The Lambeth Allies program creates LGBTQ+ safe spaces

Lambeth Council and LGBT charity HERO launched the programme Lambeth Allies program across the borough after a successful pilot in Vauxhall and Clapham.

The program offers LGBTQ+ awareness training and practical advice for local organizations to become more inclusive, for example providing space for LGBTQ+ support information such as health leaflets and reporting hate crimes to the authorities or charities such as Galop.

Upon completion of the program, participating organizations sign a code of conduct committing to combating discrimination and celebrating all LGBTQ+ identities. They receive display materials to publicly demonstrate that they are a Lambeth Ally.

Lambeth Allies was developed in response to 2022′My LGBTQ+ Lambeth Survey”which found that although Lambeth has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in the UK, one in five LGBTQ+ residents worry about their safety and almost two in five want to access more safe spaces such as sports and leisure facilities leisure.

Word from the Cabinet

Cllr Jim Dickson, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities, said: “We are very proud to be expanding the Lambeth Allies program into our borough town centers following the successful pilot in Vauxhall and Clapham. This work builds on our collaborative whole-systems approach to working with local partners to address LGBTQ+ health inequalities and has been co-developed through ongoing engagement with our LGBTQ+ community. The program is an important priority for Lambeth, promoting safety, inclusion and better access to social, cultural and sporting spaces for our LGBTQ+ community to connect and thrive.”

Successful pilot

Lambeth Allies piloted in Vauxhall and Clapham with over 30 partners joining the program to provide more inclusive access to sporting, cultural and social spaces for LGBTQ+ people. Accredited organizations include Clapham Leisure Centre, Black Prince Trust, Share Community Kitchen, VauxWall West, Better Leisure Vauxhall, Oval (Surrey Cricket Club), Vauxhall City Farm, Studio Voltaire and Clapham Picturehouse.

LGBT HERO will now engage with other town centers – Waterloo and Southbank, Brixton, Stockwell, Streatham and West Norwood – and continue to support Vauxhall and Clapham.

Addressing discrimination

Ian Howley, chief executive of LGBT HERO said: “After My LGBTQ+ Lambeth Survey it was important to us to tackle hate crime and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and increase the number of spaces that LGBTQ+ people can access and be themselves. It is important that Lambeth leads the way in creating a safer community.”

More information