The Network is very pleased to provide the statement below from Mr David Sidwick, Conservative Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner Election (May 2021) Candidate regarding the Network & LGBT Community, LGBT+ homelessness initiative.
In the Summer of 2019, Pride Month, the Network received contact directly by David on the subject of future PCC remits concerning LGBT+ community engagement, and how this could build on our current, now retiring DPCC Mr Martyn Underhill’s powerful effective record across his two periods of office as DPCC in regard to policing and crime counteraction and related diverse communities’ engagement.
At that time Mr Sidwick invited the Network to undertake a wide-ranging interview with him on his vision and remits regarding LGBT+ inclusion, and anti-prejudice and related ASB. This resulted in a valuable wide-ranging interview, whose details the Network shared at that time. Now, some 20 months on, the Network is delighted to share the statement below from David regarding our requesting his support for and views on the LGBT+ homeless community support initiative:
‘Thank you for keeping me aware of this important work. Homelessness affects individuals from all communities and for many reasons including ignorance & prejudice, and in order to address it we need to understand all the facets of this concerning issue.
Solutions have to be tailored so we can help and support our LGBT homeless community members off the streets and into accommodation and work. We need more education and understanding of this need. Most important is collaboration with the general public and relevant public & private sectors service providers so that the needs of these individuals can be successfully addressed.
I commend the Network for this much needed initiative and its broader services to and for the Pan-Dorset LGBT+ community who contribute so much to our society, economy, creative and caring sectors, and ‘inclusive welcome factor’ across BCP and Dorset.’
David Sidwick
Dorset PCC Conservative Candidate