Educational Action Challenging Homophobia

Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom established "to affirm the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and reduce discrimination experienced because of sexual orientation or gender identity".^[1] Founded in 2002, EACH provides support services to young people and adults affected by homophobic or transphobic bullying or harassment and training to agencies committed to realising an equal and safe working environment for all, regardless of age, sex, ability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexuality.^[2]

In March 2015, The Government Equalities Office and Department for Education awarded EACH funding from a £2m package of support to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality and challenge prejudice-based bullying in schools. EACH was one of only eight organisations selected nationally and led a consortium of local and national charities to work with West of England schools, delivering training to over 700 professionals.^[3]

The programme culminated in the production of a comprehensive School Resource for KS1-4, Inspiring Equality in Education, including 17 lesson plans, policy and practice guidance and an educational film, 'What is Gender?' to help young people explore how diverse gender can be.^[4]

Inspiring Equality in Education was created to help address the findings that schools often lack confidence and feel under-resourced to deal effectively with homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying, and draws on decades of professional practice gained from primary, secondary, rural, urban, faith and secular schools to ensure a safe and equal learning environment for all.^[5] The resource includes policy and practice guidance covering what the law says, teaching about LGBT+ identities and relationships, handling disclosures, staff training and development, improving anti-bullying policies and one-to-one support for LGBT+ young people.^[6]

EACH has a freephone Actionline (telephone and web-based) for young people affected by homophobic or transphobic bullying nationwide.^[7]

Consultancy and training is delivered to and for the Department for Education, schools, colleges and universities, the NHS and related medical bodies, local government, the Criminal Justice System (including the College of Policing and the National Crime Agency) plus charitable sector organisations on sexual orientation and gender identity issues.

EACH Executive Director Jonathan Charlesworth’s first book, "That's So Gay - Challenging Homophobic Bullying" was published in February 2015. It is aimed at teachers and others working directly with young people, in formal and informal settings. This is a hands-on, practical guide to dealing with homophobic name-calling and bullying.^[8]

In January 2015 EACH received funding from the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation towards its Youth Volunteering Programme. The EACH Youth Volunteering Programme provided opportunities for young people across Avon and Somerset to challenge homophobic, transphobic and cyber bullying. Young people aged 13 – 24 were encouraged to participate in a range of exciting activities and events providing opportunities to discuss prejudice-based bullying in a safe and non-judgemental environment. They could meet new people and devise youth-led awareness campaigns that promoted affirming representations of gay and transgender lives.^[9]

In 2009 EACH was awarded a Big Lottery grant for its groundbreaking Reach project. Since 2010 EACH has been working with over 3,500 young people across the West of England: co-creating the Reach Teaching Resource: a toolkit for challenging homophobic, sexist and cyberbullying. The resource contains a DVD of films and connected activities on homophobia, sexism and cyberbullying plus guidance notes for teachers to help them understand their legal obligations and Ofsted requirements. Reach’s young people were awarded the 2013 Diana Anti-Bullying Award at a celebration conference in London in February 2014.^[10] In 2014 the Reach Teaching Resource achieved the PSHE Association's Quality Assurance 'Kite Mark'.^[11]

In 2007 the now Department for Education commissioned EACH and Stonewall to create the web-based guidance to all schools - "Safe to Learn: Homophobic Bullying" which continues to be widely used and applauded by many working within education in its widest sense.^[12]

EACH was subsequently invited to contribute to "Safe to Learn: Bullying Out of School" and "Safe to Learn: Gender-related Bullying" ~ the final guidance in the suite designed by the DCSF for schools everywhere. EACH has contributed to the Department's advice to schools on preventing and tackling bullying and consulted closely with the Church of England in its creation of guidance to church schools to help challenge homophobic school bullying.

References

External links

• Official website
• Charity Commission. EACH - Educational Action Challenging Homophobia, registered charity no. 1095665.