Toni Montinaro - Manager

I believe in our diversity as LGBT people but I am also committed that LGBT people are part of the wider community and should play an active role in our neighbourhoods. I have a strong interest in developing a Healthier Gay Derby and Derbyshire. I believe that more is needed to raise the awareness of HIV and Sexual Health and to tackle discrimination and lack of services in Derby and Derbyshire. I am conscious that further work is needed to support Lesbian(Gay) and Bisexual women especially around health; and to advocate and support our Transgendered community who often face harrassment and misunderstanding. I am committed to working with others to make real changes (real people, real services) and that includes working with ARC, Derbyshire Positive Support, Choices Youth Group, Derbyshire Constabulary, South Derbyshire CVS, Amber Valley Mental Health Services, City Council and the list as well as the work goes on.

Melvyn Fearn - Administrator

My name is Melvyn Fearn and I've been df's administrator since 1998 and also one of df's support worker on Derbyshire LGBT Switchboard and at The Pavilion LGBT Centre. I joined df in 1992 as a helpline volunteer, and was one of the founding members of the Sexual Health Project in 1995. Over the years that I have been involved with df has seen many changes from moving to new premises to supplying of new services. I'm looking forward in being involved with df for many more years.

To contact me e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Melvyn.

Emma Boyes - Project Worker

Hi, I’m Emma and I have lived in Derby since 2003. I have been a member of the team since 2007, I joined after being on placement with df. At df I work part time as a Project Worker focusing mainly on our groups, the youth groups in particular. I really enjoy working with people and the young people and Love Knows no gender (the Saturday group) can get really busy and exhausting but always fun. I also work full time for the Derwent Community Team which a New Deal for Communities Government funded programme to regenerate the area of Derwent, Derby and involves working with projects to help them become sustainable.

I’m really excited about being part of DF as I strongly believe that everyone, regardless of their sexuality or whatever sets them apart from the ‘norm’, should be treated no differently than the average ‘Jo Blogs’, and I also wanted to be apart of something which can help make a real difference to a persons life and well-being.

My social life, well you have to get to know me before I tell you that…Bye for now.

To contact me e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Emma.

Travis Peters - Sexual Health Outreach Worker

Hello! My name is Travis and I work within df as a Sexual Health Outreach Worker on the SHAG project. I am currently a student at the University of Derby studying Broadcast Media and I have been living in Derby for around 2 and a half years.

Prior to this, I worked within Lancashire Constabulary as a Police Radio Operator. In this role, I gained valuable experience in dealing with a range of different people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. I now bring this experience to Derbyshire Friend and involved with hate crime reporting, public sex work and support around harassment and bullying. I am very much looking forward to building strong relationships with the gay community and raising awareness of gay issues, particularly concerning sexual health and STI screenings.

When I do have some spare time, I like to spend it socialising with friends. I am also a keen musician and have been involved in live music for a number of years.

To contact me e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Travis.

Scott Wallace - Sexual Health Outreach Worker

Hi I’m Scott, and I am one of the Sexual Health Outreach Workers at df. I’ve been with Friend since October 2007 and it’s never been a dull moment. My work is mainly on campaigns for the scene, providing our free condom distribution scheme, as well as work around sauna’s, which can get hot! I also have another part time job in retail like to keep my hand in with customer services, and lived in Derby all my life.

Prior to this, I worked in a variety of settings and also use to go to Choices Youth. Choices made a big impression on me and helped in making friends and getting to know the gay community, it also gave me a trip of a lifetime to India as part of a youth expedition. In my role at friend, I like meeting people and in this job I am able to provide Information, advice and guidance on issues around sexual health, health, legal rights and on getting jobs. If I ‘don’t know the answer I will know somebody who does. I have gained a lot of experience in this job and now have experience in dealing with a range of different people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.

So if you see me around give us a shout, though I might ask you to do a Chlamydia pot! Lol.

Oh and when I do have some spare time, I like hairdressing but I also like to spend it socialising with friends and family. Love travelling so you may see me around in Leicester, London, Brighton and of course Derby.

To contact me e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Scott.

Andy Cave - LGBT Training Officer

Hi, I’m Andy Cave and I’m the LGB&T Training and Development officer at df. I mainly provide training but also deliver on Derbyshire Friends IAG services (Information, advice and Guidance) as well as job and back to work skills. Ihave worked with the LGBT community now for around 10 years and in that time have developed a broad background and knowledge of the issues facing the LGB&T community. I originate and currently live in Staffordshire, which like Derbyshire has a large rural population, but I have also lived in Liverpool and spent time in Manchester, so I have an understanding of the challenges for LGBT people in both Rural and City settings.

Half of my working life is spent in South Derbyshire where I also work in the field of health working for South Derbyshire CVS as a Health Trainer. My work in this area will hopefully mean a greater working relationship between the two projects and loads of shared learning.

In my spare time I have a passion for music and try to get to as many music festivals as I can over the summer months. Over the winter I do enjoy Skiing and spend as much time as I can in the French Alps, enjoying both the on piste and off piste activities which that brings. At University in Liverpool, I graduated in Zoology, and have a passion for animals, ecology and conservation.

