Following working in public relations and for the LGBT-specialist insurance company Emerald Life, as of 2019, Wharton holds the position of Wellbeing Services Manager at Birmingham LGBT.
(meta data) TITLE:  Birmingham LGBT (meta data) PUBLISHER: https://www.facebook.com/lgbtbirmingham Text Size: 0121 643 0821 Type your search # Meet the Team At Birmingham LGBT we are proud to employ a team of enthusiastic and dedicated individuals. We are all passionate about what we do, from support, advice to events and community projects, and every one of us is responsible for the continued success of Birmingham LGBT. Click on a photograph to find out more about us… Click on a team member to find out more information about them ## Adam Carver (He/Him) SHOUT Festival Programme Officer ## Alexus Savage (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (Trans ) ## Anna Trybala (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) ## More about Adam Carver (He/Him) Adam joined Birmingham LGBT to coordinate SHOUT Festival in 2016. He is also a theatre-maker, creative producer, and project manager working in the Midlands, and has worked for a number of arts organisations in the region including Birmingham Hippodrome, Stan's Cafe, and ORT Gallery. Adam is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and development in the arts sector, and has recently written guidance for arts organisations on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive programming for children and young audiences. His show Fantabulosa!, an interactive public-space drag show for kids is currently touring the UK. As a birmingham native Adam is passionate about amplifying the voices of midlands artists and unearthing local queer histories. ## More about Alexus Savage (She/Her) Alexus worked for many years at HMRC. Leaving in 2008, she has worked in a variety of different settings including young homeless, adults with learning difficulties, mentoring young persons in the social care system, and with adults experiencing poor mental health. Since 2012, she has primarily worked in Sexual Health promotion, covering Public Sex Environments, Sex and Relationships Education within schools and colleges, GBT prisoner support groups and Trans* support via group or one to one sessions. ## More about Anna Trybala (She/Her) ## More about Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) Cecily is responsible for all the little details that keep the ship sailing on a day-to-day basis, and, being in charge of the stationery budget, many would say that the true locus of power at Birmingham LGBT lies with Cecily. Cecily has a degree in history, and previously worked in tourism for some of the UK's largest tourist attractions before landing at Birmingham LGBT. Outside (and indeed inside) of work, Cecily likes to talk a lot about the environment, The Carpenters, and her baby nephew. ## Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## Daniel Iliff (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## Dan Singh (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (South Asian & Middle Eastern MSM) ## Georgia Pattison (She/Her) Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Chris has six years experience of working in health care setting. For two years he worked in mental health rehabilitation before moving to an acute health care setting specialising in a long term condition offering support and counselling for people newly diagnosed and people living with kidney failure. Before this he has worked in many public settings including working with Birmingham City Council with children and young adults from underprivileged areas. Chris has always been passionate about the LBGT community and has volunteered and fund raised over the years with events such as Birmingham and Leicester Pride. ## More about Daniel Iliff (He/Him) ## More about Dan Singh (He/Him) Since January 2016 Dan has worked as a part time sexual health outreach worker mainly with South Asian and Middle Eastern gay and bisexual men or 'men who have sex with men' (MSM). Dan also runs a group called RANG who meet up every second Sunday of every month from 1pm – 3pm at Birmingham LGBT. This is a social/support group where various topics discussed are around culture, faith, religion in relation to sexuality and gender expressions. We explore this through conversation, art, music in a fun and friendly way. Further to this Dan also offers sexual health testing and well-being services at Birmingham LGBT in and around the gay village in Birmingham. We are open 7 days a week and all the services are free! Dan also speaks Punjabi and understands some Hindi and Urdu and sometimes this helps where language may be a barrier. ## More about Georgia Pattison (She/Her) ## Jake McGee (He/Him) Team Leader - Sexual Health Services ## Jamie Cox (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## James Wharton Wellbeing Services Manager ## Maria Hughes (She/Her) Ageing Better Network Enabler ## More about Jake McGee (He/Him) Since 2004, Jake has worked exclusively in helping and support roles spending 5 years as a health promotion officer for a leading HIV charity and 9 years in the field of smoking cessation, progressing to a middle management position within the NHS. Jake is experienced in supporting people with multiple and complex needs such as addiction and mental health issues. He has experience of leading and supervising a team of sessional staff, as well as planning and delivering a range of training to healthcare and medical providers. He is also a student member of BACP and a volunteer counsellor with a counselling service in Birmingham operating within a person centered approach. He also holds a Ba hons in Applied Social sciences. Prior to taking up his Post here as Team Leader, Jake was employed in the Wellbeing