What we do
Encompass Network is an umbrella organisation that supports, represents and links LGBT voluntary and community organisations working in equality and diversity across Cambridgeshire.
We coordinate LGBT History Month every year in Cambridgeshire
Encompass Network supports and coordinates LGBT History Month in Cambridgeshire. We are instrumental in helping to plan events and compiling and distributing the information for all the events running during the History Month.
Encompass Network is working in partnership with The University of Cambridge, Cambridge City Council & Cambridgeshire County Council along with businesses and voluntary organisations to celebrate this year's LGBT History Month.
Visit www.lgbtcambs.webs.com for details of all events.
Two key events that Encompass are hosting during LGBT History month are:
Trans in the workplace event on the 24th February in partnership with the University of Cambridge and A:Gender to explore the challenges and discuss developing inclusive practice particularly in relation to the public sector. For more information email equality@admin.cam.ac.uk.
The Decades of Changes event on the 26th Feb. An event that takes a look at the past, present and future for LGBT people. With guest speaker Sally Knocker, author of 'The Whole of Me'. For more information email info@encompassnetwork.org.
We organise networking events for the community throughout the year:
In January 2008 at the Meadows Centre we organised the LGBTI Community Health Information Event. The event was very successful with over 30 attendees, including members from most sexual minorities of the community: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transvestite; as well as local professionals, such as The Mayor of Cambridge, the Assistant Director for Health Improvement and the Director of Adult Support Services. Speakers David Fullman from Norwich Age Concern, Mark Sperry from Indigo Leicester and Grant Chambers from Dhiverse gave fantastic presentations on health and wellbeing, mental health and HIV & sexual health of LGBTI communities.
We produce a regular e-newsletter
Information Programme
The charity is the vital central point of information for all LGBTI groups in Cambridgeshire and it has developed an e-newsletter which acts as the central hub for all the LGBTI groups in the area, but also it is the interface between other organisations, such as statutory bodies and other voluntary and charity groups who want to reach the LGBTI community.
We organise the Community Tent at the East of England Pink Festival
Pink Festival is the biggest open-air LGB event of the year for the East of England. The Pink Festival is one big day bursting with fun, music, arts and attractions and is East Anglia’Äôs only all-day open-air gay event. The Pink Festival celebrates the fact that we're all different. Truly a 'Party for All', Pink is a FREE event in every sense of the word, welcoming all walks of life and promoting freedom of lifestyle for all people in the East of England. Bringing together crowds in their many thousands - whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, heterosexual, young and old. The event aims to break down barriers and promote acceptance and understanding. It is hosted in one of Cambridge's many idyllic green spaces, Cherry Hinton Hall.
The objective of Pink Festival is to demonstrate that sexual orientation should not be a barrier to integrating into an inclusive society.
Encompass Network proudly supported the event in 2008 and looks forward to continuing to do so in future events!
