Work carried out by these individuals and groups helps to improve the lives of LGBT students and extends their rights.
All year, individuals and societies work tirelessly, putting on events, fundraising, running campaigns and supporting LGBT students in their unions. Some do this limited or no funding or support from their institution.
Awards are given for Higher Education Society of the Year, Further Education Society of the year, Campaign of the Year, Campaigner of the Year and Event of the Year.
Campaigner of the Year
The Award for Campaigner of the Year went to Tara Hewitt, Trans rep at Liverpool Guild of Students.
Tara was recognised for bringing trans issues to the forefront of the Guild’s work this year.
She petitioning for all transgendered individuals to be fully covered by the new Single Equality Bill, organising a Transgender awareness day with trans-related film-showings, stalls and talks and getting the Guild to agree to drawing up separate trans equality and transsexual action plan documents.
Higher Education Society of the Year
Kingston Students’ Union picked up Higher Education Society of the Year for increasing membership and tackling the low numbers of women involved in the society.
As well as holding successful weekly social events, both at clubs and in non-alcoholic environments, the group has held talks and workshops for members on sexual health.
The group took its first steps towards becoming a campaigning LGBT this year with a fundraiser for the Terrence Higgins Trust, and have worked with the students’ union and LGBT officer to develop and distribute information about homophobia to schools where Kingston PGCE students attend placements.
Life as an LGBT student
Here in the UK, LGBT people have many new legal rights, but more can be done to extend their rights. Hate crime and bullying rates are unacceptably high and it's still illegal for gay and bisexual men to donate blood.
Charley Hasted, a nominee for campaigner of the year, talks about his life as an LGBT student and why he has been campaigning to improve the lives of LGBT students. Read his story
Winners:
- Higher Education Society of the Year – Kingston University LGBT
- Campaign of the Year – York University Students' Union LGBT
- Campaigner of the Year – Tara Hewitt at Liverpool Guild of Students
- Further Education Society of the Year – St Brendan’s Sixth Form College
- Event of the Year – University of Birmingham LGBTQ