To contact Andy e-mail df_training@yahoo.co.uk

Becky Ward - Healthy Communities Development Worker

Hi, I’m Becky and I have been with df since 2007. My first involvement was on a short one year project aimed at BAME issues and also as a outreach worker. These posts fascinated me so much after spending my summer in South East Asia working as a confidant to young people questioning their sexuality and helping to educate the community and increase awareness on issues around sexual health, specifically focusing on HIV. These roles allow me to develop the work I became so passionate about by engaging with local communities and other organisations to meet the needs of LGB&T people in this case BAME communities by providing support, advice and a place to share ideas. In addition to this I am a worker for people with Learning Disabilities and completed my degree in healing arts in 2008. I am a strong believer in celebrating diversity and am really excited to be working in positions that embrace and promote that.

My role is now still around sexual health, and I support women affected by HIV, as well as developing LGB&T support and training in Amber Valley. So I get around and often busy but always have time for people, friends and most importantly family.

So far it sounds like I’m all work and no play, which thankfully is not true (I hope!). I love going out with my mates and get a real buzz from meeting new people, this ties in beautifully with another of my passions. Travelling. The people I meet while away were, for the most part, awesome and the experience of living and working in another culture is one I will never forget. I also achieved, for the first time in my up till now pasty existence, a tan! I have been a member of a gym now for a few months and have successfully managed to attend on a monthly basis but think about it weekly to make up for it. I can be distracted from most things with offers of good food, good telly and a good old fashioned natter.

To contact Becky please e-mail beckydfriend@yahoo.com

Juliet Sims - Youth Inclusion Worker

I am Youth Inclusion Worker for df and I am also employed by Derby City Youth Services as development worker for 'Choices' youth group. My experience ranges from working as a tutor in a young offenders institute to residential social work working with young people in care. I am passionate about working with young people and especially LGBT inclusion. In my role as development worker for Choices I go to other youth groups, schools, colleges and provide workshops which challenge homophobic bullying. I also promote services for LGBT youth and network with other agencies to get Choices known so they can refer young people. My role as Derbyshire Youth Inclusion Worker is to set up and establish a LGBT youth forum with young people from all over Derbyshire. This youth forum will give the young people the opportunity to talk to mainstream service providers and get them to change policies to include LGBT issues i.e. homophobic bullying policies within schools. Alongside the youth forum I am also creating a LGBT youth workers network so we can share best practice, ideas and information and therefore forge closer links between all the LGBT youth groups in Derbyshire.

Tina - Youth Inclusion Worker

Hi. I’m Tina and I am a Youth Inclusion worker for df where I support the young people in their activities through Saturday’s LGB&T Youth Forum which includes trips out, fun activities and working on their magazine ‘Love Knows No Gender’.

You may also know my other role as Women’s Development Worker, mainly working with Women’s Zone and volunteers to highlight issues affecting LGB&T women.

I’ve lived in Derby for 15 years and my background is as a youth worker supporting vulnerable young people and doing other types of support work. In addition to my work at df I am also employed by Derby City Youth Service to work with LGBT young people at Choices Youth Group and as Choices Development worker. As Development Worker part of my role is to deliver PSHE sessions in schools around the issues of sexuality and homophobic bullying and make people aware of the project so they can signpost young people for support. It’s great that agencies such as df and Choices can work together to offer young people the most comprehensive support possible. In my spare time (when I have some!) I like playing guitar and mandolin, watching movies, getting tattooed and sleeping (when my cats allow it…)

If you want to contact me e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Tina. Bye for now.

Marie Wade - Co-chair

My name is Marie and am the voluntary co-ordinater for the Sexual Health Project, I have been a volunteer for about 4 years now and am keen to improve the sexual health of all within the LGBT community of Derbyshire. I have been sitting on the management commitee for almost a year now as the representative for the Sexual Health Project. I am a mental health nurse by trade and am currently working with those who misuse drugs and/or alcohol. So health is a top priority. My other interests include: eating out, good movies, good music, good s... enough of that, my dislikes are: house/garage/caravan (!!) music & impatient drivers!

Clem Nicholls

I would like to stand for the position of treasurer. I have been a part of the organisation for almost a year and I do believe I have more to contribute to financial governance, the growth of the organisation, future development and service delivery. I am committed to the values of the organisation. Diversity and equality had influenced the planning and delivery of services and hopefully will remain a key policy. I would welcome the opportunity to be a trustee. My skills, life long learning and experiences can give the organisation added value. I remain committed in assisting the organisation to achieve its goals.

Stewart

Hello I’m Stewart and I’m more than the Domestic Goddess at df, in other words I keep the place, clean and tidy. I’ve been working at Derbyshire Friend since 2008. I also help out with stalls, events and recently did a Beauty tips session as in a previous life I used to work for a cosmetics company. I’ve got a great sense of humour and easy going, but I do have an alter ego when I do shows and cabaret. Anyway I’m too busy to talk now so see you soon.

To get into contact with Stewart e-mail info@gayderbyshire.co.uk and ask for Stewart.

Bex - Chairperson - Love Knows No Gender

Hi I’m Bex, I became involved with df after hearing from Jean Forbes at Derby College that her friend Jules was starting a new Youth Group tackling homophobia in School’s etc so I went along to the next meeting and have been involved ever since...

From being involved I have met lots and lots of new people that I probably would never have met before, also I have learnt editing and publishing skills through doing the magazine. But most of all it has helped no end with my self-confidence.

I am now a Youth Volunteer at Derbyshire Friend, which allows me to give something back to the community and to LGB&T youth. My future is that I’d like to be a full-time youth worker especially around outdoor activities, so watch this space.