support worker role for 3 years. ## More about Jamie Cox (He/Him) Jamie has worked within sexual health outreach and sexual health promotion within the LGBT community for a number of years. He has experience of providing face-to-face sexual health support sessions including sexual health testing, offering a variety of support including the facilitation of a married men's group, which has now become an independent group. Jamie has previously supported LGBT youth projects with a variety of needs, which also included cooking skills, building self-confidence, group discussions and various group trips. Jamie has a passion for baking and photography. ## More about James Wharton James is new to Birmingham having recently moved from London to take up the role of Health and Wellbeing Manager. James's background ranges military, media, marketing and PR. His most recent role before moving to Birmingham LGBT was as Communications Manager at LGBT Insurer Emerald Life. In addition to his working life, James has been a campaigner for a number of causes he holds close to his heart. This has included LGBT equality in the armed forces, equal marriage in England and Wales, tackling school based homophobia, the right and welfare of veterans and most recently, the preservation of war gravesites overseas. In his spare time James likes to write, enjoys the cinema, and is an avid follower of Formula One motor racing. ## More about Maria Hughes (She/Her) Maria is the Ageing Better Network Enabler. Maria has previously worked in information, outreach, community capacity building, training and awareness-raising for a variety of charities, including Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid and Birmingham Settlement. Maria has also been involved with the music business and community arts, trade union activism, and has a specialist interest in monitoring and evaluation. ## Matt Lopez (He/Him) Sexual Health Services Manager ## Peter Rowe (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (African Carribbean and Black African MSM) ## Steph Keeble (She/Her) ## Stuart Payne (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Matt Lopez (He/Him) Matt has over 20 years of working experience in a variety of health and social care settings in both frontline service delivery and management roles. He first became interested in the area of sexual health whilst volunteering at Birmingham based HIV charity AB Plus in the early 2000's as a holistic therapist, from where he went on to further this interest and gain more experience in subsequent employed positions. His previous position was with a Black Country based charity where he worked as a MSM Sexual Health Outreach Worker and Project Worker for people living with and affected by HIV. Matt's experience includes delivering community based sexual health outreach and HIV/STI testing clinics, delivering training and facilitating peer support programmes around Sexual Health, HIV and LGBT issues before moving into a management role. Matt is passionate about empowering individuals and developing quality and accessible sexual health and well-being services to LGBT communities and tackling the barriers and inequalities that can often be faced. ## More about Peter Rowe (He/Him) ## More about Steph Keeble (She/Her) Birmingham LGBT's mission is to build a vibrant, diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Birmingham in which individuals can realise their full potential and have equal access to all the city has to offer. In the four years she has been involved with the organisation it has grown from a small charity with a £10,000 a year turnover to an organisation with a turnover of over £250,000 a year. Birmingham LGBT delivers a variety of services and events including SHOUT: Birmingham's festival of Queer Culture, and has recently opened the first LGBT Health & Wellbeing centre in England and Wales in Birmingham city centre. Steph and her co-worker Dave Viney were included in the Independent on Sunday's influential Pink list in 2013 for their contributions to the LGBT community in Birmingham. Steph has skills in not-for-profits, change management, strategic planning and income generation. Steph a social science graduate has worked in the third sector for twenty years, beginning her career as in the field of substance misuse and going on to work in a variety of areas including mental health, capacity building, social enterprises, and women's issues. Before moving to Birmingham she was a key player in Gloucestershire's community coordinated response to domestic violence where, as the CEO of a domestic violence charity, she developed a network of survivors' groups, women's safety work, a 24-hour crisis advocacy service and a service for BME women. Steph is passionately committed to human rights and social justice and has always worked to create a better and more equal society for all. She has never moved very far from her background in, and commitment to, grassroots community activism. ## More about Stuart Payne (He/Him) Stuart has over eight years experience of work within social care. He started his career working for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council delivering front line care to adults with learning disabilities. Stuart developed an interest for providing support for young LGBT people in the Dudley area after noticing a gap in provision of appropriate services while volunteering for a local HIV charity. Stuart moved on to work with Dudley Youth Services, Connexions and the voluntary sector to set up a support service for young LGBT people in the Dudley area – Project Vogue, which gained funding from the Big Lottery to deliver work in schools to tackle homophobic bullying and awareness of LGBT issues for young people as well as a support group and information website. Stuart