blog

VENUE CLOSURE

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:50:31 +0100

DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF 2ACTIV8, we will be looking for a new venue, until we find a new venue please contact us for future meeting details including venue.

Thank you

Cairn
Liaison Officer

Stonewall Cymru invites people to ‘Get in the picture’

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:38:28 +0100

Stonewall Cymru invites people to ‘Get in the picture’

Stonewall Cymru are launching a new project at Swansea Pride on 26^th June to gather images of lesbian, gay and bisexual people and same-sex couples to challenge stereotypical images.

Stonewall Cymru are inviting people from across Wales to take photos that represent all aspects of lesbian, gay and bisexual life in Wales as part of a ‘Get in the Picture’ project to create a free-access bank of images for organisations to use.

Ele Hicks, Projects and Policy Officer for Stonewall Cymru said: “For several years lesbian, gay and bisexual people have been telling us that images they see don’t represent them. This project will challenge stereotypes by presenting the diversity of LGB people in Wales in photos”

She added: “Many organisations tell us they would like to include images of same sex couples, but can't find them anywhere. We are now gathering pictures together of all kinds to help organisations find and include them.”

The project will start with a snaps being taken at Swansea Pride on 26^th June and continue with volunteers taking photos at the National Eisteddfod and Cardiff Mardi Gras. People can also submit their own photos to the image bank by emailing: Eleanor.hicks@stonewallcymru.org.uk

More information available at:
Stonewall Cymru

Swansea pride

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:42:26 +0100

Original source:
http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/news/2010/6/5/

Swansea Pride, 26th June 2010

21/06/10

Dyfed Powys Police in its close links with the other Welsh forces will be attending this year’s forthcoming Swansea Pride event to be held on Saturday 26th June 2010 at Singleton Park, Swansea.

The event which attracts thousands of visitors from across the South Wales and Dyfed and Powys policing areas is an ideal opportunity for the Welsh forces to show their ongoing commitment to supporting minority groups throughout Wales and beyond.

Dyfed Powys Police is delighted to announce that this year’s Pride will be opened by our Deputy Chief Constable, Ms Jackie Roberts in her role as All-Wales Diversity Lead Officer.

Ms Roberts said:
“It is an honour for me to have been asked to open this year’s Swansea Pride event, and I’m very much looking forward to it. In my role as All-Wales Diversity Lead Officer the benefits of equality and diversity for organisations is very apparent, as it improves performance and helps organisations work more creatively and innovatively. Showing our commitment to support minority groups throughout Wales is very important – and these events are excellent opportunities to do this.”

As an Equal Opportunities Employer who is part of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme, Dyfed Powys Police particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups such as those from within the LG & B community. Come along and meet us for a chance to discuss opportunities or any other issues further.

Swansea Pride!

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:35:25 +0100

Hey everyone, just to let you know tickets are still available for Swansea Pride 2010! I hope you're all looking forward to it as much as me!

I'm writing this whilst I should be packing/getting ready for my holiday (tut tut naughty boy!)

I would like to thank Peter Martin from Swansea Pride / GaySwansea.com for coming to the June meeting to sell tickets for Pride on the 26th of this month. Was nice to see him again and was also very nice to see Gay Ammanford in the Pride Guide booklet.

Dyfed-Powys Police will be at Swansea Pride again this year, on an All-Wales Police stall, there you can speak to officers, and staff about recruitment, hate crime or just have a friendly chat. You can find me there if you need a chat!

Gay Ammanford members will be at Pride, so look out for the pink or black poloshirts, as leaflets will be available if anyone wants one.

Right I have packing to do... see you all soon!

SWANSEA PRIDE TICKETS!

Wed, 12 May 2010 17:17:11 +0100

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR SWANSEA PRIDE 2010 ON SALE NOW

AVAILABLE ONLINE OR IN PERSON FROM

DERRICKS RECORDS
221 Oxford Street
Swansea
SA1 3BQ
Telephone: 01792 654 226

Tickets will also be available from DJ Jay at various venues in Cardiff very shortly

And your favourite venues in Swansea about 2 weeks before Pride

Don't miss out, get yours early!

www.GAYAMMANFORD.com
www.SWANSEAPRIDE.com
www.GAYSWANSEA.com

January Meeting Cancelled

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:05:45 +0100

Tonights meeting is cancelled due to the risks of travelling in these weather conditions.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday February 3rd at 7pm in 2Activ8, we will email/text you as a reminder and notify you of any changes.

UPDATE!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:20:04 +0100

Well, just a short update for everyone.

Thank you to all those who came to Swansea Pride and to those who helped out at the Gay Ammanford stall...
It was also nice to see Sergeant Gabe and some of the Amman-Towy NPT to give up their own time to attend the event.
The day was a success, and I for one cannot wait for next years.
Any feedback for the event please e-mail admin@gayammanford.com and we shall pass it onto the organisers of Swansea Pride!

In regards to the next meeting, we shall not hold one next month (August), this way we have a summer break to enjoy the weather. The meetings will then continue to be the FIRST Wednesday of every month, as of SEPTEMBER 2nd onwards!

See you all soon!

SWANSEA PRIDE WRISTBANDS AND PROGRAMMES ON SALE NOW!!!

