Stoke's new Polari Lounge

 

In 2010 the LGBT Network was successful in securing funding from the Robbie Williams 'Give it sum' charity and the Staffordshire Foundation to set up and run a Gay and Lesbian drop-in Centre in the City Centre.

 

To allow them to engage with people who are LGBT they believed that it was necessary to be creative in their approach, coming up with the idea that an outreach facility through a coffee shop style drop-in centre was crucial to achieving this aim.

 

In support of this, a survey carried out at Stoke Pride 2009 showed that a high percentage of the community wanted somewhere gay or lesbian in the day where they could relax and socialise. Before now, there were no lesbian or gay venues open in North Staffordshire before 7 o’clock in the evening.

 

In response to the feedback the LGBT Network proposed to create a LGBT /attitude free environment, a café setting that would close the gap in the scene and provide direct support to the community.

 

They believed that it was important to engage with the whole of the LGBT community and all of their partners so that they are open and transparent about their intensions. At each stage of the project they consulted with the community making sure the project met the community’s needs and allowed people to feel part of what was happening.

 

The intention of their project was to incorporate in to the design, information and literature about services designed to support the LGBT community. For example, computer terminals display links to local services such as the local councils, NHS health services and police. Televisions advertise services in between videos, and paper literature is displayed between menus and magazines.

 

More importantly though, LGBT Network staff are on hand to engage directly with customers, providing direct support and increase community contact.