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Trans communities and mental health

By Michael Gill, Service Manager As Co-chair of Riverside’s LGBT network Spectrum, I wanted to discuss some of the challenges faced by the trans community during Mental Health Awareness Week. In the latest version of the World Health Organisation (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), gender dysphoria – a condition where a person experiences discomfort

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Raising awareness on IDAHOBIT

By Lyn Bowker, Equality and Diversity Manager Today the LGBT community is celebrating IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. This important celebration raises international awareness of LGBT rights, discrimination, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide. At Riverside, we recognise this important day and as a committed ally to our LGBT colleagues and

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Being an LGBT role model

By John Glenton, Executive Director Care and Support and Executive Sponsor of Riverside’s LGBT staff network Spectrum Experience tells me that having visible LGBT role models can have a transformative impact on creating a truly inclusive workplace and society. We shouldn’t underestimate the impact that visibility makes to people, it makes a difference when it’s

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Everything changed when I was referred to Hardwick House

Two years ago, I didn’t want to live. I’d go to bed and pray that I wouldn’t wake up. I was only 42 but I’d led a destructive, dysfunctional life. The things I’d done – drug dealing, violence, substance abuse and sleeping rough – were haunting me. But a chance meeting with a fellow veteran

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Supporting the trans community

By Jenny Crocker, Service manager and Co-chair of Riverside’s LGBT staff group Spectrum Last weekend several Spectrum committee members went to show their support for the trans community during Manchester’s Sparkle Weekend. This is the fourth year Riverside has attended Sparkle and we are proud to say that once again we were the only housing

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How can a white Welsh girl be the leader for Origin?

By Cris McGuinness, Chief Financial Officer On joining Riverside, as a lesbian, I half expected to be a role model for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) staff group Spectrum. I never in a million years expected to be asked to be the Executive Sponsor for Origin, the staff network for black, Asian and

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Celebrating LGBT Pride Month

By Danny Briggs, Housing Services Processing Officer and Communications Officer for Riverside’s LGBT staff group Spectrum Having looked back over 2019 so far, one thing seems to stand out over others in relation to LGBT issues – teaching about LGBT relationships in schools. This has been a controversial topic to say the least. Since January

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