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:11:03 +0100

WRIST BANDS FOR ENTRY INTO 'PINK IN THE PARK' SWANSEA PRIDE ARE ON SALE NOW.
Get them early, we have to limit the field to 5,000 people in our first year, so first come basis. Don't miss out get them today at

www.swanseapride.com or www.gayswansea.com

See you at Swansea Pride 2009

Police support the International Day Against Homophobia

Sun, 17 May 2009 11:44:32 +0100

Dyfed Powys Police are demonstrating their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff and members of the community they serve by recognising the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

Dyfed Powys Police officers and staff will be recognising international ‘Zero Tolerance Stop Homophobia’ on May 17 by wearing Orange IDAHO Awareness Ribbons.

The ribbons will be worn by the Hate Crime Support Officers and members of Neighbourhood Policing Teams and shows the force’s support of the day and to demonstrate Dyfed Powys Police’s approach of zero tolerance towards homophobia. Posters will also be displayed at stations to support this stance.

Rhian Glynn, Hate Crime Community Engagement Officer, said:
“By distributing the IDAHO posters and orange ribbons to members of staff it shows our commitment in working towards improving acceptance and equality for LGBT members in the workplace and the community we serve. It also illustrates a commitment to the wider equality and diversity agenda.

“Dyfed Powys Police are committed to offer each victim that reports a homophobic incident or indeed any form of hate crime with a high level of support in a confidential and professional manner. There are currently 53 Hate Crime Support Officers within the force area, which are deployed to any hate incident that is reported.”

The force is also in the process of developing an internal virtual network, through which LGB staff can contact each other via their work or personal email addresses. Members can remain anonymous if they wish.

Mrs Glynn added: “Through the network the Force hopes to ask LGB staff to advise us in the developing of policies and procedures and to continue to develop relationships between the police service and LGB communities.”

Dyfed Powys urges anyone to report hate crime – Not to Suffer in Silence.

In an emergency always call 999, or report by calling 101.

Original post:
http://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/news/2009/5/5/

IDAHO:
http://www.homophobiaday.org/

Minutes of 4th Gay Ammanford meeting held on Wednesday 6th May, 2009

Mon, 11 May 2009 09:23:11 +0100

Minutes of 4^th Gay Ammanford meeting held on Wednesday 6^th May, 2009

ATTENDEES

Attendee names hidden for privacy and security puposes.
PC Kevin Jones

ISSUES DISCUSSED

· Equality Conference Group (Cross Hands) Meeting 30^th May, 2009

The first meeting of the ECG for the Cross Hands area was held at the Cinema in Cross Hands, attendees included members of the local Cross Hands community from minority groups as well as local councillors and representatives from local agencies. Many issues were discussed in the meeting relating to the Cross Hands area; one issue raised by members of the meeting was that it had not been publicised sufficiently which may have prevented other people attending. An ECG meeting for the Ammanford area will be held shortly.

· Swansea Gay Pride

Swansea Gay Pride will be held on Saturday, 27^th June at Singleton Park, Swansea. It is the intention of the group to have a stall at the event and a discussion about ideas for it took place, including holding a raffle and asking local businesses for a financial donation or items to be used as prizes. It was suggested that introducing items that other stalls might not offer, such as branded mugs, key rings and leaflets for example, might give an advantage to the Gay Ammanford stall and serve to attract more people to it. Cairn and Geraint will speak to Peter Martin for details about the event and feed back to the group in the next meeting.

· Dyfed-Powys Police Single Equality Scheme Launch

The Dyfed-Powys Police Single Equality Scheme was launched at a conference at the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli which Cairn and Geraint attended. The conference included many high ranking police officers from the Dyfed-Powys force and also other interested parties. Highlights from the conference included discussion about a Hate Crime Support Scheme included in the Single Equality Scheme, which will pay particular attention to transphobic and homophobic hate incidents. Acting Assistant Chief Constable Gwyn Jones who led the meeting spoke about the introduction of diversity champions, who are staff that already serve as senior managers within Dyfed-Powys Police, to drive progress on the different strands of hate crime. He also spoke about the training of Hate Crime Support Officers to offer support to both the victims of a hate incident as well as the officer in charge of the case. 12 officers from each division have undergone the training with the intention of the role being to reassure minority groups that their complaints and issues are valid and are being taken seriously by the police. A point made by several officers at the meeting was the challenge in dealing with hate crime in the UK is its culture, with a tendency of a lack of respect and negative attitudes of the public towards both minority groups and police action. A pledge was made by Dyfed-Powys police that by introducing this scheme they aim to tackle hate crime directly with positive action through involving the minority groups and establishing their needs.

· The nature of the Gay Ammanford group

A discussion about the nature of the Gay Ammanford group took place, with members voicing ideas about the group’s future and status. It was decided that securing funding was a priority and that a recognised structure of officers and roles may need to be introduced in order to meet any criteria for grants, etc. - Geraint will speak to Communities First about any funding that can be potentially accessed. It was also raised that greater advertisement of the group via radio broadcasts and adverts in local papers may serve to attract more members and get more input from the local gay community.

· Police Liaison

PC Kevin Jones attended the meeting and is the liaison officer for the Gay Ammanford group. He spoke briefly about his role as Local Beat Manager for Ammanford and the surrounding area as well as the recent introduction of the new non-emergency police contact telephone number, 101. A discussion followed about the diversity training he had received and he explained that all officers must complete diversity training as legislated by the Home Office, and that Dyfed-Powys Police were the first police force in the UK to have introduced the Single Equality Scheme.

· Social Events

A group discussion was held about holding social events with many ideas being raised. It was decided to hold another trip to Megabowl in Parc Tawe, Swansea on Saturday 13^th June, with all those attending to meet there at 6pm. This will be confirmed at the next meeting.

The next Gay Ammanford meeting will be held on Wednesday 3^rd June at 7pm.