i cOUnT Survey Results
August 2004

Thank you all for taking the time to fill in the "i cOUnT" survey. The results are back in and they make for very interesting reading.

For those of you who have been hibernating for the last year "i cOUnT" aimed to discover the needs of the LGBT community in Nottingham and surrounding areas. With the information collated the Out House will be targeting the needs of LGBT community.

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Pride Set for 2004
May 2004

The Arboretum will again play host to Nottingham Pride in 2004. There'll be fun activities for kids of all ages, beer tents, live music on the bandstand and much, much more. Volunteers are still needed: its great fun. Call Biddy on 0115 911 0545.

Did you know? Nottingham has the seventh largest gay population in England and Wales. So it's not surprisng that Nottingham City Council Partnership ceremonies for lesbians and gay men. Perhaps soon they will introduce full Civil Partnerships.

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The sale of the Cranbrook Street premises was successfully completed.

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Mark Simons Retires
October 2003

Mark Simons, our part-time Office Administrator, stands down after three years of valuable service. He was also a Committee member and Treasurer for some years before that. Thanks Mark, for your special contribution.

The re-scheduled AGM took place on 14 October at NG1. Reports and updates were provided on the last year of activities. A new Management Committee was elected.

The deadline for the I cOUnT survey (see below) has been extended. We really need a comprehensive response from all sections of the community. So, if your copy is still languishing around the house, PLEASE get it back to the office!

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The Out House AGM took place on 30 September at NG1. Since we Lacked a quorum, it was re-schediled for 14 October.

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Nottingham Pride 2003
August 2003

The first Nottingham Pride for three years took place in brilliant sunshine at the Arboretum on 30 August.

A good crowd watched the band line up which included a host of talent including headline band 'Bent.' There was a great festival atmosphere with attractions to please all ages and lifestyles.

Many thanks to all the sponsers and especially to the wonderful committee who put it all together in record time. Rumour has it that plans for Pride 2004 are already under way.

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i cOUnT Survey
August 2003

The largest survey of LGB people ever undertaken in Notts is now underway. Under the title of 'i cOUnT,' it is being circulated widely throughout the county.

The information gathered will give us the chance to really plan the services you want. We can use the information to approach funders and local authorities and privide strong evidence to support our demands.

If you haven't yet got a copy, email us or phone us.

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Special General Meeting Sets New Direction, the full story
May 2003

An important decision was made about the future of the project on 21 May. The Management Committee called a Special General Meeting to consult the membership. Patrick, our Chair explained the developments that had led to the judgement we should 'bite the bullet' and dispose of the Cranbrook Street property in favour of a smaller leased community café.

Despite all efforts to find the funds to refurbish the Cranbrook Street building, we were simply unable to secure the sums needed. The original vision of establishing an LGB community space remained our primary objective. The new proposal was designed to achieve that aim as rapidly as possible. This is how the plan was put to the members:

The Cranbrook Street premises has proved an excellent investment and its market value has significantly increased. If sold, we could repay the Community Fund its original grant and still have a considerable sum to invest in a smaller community café/bookshop with office/meeting space. The Committee was therefore recommending this alternative route. A possible space in an ideal location in Hockley was already being explored.

The plan would be to use the proceeds of the sale to get a community café up and running speedily. This would finally bring to fruition the long awaited and much anticipated aim of the Out House project.

A wide-ranging discussion of the proposal took place. Members raised all kinds of questions and the Committee and Biddy, our Volunteer Coordinator, did their best to answer them. Among the points raised and discussed were: Would the new café compete with the multitude of established café/bars in the city centre or provide something different? There was strong feeling that it must offer an alternative space which is a genuine resource for the LGB community. It was recognised there could be a tension between making the new venue pay and preserving its community ethos.

How would the café be run? By offering it to tender? By appointing a manager? By volunteers? There was a widely held feeling that, whatever route was taken, it must be be run on a sound financial basis. It was recognised that we need realism but also to hold on to our founding vision. The Out House was started from an inspired idea and this has sustained us ever since.

Finally, the following formal resolution was put to the vote:

That the Cranbrook Street building be sold and the net proceeds used to establish a modest but viable Out House community café/bookshop as soon as possible.

The resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority. Now, all we have to do is make it work! Anyone interested in helping with the project will be very welcome. Please contact the office.

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Nottingham Pride 2003 will be held on 30 August at the Arboretum. So get that date in your diaries now. Contact the organisers at: nottinghampride03@hotmail.com or see the web site at: nottinghampride.com

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Birth of I'm Free
April 2003

Out House Newsletter and QB have combined to make a brand new publication called I'M FREE. The merger is designed to widen the overall readership. The new style is light-hearted and witty but still has lots of local LGB news.

Nottingham Pride takes place on Saturday 30 August at the Arboretum. Plans for live music, games, stalls and all sorts of fun are steaming ahead. Details available from the Out House office.

The Leader of Nottingham City Council has assured us that the council will soon introduce a partnership registration scheme for same sex couples. Couples living in the county will also be able to take advantage of the new arrangements.

'i cOUnT' is the name of a major new survey being carried out by the Out House to investigate the changing needs of the LGB community. If you see a copy, please take the time to complete it. We need as wide a participation as possible.

Notts Police are also carrying out a survey. There's is on crime affecting the LGB communities. Results are expected in June.

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Our Development Worker, Chris Bristow, is moving on after being with the project for some years. For the last two years he was employed with a Community Fund grant which has now expired. We wish him all the best.

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New Sign
February 2003

A bold new sign has been erected on the front of our building on Cranbrook St. It draws attention to this web site. Watch out for it when you pass.

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The Boots Charitable Foundation has awarded a grant of £6000 to the Out House. We are grateful to them for their support.

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Biddy's work on volunteering
December 2002

Biddy has now been working at the Out House for some months. So what has she been doing? Well so far she has been meeting with the LGB voluntary groups in the city and discussing what services we need for the community that could be provided by volunteers- some very clear gaps have been identified already and she still has several groups to meet.

One of the criteria of the post is that she produce a report which maps current services, explore the gaps in current services and makes recommendations about how to fill these gaps using volunteers. This will obviously take some time, however whilst doing this research she is compiling a volunteer handbook for the Out House- so that when we are ready to recruit volunteers all the right support structures and polices will, be in place.

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A team of interested people are well ahead with plans for a new Pride event for Nottingham. They need more help and support. So, if you fancy lending a hand, or have anything to say about it, contact the new planning team via: nottinghampride03@hotmail.com

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Newsletter Group
November 2002

Lots of people read the Out House newsletter, and we are currently developing it into something bigger and even better.

So if you've got a secret yearning to be Lois Lane or Clark Kent , give us a call at the office and we will form a Community Newsletter Group. Photo's, articles, reviews, small ads etc. come and join us.

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Peter Tatchell Guest of Out House
September 2002

Peter Tatchell, high profile member of the Gay and Lesbian campaigning organisation, Outrage, visited Nottingham on Wednesday 4 September. He was the guest of Out House at our annual AGM.

The subject of his talk was: '30 Years of Gay Pride - What Next?' Peter Tatchell began by paying tribute to the activity of local grassroots activists in Nottingham. He said that it was community level work such as this which really made a difference to the lives of ordinary lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

He recalled the first Gay Pride march in London in 1972 and illustrated how much progress had been made in the intervening 30 years. LGB people are more visible and more accepted in society. Sweeping progress had been made in legal and institutional changes which accorded more dignity, rights and respect to this minority community.

He went on to record, however, how much more remained to be done. There was still Section 28 to be abolished, partnership rights were still unrecognised and protection from many forms of discrimination needs to be won. Mr Tatchell presented a passionate challenge to those present to resist complacency and widen their vision for the future. He spoke of the need to champion more radical causes, even if they were unpopular. The LGB Community needs to forge alliances with other marginalised groups fighting for their rights. Our cause is a common one. It is human rights, not just for one section of the community, but for all.

Peter Tatchell received resounding applause for his inspiring talk. The event was well attended and was held on the premises of NG1, Nottingham's leading social venue for the Gay and Lesbian Community on Upper Parliament Street. Patrick McCrory, chair of the Out House commented: "Peter Tatchell really gave us a stirring evening with much food for thought. He is an outstanding speaker whose commitment to his beliefs is an inspiration to us all."

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