Annual Report 2023 - 2024

This report follows on from the December online Community Voice LGBTQIA+ Public Forum held for City & Hackney residents, providing detailed insights from members of the Hackney LGBTQIA+ community. The forum highlighted the unique healthcare challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, emphasising the need for a more inclusive and understanding healthcare system.

The focus group, held online on January 18th, conducted by the Community Voice team, aimed to delve deeper into people’s individual experiences, further informing the development of London Borough of Hackney’s Equality Plan by capturing first-hand accounts of healthcare interactions, with a further focus on mental health, within the Hackney LGBTQIA+ community.

This Community Voice public forum focused on the healthcare needs of the marginalised and often misunderstood LGBTQIA+ community in City & Hackney. The forum and report set out to provide a platform for LGBTQIA+ voices to inform local healthcare policy and provide actionable recommendations for systemic changes.

The London Borough of Hackney Equality Plan and Sexual and Reproductive Health strategy in City & Hackney (presented by guest speakers at the forum) aim to address systemic inequalities through community-informed approaches.

Critical community feedback has pinpointed service gaps and the need for adaptation to meet LGBTQIA+ needs effectively. The council’s willingness to embrace this feedback and focus on mental health challenges within the LGBTQIA+ community is a positive step towards inclusive healthcare provision.

The Community Voice team have advocated for continued community engagement to shape these initiatives.