Individuals Who Have Made a
Difference
2010 Winner – Billi-Jean Summerbell
Billi-Jean works for DISC which is an
independent North of England based
charity that focuses on deprivation and
exclusion. Work covers 4 main initiatives:
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Drug Initiatives, supporting people to
stop using drugs and reduce harm to
themselves and others
Employment Initiatives, helping
people who are disadvantaged in the
labour market to obtain and sustain a
job
Housing Support Initiatives, helping
people to access and retain
appropriate good quality housing, and
work with Children, Young People
and Families, enabling vulnerable
groups to live safely in the community
For example:
Organising a trip to Brighton for Durham
Young Gay People’s Network (DYGPN) to
look at LGBT culture in Southern England.
The visit inspired Billi-Jean to promote
awareness throughout DISC by literally
giving LGBT a voice at one of its
management meetings. The ‘Brighton
story’ was relayed to seventy Managers by
Billi-Jean with the help of three young
people who had taken part in the trip.
Supporting Young LGBT People
Billi-Jean retains an infectious passion to
achieve positive outcomes for LGBT
young people. She has consistently
performed outstanding work supporting
young LGBT people, providing
experiences that have positively
contributed to their future.
Billi-Jean Summerbell, winner of the
Individuals who have made a difference
category with Mike Halsey, Key
Enterprieses, sponsor of the award.
This event and meeting was a huge
success providing a positive experience
for the people involved.
A safe, secure, and supported
environment is important to ensure young
LGBT people are comfortable and
confident with themselves and others.
The following provisions are promoted
and made available to the young people:
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Information, guidance and advice
on safe lifestyles
Promotion sexual health and wellbeing
Specialised one to one support
meeting the specific needs of
young people
Initiatives provided to a Peer
Support group
Awareness raising of LGBT
communities
Billi-Jean has engaged with schools and
colleges in Durham and Darlington to
raise awareness of LGBT issues,
particularly bullying, by using interactive
methods which are proving very popular
amongst learners and teachers.
With Billi-Jean’s support a comic has
been produced by the DYGPN aimed at
the rights of LGBT young people in
schools (The Crack). This was
showcased at a national conference in
partnership with UK Youth and Hearing
Unheard Voices receiving rave reviews.
The comic will be utilised as a training tool
for work in schools particularly those in
remote rural areas.
Her campaign continues; to provide schools
with support to make them accessible for all
young people to just ‘be’.
JUDGES WORDS
Through her work as a Youth and
Community worker with DISC Billi-Jean
aims to achieve positive outcomes for
LGBT young people. She has helped
Durham Young Gay People’s Network
(DYGPN) to produce a comic which
highlights the rights of LGBT young people
in schools. Her commitment to working
with LGBT people is fantastic and one
judge said of Billi-Jean that “she is a
complete revelation and inspiration.”
For more information about the North East
Equality Awards, please visit our website,
www.equality-ne.co.uk/awards or contact
Equality North East on 0191 495 6262 or
email awards@equality-ne.co.uk.
...leading the way to a
fairer future...