also worked for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as a Senior Youth Worker and has worked on a sessional basis for a number of sexual health services delivering outreach interventions to young people and MSM communities. ## Adam Carver (He/Him) SHOUT Festival Programme Officer ## Alexus Savage (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (Trans ) ## Anna Trybala (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## More about Adam Carver (He/Him) Adam joined Birmingham LGBT to coordinate SHOUT Festival in 2016. He is also a theatre-maker, creative producer, and project manager working in the Midlands, and has worked for a number of arts organisations in the region including Birmingham Hippodrome, Stan's Cafe, and ORT Gallery. Adam is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and development in the arts sector, and has recently written guidance for arts organisations on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive programming for children and young audiences. His show Fantabulosa!, an interactive public-space drag show for kids is currently touring the UK. As a birmingham native Adam is passionate about amplifying the voices of midlands artists and unearthing local queer histories. ## More about Alexus Savage (She/Her) Alexus worked for many years at HMRC. Leaving in 2008, she has worked in a variety of different settings including young homeless, adults with learning difficulties, mentoring young persons in the social care system, and with adults experiencing poor mental health. Since 2012, she has primarily worked in Sexual Health promotion, covering Public Sex Environments, Sex and Relationships Education within schools and colleges, GBT prisoner support groups and Trans* support via group or one to one sessions. ## More about Anna Trybala (She/Her) ## Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) ## Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## Daniel Iliff (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## More about Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) Cecily is responsible for all the little details that keep the ship sailing on a day-to-day basis, and, being in charge of the stationery budget, many would say that the true locus of power at Birmingham LGBT lies with Cecily. Cecily has a degree in history, and previously worked in tourism for some of the UK's largest tourist attractions before landing at Birmingham LGBT. Outside (and indeed inside) of work, Cecily likes to talk a lot about the environment, The Carpenters, and her baby nephew. ## More about Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Chris has six years experience of working in health care setting. For two years he worked in mental health rehabilitation before moving to an acute health care setting specialising in a long term condition offering support and counselling for people newly diagnosed and people living with kidney failure. Before this he has worked in many public settings including working with Birmingham City Council with children and young adults from underprivileged areas. Chris has always been passionate about the LBGT community and has volunteered and fund raised over the years with events such as Birmingham and Leicester Pride. ## More about Daniel Iliff (He/Him) ## Dan Singh (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (South Asian & Middle Eastern MSM) ## Georgia Pattison (She/Her) Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## Jake McGee (He/Him) Team Leader - Sexual Health Services ## More about Dan Singh (He/Him) Since January 2016 Dan has worked as a part time sexual health outreach worker mainly with South Asian and Middle Eastern gay and bisexual men or 'men who have sex with men' (MSM). Dan also runs a group called RANG who meet up every second Sunday of every month from 1pm – 3pm at Birmingham LGBT. This is a social/support group where various topics discussed are around culture, faith, religion in relation to sexuality and gender expressions. We explore this through conversation, art, music in a fun and friendly way. Further to this Dan also offers sexual health testing and well-being services at Birmingham LGBT in and around the gay village in Birmingham. We are open 7 days a week and all the services are free! Dan also speaks Punjabi and understands some Hindi and Urdu and sometimes this helps where language may be a barrier. ## More about Georgia Pattison (She/Her) ## More about Jake McGee (He/Him) Since 2004, Jake has worked exclusively in helping and support roles spending 5 years as a health promotion officer for a leading HIV charity and 9 years in the field of smoking cessation, progressing to a middle management position within the NHS. Jake is experienced in supporting people with multiple and complex needs such as addiction and mental health issues. He has experience of leading and supervising a team of sessional staff, as well as planning and delivering a range of training to healthcare and medical providers. He is also a student member of BACP and a volunteer counsellor with a counselling service in Birmingham operating within a person centered approach. He also holds a Ba hons in Applied Social sciences. Prior to taking up his Post here as Team Leader, Jake was employed in the Wellbeing support worker role for 3 years. ## Jamie Cox (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## James Wharton Wellbeing Services Manager ## Maria Hughes (She/Her) Ageing Better Network Enabler ## More about Jamie Cox (He/Him) Jamie has worked within sexual health outreach and sexual health promotion within the LGBT community for a number of years. He has experience of providing face-to-face sexual health support sessions including sexual health testing, offering a variety of support including the facilitation of a