• Improved relationships and family dynamics

• Being better able to take care of own needs within the context of difficult relationships.

“ I just know I would not be here without the counselling I have had from you guys. Thank you isn’t enough, you are the reason I am here and want to be here. ”

Other projects, Work and Services

LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Research

Working in partnership with Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership and thanks to funding from Kirklees Council we started a research project into the domestic abuse needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Kirklees. This is an ongoing project involving an online survey and face-to-face interviews with LGBTQ+ people who have experience of domestic abuse, as well as with service professionals. We aim to have the project completed in summer 2023 and we look forward to reporting on it in our next annual impact report.

Mind Your Head - LGBTQ+ Mental Health Calderdale

Causes to undertake some suicide prevention work with LGBTQ+ communities, with an emphasis on gay, bisexual and trans men who are at a higher risk of suicide.

The funding provided additional capacity to develop resources, run events and raise the issue of suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ communities in Calderdale and beyond. The campaign officially launched in September 2021 as part of the Happy Valley Pride festival. The online hub (https:// happyvalleypride.co.uk/mind-your-head) includes lots of resources, videos, and links, etc.

The campaign continued throughout 2022/23 with further events and activities. Key highlights included:

l More than 1,000 page views of the online hub

l An online talk from writer and influencer

Alexis Caught and writer and performer Yaz Necati

l A podcast launched with guests including Peter Tatchel, Horse McDonald, Kate O’Donnell and many more

l Nine people receiving accredited Mental Health First Aid training

“ The funding received this year has allowed us to expand and evolve the campaign in new and exciting ways. We are delighted to be part of this important partnership and I look forward to seeing how it continues to help LGBTQ+ people in Calderdale and beyond.

Tim Whitehead, Artistic Director of Happy Valley Pride

We are pleased to continue working in partnership with Happy Valley Pride. We were successful in securing funding from the Emotional Health & Wellbeing Support Fund, Healthy Minds Helping Communities Recover Project and Coop Local

l Multiple appearances on BBC Radio Leeds and other media

l Funding secured for the campaign for 2023/24 including the provision of counselling

LGBT+ DOMESTIC ABUSE RESEARCH KIRKLEES

Other Projects, Work and Services

Bounce Project - LGBTQ+ Mental Health Kirklees

Thanks to funding from One Community, Kirklees Council and Syngenta, and with the help of Neil Lewis from The Empathy Coach, we have built a bespoke online learning platform on the theme of building emotional resilience, aimed initially at the LGBTQ+ community. This practical and valuable resource will remain online for the next 12 months at least, and you can access it at https:// brunswickbounce.uk.

Detached Youth Work

Working with our colleagues at Kirklees Council, our staff added outreach capacity ensuring detached youth work provision was delivered across Kirklees. Our team delivered 84 detached sessions across Kirklees supporting young people in their own settings.

Rainbow Resources

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Awards for All England we are co-producing resources which will help services and professionals develop their response to the needs of LGBTQ+ young people in Kirklees and Calderdale. Resources will be online (keep an eye out at www.thebrunswickcentre.org.uk ) for ease of access and we look forward to giving a detailed report in our next annual impact report.

84 detached sessions delivered across Kirklees supporting young people in their own settings

Other Projects, Work and Services

Communications and Marketing

Along with the use of social media for areas our services, as detailed above, we also have a useful and informative website. A total of 16,794 (323 per week) people visited our website in the last year - a 73% increase on the previous year.

We have Facebook and Twitter accounts allowing us to rapidly promote our work and services, highlight developments, and promote crucial messages and partner organisations through our online activity.

During the year we reached 89,981 users on Facebook, with further engagement (via comments, shares, and reactions) with 5,977 of these users. On Twitter, we achieved 109,025 impressions and an engagement rate (the number of clicks, retweets, replies, follows, and likes divided by total impressions) of 10.3%.

Our Instagram accounts, set up for the LGBTQ+ Youth Service and HIV service have also assisted us as an organisation to become more engaging with users. We post day-to-day group activities, raise awareness on local issues and repost and share information provided by our partners. We reached 6,029 users on Instagram, of which 1,115 users engaged with our posts.

We will continue to develop our online communications in the coming year. This is vital as the impact of our online communications means we have an increased organisational profile among the public, professionals, and communities. Access can be improved as first-hand information is easily accessible 24/7.

16,794 people visited our website in the last yeara 73% increase on the previous year

Our Twitter tweets have been seen 109,025 times

6,029 users on Instagram of which

1,115 users engaged with our posts

Other Projects, Work and Services

Student Placements

Over the last year we welcomed 5 students on placement. Three were from the University of Huddersfield, studying Youth and Community Worker degrees and two were from Bradford University studying Social Worker degrees. Youth and Community Work students have been involved in group work, one-to-one case work with young people, as well as starting three school LGBTQ+ groups in local schools. School based groups have been a great way to make schools more inclusive as well as ensuring that young people have access to our service. They have contributed over 700 hours to our yOUTh service successfully building relationships with staff, young people and other stakeholders.

Student Social Workers added 140 days to our services supporting service users in the HIV service delivering one-to-one support, undertaking needs assessments, advocacy work and ensuring families and individuals had access to additional resources to alleviate the worst impacts of the cost-of-living crisis. Placements contribute a huge amount to our services and the communities we serve, building the skills and learning of the students who are the future workforce.

Volunteering

Volunteers have supported our work and services over the past year giving 910 hours of their time, which is the equivalent of a part-time member of staff. We used the Social Value Portal to measure the financial value of volunteering and in the past year they added value equating to £14,560!

3 Youth and Community degree students contributed 700 hours to our yOUTh service

2 Student Social Workers added 140 days to our services Volunteers have given 910 hours of their time, which is the equivalent of a part-time member of staff.

They added value equating to £14,560!

From supporting the delivery and smooth running of our groupwork sessions, litter picking and keeping daily supplies of condoms at public sex environments, helping with admin, and packing condoms our volunteers have ensured we can deliver more and regular services, contributing to the health and wellbeing of service users, promoting safer sex and the reduction of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.

A huge thank you goes to all our volunteers for their ongoing dedicated support and to Liverpool Victoria Insurance and Kirklees Council’s Young Employee Network for releasing their staff to help support our work though volunteering days. Between them they packed 8000 condoms into 4000 packs for our outreach work, ensuring people’s sexual health was protected and the risk of STIs and HIV greatly reduced - now that’s an impact!

“ I completed my first practice learning placement with the Brunswick Centre, as part of my social work undergraduate degree at the University of Bradford. My experience with the charity has been fantastic and I am so grateful for the opportunities that the charity has provided. As a placement provider I could not recommend a better charity to support not only professional development but also personal development.”

www.thebrunswickcentre.org.uk

Committed to supporting people in our communities

@_thebrunswick_

The Brunswick Centre - Kirklees Calderdale

@thebrunswickcentre

The Brunswick Centre provides confidential services. We care about you and your information. We put safeguarding and data protection at the heart of everything we do. You will find more detailed information on our website including our data protection notice and how you can provide feedback to us www.thebrunswickcentre.org.uk Registered