Photo Credits: The Brunswick Centre

By Muhammed Haroon –

More than 125 professionals unite to tackle LGBTQ+ health inequalities at Well Proud conference

On Friday 27 February, more than 125 professionals, community organisations and local partners gathered in Brighouse for the Well Proud conference, a one-day event dedicated to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities across Kirklees and Calderdale.

Hosted by the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and Celebrity MasterChef champion, Ginger Johnson, and organised by The Brunswick Centre (Brunswick) with key partners, the event brought together frontline services, health care specialists and community advocates to address persistent inequalities affecting LGBTQ+ people in the area.

The Well Proud conference highlighted how LGBTQ+ communities are disproportionately impacted by issues such as substance use and smoking, while often facing barriers when trying to access mainstream services.

Delegates explored how cultural awareness, and tailored approaches can help bridge those gaps and build a more inclusive system.

Creating access to support

Some locally delivered initiatives were spotlighted throughout the day, including DRAG, a project supporting LGBTQ+ people affected by substance use, alcohol and chemsex, which is the use of drugs during sexual activity, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Brunswick, Change Grow Live (CGL), and Calderdale Recovery Steps work together to focus on safety, harm reduction and non-judgemental support, rooted within lived experience.

Attendees also heard about ‘Queer as Smoke’, a stop smoking campaign designed to connect LGBTQ+ people with inclusive stop smoking services.

LGBTQ+ people are almost twice as likely to smoke as heterosexual people, due to higher rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm, with smoking sometimes used as a coping mechanism.

This initiative aims to tackle higher smoking rates within the LGBTQ+ communities by ensuring support is visible and accessible.

Other parts of the Well Proud conference explored safer relationships, HIV prevention, HIV care work, and screening awareness, alongside the importance of community connection through Pride events and outreach partnership work.

Open conversations on harm reduction

A panel discussion examined the realities of drugs and alcohol use within the LGBTQ+ communities, encouraging honest conversations and service access.

The conference included a presentation focused on harm reduction and safety in relation to chemsex, reinforcing the importance of practical support led by those with lived experiences.

The event concluded with a creative performance from HIV activist, writer and performer, Nathaniel J Hall, bringing a personal and powerful close to the day’s discussions.

Creating an inclusive support system

The conference forms part of the wider Well Proud campaign, led by Brunswick, which brings together LGBTQ+ wellbeing projects across Kirklees and Calderdale, to strengthen collaborations and improve visibility of support that is available.

John McKernaghan, Chief Officer at The Brunswick Centre, said: “Well Proud is about making sure LGBTQ+ people can access the right support at the right time.

“The projects showcased, from DRAG to Queer as Smoke and others, show what can happen when services listen, work in partnership and respond to lived experience.

“Together, we are building a more inclusive and accessible system of support across Calderdale and Kirklees.”

The Brunswick Centre has delivered services in Kirklees and Calderdale for over 30 years, including but not limited to: HIV prevention and support, LGBTQ+ youth services, and wider wellbeing initiatives.

Further information about the Well Proud campaign and the projects highlighted at the conference is available at https://www.thebrunswickcentre.org.uk/wellproud