married men's group, which has now become an independent group. Jamie has previously supported LGBT youth projects with a variety of needs, which also included cooking skills, building self-confidence, group discussions and various group trips. Jamie has a passion for baking and photography. ## More about James Wharton James is new to Birmingham having recently moved from London to take up the role of Health and Wellbeing Manager. James's background ranges military, media, marketing and PR. His most recent role before moving to Birmingham LGBT was as Communications Manager at LGBT Insurer Emerald Life. In addition to his working life, James has been a campaigner for a number of causes he holds close to his heart. This has included LGBT equality in the armed forces, equal marriage in England and Wales, tackling school based homophobia, the right and welfare of veterans and most recently, the preservation of war gravesites overseas. In his spare time James likes to write, enjoys the cinema, and is an avid follower of Formula One motor racing. ## More about Maria Hughes (She/Her) Maria is the Ageing Better Network Enabler. Maria has previously worked in information, outreach, community capacity building, training and awareness-raising for a variety of charities, including Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid and Birmingham Settlement. Maria has also been involved with the music business and community arts, trade union activism, and has a specialist interest in monitoring and evaluation. ## Matt Lopez (He/Him) Sexual Health Services Manager ## Peter Rowe (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (African Carribbean and Black African MSM) ## Steph Keeble (She/Her) ## More about Matt Lopez (He/Him) Matt has over 20 years of working experience in a variety of health and social care settings in both frontline service delivery and management roles. He first became interested in the area of sexual health whilst volunteering at Birmingham based HIV charity AB Plus in the early 2000's as a holistic therapist, from where he went on to further this interest and gain more experience in subsequent employed positions. His previous position was with a Black Country based charity where he worked as a MSM Sexual Health Outreach Worker and Project Worker for people living with and affected by HIV. Matt's experience includes delivering community based sexual health outreach and HIV/STI testing clinics, delivering training and facilitating peer support programmes around Sexual Health, HIV and LGBT issues before moving into a management role. Matt is passionate about empowering individuals and developing quality and accessible sexual health and well-being services to LGBT communities and tackling the barriers and inequalities that can often be faced. ## More about Peter Rowe (He/Him) ## More about Steph Keeble (She/Her) Birmingham LGBT's mission is to build a vibrant, diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Birmingham in which individuals can realise their full potential and have equal access to all the city has to offer. In the four years she has been involved with the organisation it has grown from a small charity with a £10,000 a year turnover to an organisation with a turnover of over £250,000 a year. Birmingham LGBT delivers a variety of services and events including SHOUT: Birmingham's festival of Queer Culture, and has recently opened the first LGBT Health & Wellbeing centre in England and Wales in Birmingham city centre. Steph and her co-worker Dave Viney were included in the Independent on Sunday's influential Pink list in 2013 for their contributions to the LGBT community in Birmingham. Steph has skills in not-for-profits, change management, strategic planning and income generation. Steph a social science graduate has worked in the third sector for twenty years, beginning her career as in the field of substance misuse and going on to work in a variety of areas including mental health, capacity building, social enterprises, and women's issues. Before moving to Birmingham she was a key player in Gloucestershire's community coordinated response to domestic violence where, as the CEO of a domestic violence charity, she developed a network of survivors' groups, women's safety work, a 24-hour crisis advocacy service and a service for BME women. Steph is passionately committed to human rights and social justice and has always worked to create a better and more equal society for all. She has never moved very far from her background in, and commitment to, grassroots community activism. ## Stuart Payne (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Stuart Payne (He/Him) Stuart has over eight years experience of work within social care. He started his career working for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council delivering front line care to adults with learning disabilities. Stuart developed an interest for providing support for young LGBT people in the Dudley area after noticing a gap in provision of appropriate services while volunteering for a local HIV charity. Stuart moved on to work with Dudley Youth Services, Connexions and the voluntary sector to set up a support service for young LGBT people in the Dudley area – Project Vogue, which gained funding from the Big Lottery to deliver work in schools to tackle homophobic bullying and awareness of LGBT issues for young people as well as a support group and information website. Stuart also worked for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as a Senior Youth Worker and has worked on a sessional basis for a number of sexual health services delivering outreach interventions to young people and MSM communities. ## Adam Carver (He/Him) SHOUT Festival Programme Officer ## Alexus Savage (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (Trans ) ## More about Adam Carver (He/Him) Adam joined Birmingham LGBT to coordinate SHOUT Festival in 2016. He is also a theatre-maker, creative producer, and project manager working in the Midlands, and has worked for a number of arts organisations in the region including Birmingham Hippodrome, Stan's Cafe, and ORT Gallery. Adam is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and development in the arts sector, and has recently written guidance for arts organisations on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive programming for children and young audiences. His show Fantabulosa!, an interactive public-space drag show for kids is currently touring the UK. As a birmingham native Adam is passionate about amplifying the voices of midlands artists and unearthing local queer histories. ## More about Alexus Savage (She/Her) Alexus worked for many years at HMRC. Leaving in 2008, she has worked in a variety of different settings including young homeless, adults with learning difficulties, mentoring young persons in the social care system, and with adults experiencing poor mental health. Since 2012, she has primarily worked in Sexual Health promotion, covering Public Sex Environments, Sex and Relationships Education within schools and colleges, GBT prisoner support groups and Trans* support via group or one to one sessions. ## Anna Trybala (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) ## More about Anna Trybala (She/Her) ## More about Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) Cecily is responsible for all the little details that keep the ship sailing on a day-to-day basis, and, being in charge of the stationery budget, many would say that the true locus of power at Birmingham LGBT lies with Cecily. Cecily has a degree in history, and previously worked in tourism for some of the UK's largest tourist attractions before landing at Birmingham LGBT. Outside (and indeed inside) of work, Cecily likes to talk a lot about the environment, The Carpenters, and her baby nephew. ## Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## Daniel Iliff (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## More about Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Chris has six years experience of working in health care setting. For two years he worked in mental health rehabilitation before moving to an acute health care setting specialising in a long term condition offering support and counselling for people newly diagnosed and people living with kidney failure. Before this he has worked in many public settings including working with Birmingham City Council with children and young adults from underprivileged areas. Chris has always been passionate about the LBGT community and has volunteered and fund raised over the years with events such as Birmingham and Leicester Pride. ## More about Daniel Iliff (He/Him) ## Dan Singh (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (South Asian & Middle Eastern MSM) ## Georgia Pattison (She/Her) Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Dan Singh (He/Him) Since January 2016 Dan has worked as a part time sexual health outreach worker mainly with South Asian and Middle Eastern gay and bisexual men or 'men who have sex with men' (MSM). Dan also runs a group called RANG who meet up every second Sunday of every month from 1pm – 3pm at Birmingham LGBT. This is a social/support group where various topics discussed are around culture, faith, religion in relation to sexuality and gender expressions. We explore this through conversation, art, music in a fun and friendly way. Further to this Dan also offers sexual health testing and well-being services at Birmingham LGBT in and around the gay village in Birmingham. We are open 7 days a week and all the services are free! Dan also speaks Punjabi and understands some Hindi and Urdu and sometimes this helps where language may be a barrier. ## More about Georgia Pattison (She/Her) ## Jake McGee (He/Him) Team Leader - Sexual Health Services ## Jamie Cox (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Jake McGee (He/Him) Since 2004, Jake has worked exclusively in helping and support roles spending 5 years as a health promotion officer for a leading HIV charity and 9 years in the field of smoking cessation, progressing to a middle management position within the NHS. Jake is experienced in supporting people with multiple and complex needs such as addiction and mental health issues. He has experience of leading and supervising a team of sessional staff, as well as planning and delivering a range of training to healthcare and medical providers. He is also a student member of BACP and a volunteer counsellor with a counselling service in Birmingham operating within a person centered approach. He also holds a Ba hons in Applied Social sciences. Prior to taking up his Post here as Team Leader, Jake was employed in the Wellbeing support worker role for 3 years. ## More about Jamie Cox (He/Him) Jamie has worked within sexual health outreach and sexual health promotion within the LGBT community for a number of years. He has experience of providing face-to-face sexual health support sessions including sexual health testing, offering a variety of support including the facilitation of a married men's group, which has now become an independent group. Jamie has previously supported LGBT youth projects with a variety of needs, which also included cooking skills, building self-confidence, group discussions and various group trips. Jamie has a passion for baking and photography. ## James Wharton Wellbeing Services Manager ## Maria Hughes (She/Her) Ageing Better Network Enabler ## More about James Wharton James is new to Birmingham having recently moved from London to take up the role of Health and Wellbeing Manager. James's