eConnect The latest news from elop for May

Are you looking to work in the LGBT+ Charity Sector?  We are hiring.  We are pleased to be part of #Queerstart with 13 LGBTQ+ organisations participating in the Kickstart scheme;  providing 40 job placements for LGBT 18-25 year olds at risk of long term unemployment. The aim is to give young people the chance to build their confidence and skills in the workplace, and to gain experience that will improve their chances of going on to find long term work.  Young people have the opportunity to work at ELOP, LGBT Switchboard, Mermaids, Opening Doors London, London Friend, The Outside Project, Free 2B Alliance, Galop, Mosaic LGBT+ Young Person’s Trust, Allsorts, Gendered Intelligence, Learnest and Stonewall Housing. Job placements are specifically for young people up to 25 who are unemployed and receiving Universal Credit. The jobs last for 6 months and in addition to gaining on the job experience, they will also receive specific support to help build employment skills and confidence, getting them ready for their next job.  Our job role is for an Admin and Marketing Assistant and are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, hardworking, and who takes pride in doing a job well alongside wanting to make a difference for the LGBT+ community.   You need to apply through your job centre. .   Weekly Social Events Our programme of Free supportive groups offer you a safe place to be together, make new friends, explore and articulate yourselves individually and as a community. Activities range from workshops and guest speakers to sharing circles, finding ways to grow and helping each other develop and find strength through positive mental health strategies. email events@elop.org for the link  Mondays in May   18-25's Group This group is moving to Mondays starting on the 10th May: During May this group will be celebrating  Agender Pride Day 2021 and marking IDAHOBIT.   Groups are taking place on  10th May and 24th May 7.00pm - 8.30pm  email youth@elop.org for the link   GBT+ Men's Social Support Meet-up Group   6th May: How to make Friends and build Relationships Sometimes feel that men aren't always great at friendships, come and explore how to improve your connections to others and what you want from your friendships.  13th May - Games Night  Musical Bingo - join us for this evenings entertainment, and discover a whole new meaning to bingo!  It's all about fun and entertainment today. Join us for a relaxed game of laughing, being silly, and focusing on keeping things light-hearted  20th May  - Mental health Awareness Night  This month is mental health awareness month, and we are having a mental health check in and meditation night.  Come and support one another and leave with a calmer mind after meditating.  27th May  - Art Night   Come and tap into your creative side.  Opportunity for a relaxed evening whilst creating your own modern or traditional piece of art. . Email events@elop.org for link Tuesdays These weekly meet-ups are a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ youth to come together in a welcoming and supportive environment to share, have some fun and learn skills to grow into independent, positive, and productive adults. email youth@elop.org for the link 12-15s                       15-18's                        5pm - 630pm                         7pm - 830pm   HeadsOut: LGBTQ+ Wellbeing Workshops Mondays 630pm - 830pm   HeadsOut is a strengths-based crisis prevention and wellbeing service. It supports anyone who struggles with mental health, including: depression; anxiety and intrusive thoughts; or thinking about suicide or self-harm. We offer a series of wellness workshops designed around mental health that educates and supports you. With different sessions weekly, you will build your resilience tool kit to improve your quality of life. All workshops are Free to attend. email mentalhealth@elop.org for the link Coming Out of Lockdown & Living Well    Monday 10th   Grounding Through The Tree of Life Join us for this creative workshop where we will use the metaphor of the Tree of Life to find grounding in our roots and think about what we need in order to grow.  All drawing abilities welcome!   Monday 17th  Mindful motivation Struggling to find motivation? Do you find yourself procrastinating more than usual? Join us to practice mindfulness and find practices to re-energize you. Monday 24 Couch to Confidence   Do you feel your confidence has dropped during lockdown? You might be struggling with your body image or your confidence in general. You are not alone! Join us to share with other how the lockdown has impacted your confidence and start building it up! L ReCharge: Weekly Online LGBTQ+ Mental Health Support Group Fridays 11am - 1230pm email mentalhealth@elop.org for the link ReCharge offers a weekly space and facilitated opportunity to check-in and meet up with other LGBTQ+ people who have or are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. To share our  experiences, support each other through the ups and downs, celebrate achievements, access resources, tools and learn strategies to help us stay safe and well as we move forward to achieve our goals.    Relationship Counselling  Problems in relationships can be complicated, that's why we launched a new couples counselling service. If you are struggling in your relationship, are dealing with a change in boundaries or dynamics, or finding it difficult to connect, relationship therapy can help you to hear better and communicate with each other. Our LGTBQ+ counselling team are respectful of all genders, sexual and relationship diversities. Whatever you bring to the sessions we will discuss in a non-judgemental, confidential and sensitive way and work through with encouragement, knowledge and understanding. email counselling@elop.org to access support As with our individual counselling service, we ask for a contribution towards the cost of service which is based on your joint income.  LGBT+ Awareness Days In May   2nd May  International Family Equality Day All over the world, more and more children are growing up in families where one or both of their parents identify as LGBTQ+. Yet, each of these “rainbow families” has very different lived equality experiences, often depending not only on what country they live in but what street they live on. In some countries, our families enjoy equal rights and social recognition but in far too many others both parents and their children face overt discrimination and have to live under a constant threat of violence.   17th May International Day Against Homphobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. The Day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, etc. to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.   19 May  Agender Pride Day 2021 To be agender means to not identify as any particular gender. Agender is also called genderblank , genderfree, genderless, gendervoid, non-gendered, ungendered, or null gender. The agender identity falls under the nonbinary umbrella and (sometimes) the transgender umbrella. 22 May Harvey Milk Day 2021 Harvey Milk Day is organized by the Harvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22 in memory of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist assassinated in 1978. Harvey Milk was a prominent gay activist during the twentieth century. He ran for office three times before becoming the first openly gay person elected into California public office, where he acted as a city supervisor.  24 May Pansexual & Panromantic Visibility Day 2021  May 24 is Pansexual Visibility Day a day to celebrate and recognize those who identify as pansexual   BiCon is a weekend-long educational and social gathering for Bi+ people, their friends, partners, and others with a supportive interest in bisexuality.   Taking place Thursday 19th August - Sunday 22nd August  https://www.outsavvy.com/event/6066/virtual-bicon-2021 Tickets grant you access to the workshops and socials that run from a Thursday night to a Sunday afternoon, but you dont have to attend every session, just come along to the ones that you want to.  You can support us by shopping at Amazon and it won't cost you a penny. Simply click on the image!  Copyright © 2021, ELOP. All rights reserved. Our mailing address and registered office is: ELOP Centre, 56-60 Grove Road, London, E17 9BN info@elop.org 07908 553744 http://www.elop.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.             Registered Charity 1067474         Company Limited by Guarantee 3355423 Raise money every time you search the web. Everyclick is a great new search engine. It works just like other major search engines but it also generates cash charity. Just make Everyclick.com your homepage and raise money for ELOP whenever you search the web. It's easy!  http://www.everyclick.com/elop/329566/0