Agenda item - Chairs Communications

            Chair’s Welcome

4.1       The Chair, Councillor Daniel, opened her communications by welcoming Committee Members old and new, and also members of the public, to the first meeting of the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities committee in the council new municipal year. Michelle Elson from the CCG was welcomed as were Chief Inspector Christopher Veale from the Police (who would be attending future meetings, Cllrs Ann Norman, Ken Norman, Gary Peltzer Dunn, Pete West and Amanda Knight. The Chair stated that they would all bring a great deal of knowledge and experience of supporting and championing communities and equalities in our city. I am excited to have you all round the table to continue to develop and deliver this committee’s agenda. I know you are all passionate about and committed to all the people of this city and will work with me to keep the collaborative ethos that I and your predecessors have built around this committee. We still have much to do on our agenda and I know you’re all keen to get going.

            Disability Pride – 9 July 2017

4.2      Disability Pride was set to take place on Sunday 9 July from 2pm until 7pm on New Road Brighton; a celebration of and for all people with all disabilities, the first Disability Pride in the UK. The voluntary group leading and organising the event had been liaising with New York who will be holding their Disability Pride on the same day as would Italy and Switzerland. There would be stalls and stages offering music, performances, food, education, arts and comedy (among other things).

Trans Pride, Brighton

4.3       Trans Pride Brighton, was now in it’s fifth year, and had an array of events in July.

As a registered charity run solely by volunteers, Trans Pride aimed to inspire all trans, intersex, gender variant and queer people to help make a real difference by celebrating trans lives and gender diversity. By promoting equality and diversity through visibility, Trans Pride attempted to eliminate the discrimination which trans people faced.

As part of Trans Pride the city was holding its second Trans and Non-binary Conference on Thursday 20^th July. Going from strength to strength the second conference gives us - the city - the opportunity to demonstrate our on-going commitment to improving the lives of trans and non-binary individuals, and working together on what and how to make change happen.

There are some amazing speakers lined up for this year’s conference including Jack Monroe, Sabah Choudery and MJ Barker.

Later the same day there is a free Trans and Non-binary Open Mic Night at The Yellow Book Brighton, York Place, Opposite St Peters Church.

All performances by trans and non-binary folk.  There will also be a raffle running alongside this, to raise money for Trans Pride Brighton.

Culminating in an amazing weekend of Trans visibility and celebration with the Trans March from the Marlborough Pub to Brunswick park at noon on Saturday 22^nd, and the Trans Pride park event at Brunswick square 1pm – 6pm.

For full information about the conference and Trans Pride visit transpridebrighton.org

Brighton and Hove Pride, 4-6 August 2017

And last but not least we have Brighton and Hove Pride 4^th to 6^th August.

So I’m wishing all our L, G, B and T, our non-binary, our intersex, gender variant and intersex residents and visitors happy and safe celebrations.

Additional items:

Amazing 100 Metre Water Slide Brighton! Local charity Amaze is bringing a daring, giant, 100 metre water slide to Brighton on Saturday 15th July 2017. In Brighton’s beautiful Wild Park. 1000 riders have the unique chance to book now to speed down the most fun, adrenaline-filled slide in the city, with bubbles, blow up cushions and all proceeds will help local families with disabled children. As well as the slide Heart FM will be pumping the tunes, there’s a bouncy castle and other entertainment for younger kids, the fire brigade are bringing an engine and the Mayor is visiting.

Brighton & Hove Impetus will be launch their annual Yellow Rose campaign on Sunday 30 July, the UN International Day of Friendship.

The yellow rose symbolises friendship, and the Yellow Rose Campaign is all about connecting people, building communities and helping to spread awareness about isolation in Brighton & Hove - and how people can get involved with Impetus to help tackle this issue. This year Impetus are taking the Yellow Rose campaign out to community events throughout the month of August, aiming to reach Moulsecomb & Bevendean, Patcham & Hollingbury, Hangleton & Knoll, N & S Portslade as well as more central areas such as Queen's Park, Hollingdean and Hove. If anyone has an event they'd like to invite Impetus to, or for more information on the campaign contact - info@bh-impetus.org