background ranges military, media, marketing and PR. His most recent role before moving to Birmingham LGBT was as Communications Manager at LGBT Insurer Emerald Life. In addition to his working life, James has been a campaigner for a number of causes he holds close to his heart. This has included LGBT equality in the armed forces, equal marriage in England and Wales, tackling school based homophobia, the right and welfare of veterans and most recently, the preservation of war gravesites overseas. In his spare time James likes to write, enjoys the cinema, and is an avid follower of Formula One motor racing. ## More about Maria Hughes (She/Her) Maria is the Ageing Better Network Enabler. Maria has previously worked in information, outreach, community capacity building, training and awareness-raising for a variety of charities, including Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid and Birmingham Settlement. Maria has also been involved with the music business and community arts, trade union activism, and has a specialist interest in monitoring and evaluation. ## Matt Lopez (He/Him) Sexual Health Services Manager ## Peter Rowe (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (African Carribbean and Black African MSM) ## More about Matt Lopez (He/Him) Matt has over 20 years of working experience in a variety of health and social care settings in both frontline service delivery and management roles. He first became interested in the area of sexual health whilst volunteering at Birmingham based HIV charity AB Plus in the early 2000's as a holistic therapist, from where he went on to further this interest and gain more experience in subsequent employed positions. His previous position was with a Black Country based charity where he worked as a MSM Sexual Health Outreach Worker and Project Worker for people living with and affected by HIV. Matt's experience includes delivering community based sexual health outreach and HIV/STI testing clinics, delivering training and facilitating peer support programmes around Sexual Health, HIV and LGBT issues before moving into a management role. Matt is passionate about empowering individuals and developing quality and accessible sexual health and well-being services to LGBT communities and tackling the barriers and inequalities that can often be faced. ## More about Peter Rowe (He/Him) ## Steph Keeble (She/Her) ## Stuart Payne (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Steph Keeble (She/Her) Birmingham LGBT's mission is to build a vibrant, diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Birmingham in which individuals can realise their full potential and have equal access to all the city has to offer. In the four years she has been involved with the organisation it has grown from a small charity with a £10,000 a year turnover to an organisation with a turnover of over £250,000 a year. Birmingham LGBT delivers a variety of services and events including SHOUT: Birmingham's festival of Queer Culture, and has recently opened the first LGBT Health & Wellbeing centre in England and Wales in Birmingham city centre. Steph and her co-worker Dave Viney were included in the Independent on Sunday's influential Pink list in 2013 for their contributions to the LGBT community in Birmingham. Steph has skills in not-for-profits, change management, strategic planning and income generation. Steph a social science graduate has worked in the third sector for twenty years, beginning her career as in the field of substance misuse and going on to work in a variety of areas including mental health, capacity building, social enterprises, and women's issues. Before moving to Birmingham she was a key player in Gloucestershire's community coordinated response to domestic violence where, as the CEO of a domestic violence charity, she developed a network of survivors' groups, women's safety work, a 24-hour crisis advocacy service and a service for BME women. Steph is passionately committed to human rights and social justice and has always worked to create a better and more equal society for all. She has never moved very far from her background in, and commitment to, grassroots community activism. ## More about Stuart Payne (He/Him) Stuart has over eight years experience of work within social care. He started his career working for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council delivering front line care to adults with learning disabilities. Stuart developed an interest for providing support for young LGBT people in the Dudley area after noticing a gap in provision of appropriate services while volunteering for a local HIV charity. Stuart moved on to work with Dudley Youth Services, Connexions and the voluntary sector to set up a support service for young LGBT people in the Dudley area – Project Vogue, which gained funding from the Big Lottery to deliver work in schools to tackle homophobic bullying and awareness of LGBT issues for young people as well as a support group and information website. Stuart also worked for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as a Senior Youth Worker and has worked on a sessional basis for a number of sexual health services delivering outreach interventions to young people and MSM communities. ## Adam Carver (He/Him) SHOUT Festival Programme Officer ## More about Adam Carver (He/Him) Adam joined Birmingham LGBT to coordinate SHOUT Festival in 2016. He is also a theatre-maker, creative producer, and project manager working in the Midlands, and has worked for a number of arts organisations in the region including Birmingham Hippodrome, Stan's Cafe, and ORT Gallery. Adam is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and development in the arts sector, and has recently written guidance for arts organisations on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive programming for children and young audiences. His show Fantabulosa!, an interactive public-space drag show for kids is currently touring the UK. As a birmingham native Adam is passionate about amplifying the voices of midlands artists and unearthing local queer histories. ## Alexus Savage (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (Trans ) ## More about Alexus Savage (She/Her) Alexus worked for many years at HMRC. Leaving in 2008, she has worked in a variety of different settings including young homeless, adults with learning difficulties, mentoring young persons in the social care system, and with adults experiencing poor mental health. Since 2012, she has primarily worked in Sexual Health promotion, covering Public Sex Environments, Sex and Relationships Education within schools and colleges, GBT prisoner support groups and Trans* support via group or one to one sessions. ## Anna Trybala (She/Her) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## More about Anna Trybala (She/Her) ## Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) ## More about Cecily Stevenson (She/Her) Cecily is responsible for all the little details that keep the ship sailing on a day-to-day basis, and, being in charge of the stationery budget, many would say that the true locus of power at Birmingham LGBT lies with Cecily. Cecily has a degree in history, and previously worked in tourism for some of the UK's largest tourist attractions before landing at Birmingham LGBT. Outside (and indeed inside) of work, Cecily likes to talk a lot about the environment, The Carpenters, and her baby nephew. ## Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Chris Dunbar (He/Him) Chris has six years experience of working in health care setting. For two years he worked in mental health rehabilitation before moving to an acute health care setting specialising in a long term condition offering support and counselling for people newly diagnosed and people living with kidney failure. Before this he has worked in many public settings including working with Birmingham City Council with children and young adults from underprivileged areas. Chris has always been passionate about the LBGT community and has volunteered and fund raised over the years with events such as Birmingham and Leicester Pride. ## Daniel Iliff (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker - Sessional ## More about Daniel Iliff (He/Him) ## Dan Singh (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (South Asian & Middle Eastern MSM) ## More about Dan Singh (He/Him) Since January 2016 Dan has worked as a part time sexual health outreach worker mainly with South Asian and Middle Eastern gay and bisexual men or 'men who have sex with men' (MSM). Dan also runs a group called RANG who meet up every second Sunday of every month from 1pm – 3pm at Birmingham LGBT. This is a social/support group where various topics discussed are around culture, faith, religion in relation to sexuality and gender expressions. We explore this through conversation, art, music in a fun and friendly way. Further to this Dan also offers sexual health testing and well-being services at Birmingham LGBT in and around the gay village in Birmingham. We are open 7 days a week and all the services are free! Dan also speaks Punjabi and understands some Hindi and Urdu and sometimes this helps where language may be a barrier. ## Georgia Pattison (She/Her) Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Georgia Pattison (She/Her) ## Jake McGee (He/Him) Team Leader - Sexual Health Services ## More about Jake McGee (He/Him) Since 2004, Jake has worked exclusively in helping and support roles spending 5 years as a health promotion officer for a leading HIV charity and 9 years in the field of smoking cessation, progressing to a middle management position within the NHS. Jake is experienced in supporting people with multiple and complex needs such as addiction and mental health issues. He has experience of leading and supervising a team of sessional staff, as well as planning and delivering a range of training to healthcare and medical providers. He is also a student member of BACP and a volunteer counsellor with a counselling service in Birmingham operating within a person centered approach. He also holds a Ba hons in Applied Social sciences. Prior to taking up his Post here as Team Leader, Jake was employed in the Wellbeing support worker role for 3 years. ## Jamie Cox (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Jamie Cox (He/Him) Jamie has worked within sexual health outreach and sexual health promotion within the LGBT community for a number of years. He has experience of providing face-to-face sexual health support sessions including sexual health testing, offering a variety of support including the facilitation of a married men's group, which has now become an independent group. Jamie has previously supported LGBT youth projects with a variety of needs, which also included cooking skills, building self-confidence, group discussions and various group trips. Jamie has a passion for baking and photography. ## James Wharton Wellbeing Services Manager ## More about James Wharton James is new to Birmingham having recently moved from London to take up the role of Health and Wellbeing Manager. James's background ranges military, media, marketing and PR. His most recent role before moving to Birmingham LGBT was as Communications Manager at LGBT Insurer Emerald Life. In addition to his working life, James has been a campaigner for a number of causes he holds close to his heart. This has included LGBT equality in the armed forces, equal marriage in England and Wales, tackling school based homophobia, the right and welfare of veterans and most recently, the preservation of war gravesites