Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT)
We have a duty to help everyone stay safe from fire, flood
and other emergencies. To do this, they have to feel happy
approaching us for help and advice.
Some of the issues affecting LGBT communities can act as a
barrier to this, so we're working to remove them. We attend Pride
events, actively support LGBT History Month and ensure staff are
aware of issues affecting the community. As an employer, we welcome
LGBT applicants.
Did you know?
- 75 per cent of LGBT people aged 50+ live alone
- 80 per cent grow older as a single person with no significant
other
- LGBT people are five times less likely to access public
service, fearing discrimination and homophobic reactions (data from
Age Concern).
Risk factors
This group can be more at risk due to their lifestyles and
their perception of service providers.
Issues include having fewer family links to call upon in times
of need, and fear of homophobic and discriminatory attitudes.
Add to that everyday risk factors such as health problems and
associated medication, drinking and smoking, and the risk of a fire
in the home is significantly increased.
What we do
By raising understanding of these risks, we can reduce the
threat to this group.
Through our free home safety visits, our staff can visit and
give fire safety advice, installing free smoke alarms where
necessary.
The team is used to dealing with issues in different communities
and how these affect people's needs.