Fast Forward celebrates award for LGBT inclusion

Hi, my name is Hannah and I recently joined the Fast Forward team as a Project Officer working on a new project called Going Forward (more information all about Going Forward to come in a future blog post!).

As Fast Forward recently lost the lovely Calum Ware to sunny Australia, I have also taken the reins on the LGBT work that Calum was coordinating within the organisation.

Due to the hard work of Calum, and other team members, Fast Forward were recently awarded the LGBT Youth Bronze Charter mark.

The award was presented to us at our office by Ann Marriott from LGBT Youth Scotland and it was a proud moment for Calum and the team and a lovely afternoon with lots of laughs, speeches, and cake!

The achievement of this award demonstrates that Fast Forward are dedicated to ensuring that LGBT people are included, valued and supported in the work that we do.

Fast Forward have always been committed to the promotion of health and wellbeing among young people, and we have been providing young people with skills and support for decades.

It is essential that as youth workers, we are able to comprehend the complex and diverse lives that young people lead. The principles of understanding, equality, and social inclusion are central to what we do, so obtaining the LGBT Charter seemed a natural choice for us to make.

The LGBT Charter was originally devised by a group of young people in Dumfries, concerned about the barriers that many in the LGBT community face, due to discrimination and prejudice. LGBT Youth then went on to develop the Charter programme, in order to support organisations to create inclusive work environments.

The process of working towards the LGBT Charter of rights, has allowed Fast Forward to ensure that all of our services, policies and procedures are welcoming to LGBT people.

Staff all received training from LGBT Youth, and this was an enlightening and fun opportunity to ensure that we embed LGBT friendly principles into all of our working practices.

In order to promote our commitment to the LGBT Charter, Fast Forward also ran a nationwide campaign to coincide with Purple Friday (The last Friday of LGBT History month and a day for people across Scotland to show their support for the LGBT community and stand against homophobia and exclusion).

The campaign involved people making commitments towards LGBT equality – and we had participants from – literally- each end of the country: Land’s End to John O’Groats!

The process of achieving the award has been a challenging, enlightening and rewarding one, and, although the award means so much more than this- I for one am chuffed to have this little badge at the bottom of every e-mail I send.

Holding this award shows organisations and individuals that inclusion and equality are at the heart of what we do. As the new LGBT champion, I’m delighted that we have achieved this reward and will be held accountable to this, ensuring our continued commitment to LGBT people.