overseas. In his spare time James likes to write, enjoys the cinema, and is an avid follower of Formula One motor racing. ## Maria Hughes (She/Her) Ageing Better Network Enabler ## More about Maria Hughes (She/Her) Maria is the Ageing Better Network Enabler. Maria has previously worked in information, outreach, community capacity building, training and awareness-raising for a variety of charities, including Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid and Birmingham Settlement. Maria has also been involved with the music business and community arts, trade union activism, and has a specialist interest in monitoring and evaluation. ## Matt Lopez (He/Him) Sexual Health Services Manager ## More about Matt Lopez (He/Him) Matt has over 20 years of working experience in a variety of health and social care settings in both frontline service delivery and management roles. He first became interested in the area of sexual health whilst volunteering at Birmingham based HIV charity AB Plus in the early 2000's as a holistic therapist, from where he went on to further this interest and gain more experience in subsequent employed positions. His previous position was with a Black Country based charity where he worked as a MSM Sexual Health Outreach Worker and Project Worker for people living with and affected by HIV. Matt's experience includes delivering community based sexual health outreach and HIV/STI testing clinics, delivering training and facilitating peer support programmes around Sexual Health, HIV and LGBT issues before moving into a management role. Matt is passionate about empowering individuals and developing quality and accessible sexual health and well-being services to LGBT communities and tackling the barriers and inequalities that can often be faced. ## Peter Rowe (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker (African Carribbean and Black African MSM) ## More about Peter Rowe (He/Him) ## Steph Keeble (She/Her) ## More about Steph Keeble (She/Her) Birmingham LGBT's mission is to build a vibrant, diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community in Birmingham in which individuals can realise their full potential and have equal access to all the city has to offer. In the four years she has been involved with the organisation it has grown from a small charity with a £10,000 a year turnover to an organisation with a turnover of over £250,000 a year. Birmingham LGBT delivers a variety of services and events including SHOUT: Birmingham's festival of Queer Culture, and has recently opened the first LGBT Health & Wellbeing centre in England and Wales in Birmingham city centre. Steph and her co-worker Dave Viney were included in the Independent on Sunday's influential Pink list in 2013 for their contributions to the LGBT community in Birmingham. Steph has skills in not-for-profits, change management, strategic planning and income generation. Steph a social science graduate has worked in the third sector for twenty years, beginning her career as in the field of substance misuse and going on to work in a variety of areas including mental health, capacity building, social enterprises, and women's issues. Before moving to Birmingham she was a key player in Gloucestershire's community coordinated response to domestic violence where, as the CEO of a domestic violence charity, she developed a network of survivors' groups, women's safety work, a 24-hour crisis advocacy service and a service for BME women. Steph is passionately committed to human rights and social justice and has always worked to create a better and more equal society for all. She has never moved very far from her background in, and commitment to, grassroots community activism. ## Stuart Payne (He/Him) Sexual Health Promotion Worker ## More about Stuart Payne (He/Him) Stuart has over eight years experience of work within social care. He started his career working for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council delivering front line care to adults with learning disabilities. Stuart developed an interest for providing support for young LGBT people in the Dudley area after noticing a gap in provision of appropriate services while volunteering for a local HIV charity. Stuart moved on to work with Dudley Youth Services, Connexions and the voluntary sector to set up a support service for young LGBT people in the Dudley area – Project Vogue, which gained funding from the Big Lottery to deliver work in schools to tackle homophobic bullying and awareness of LGBT issues for young people as well as a support group and information website. Stuart also worked for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council as a Senior Youth Worker and has worked on a sessional basis for a number of sexual health services delivering outreach interventions to young people and MSM communities.
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James Wharton (author)
Abstract.
James Wharton  is the author of "Out in the Army: My life as a gay soldier" and "Something for the Weekend': Life in the chemsex underworld" and an LGBT activist. Wharton was born in Wrexham on the first of January 1987, and grew up in the nearby village of Gwersyllt. In 2009, he garnered attention by  featuring on the cover of Soldier Magazine – the official monthly publication of the British Army – as an openly gay trooper in the Blues and Royals. Wharton came out as gay to his regiment in 2005, aged 18 and just six years after the army's discrimination against gay people was declared a breach of human rights  by the European Court of Human Rights. 
Before 2000, Wharton could have been court-martialled. 
 Wharton left the army in 2013 after ten years' service and in 2014, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London for his work as a prominent LGBT activist.