LGBT Charter

ECSA are currently working on attaining the LGBT Charter Award

The LGBT Charter helps us focus on the quality of services we provide. It will demonstrate the Students' Associations commitment to LGBT people in the college. We will continuously undertake training, review policies in line with legislation, and consider all of our practices and resources. By achieving the LGBT Charter we aim to clearly show what steps we have taken to improve our services and the college, and remove barriers for LGBT people. 

We aim to make sure LGBT students, volunteers and staff feel that they are included, valued, supported, and will be treated fairly when they engage with ECSA.

History of the LGBT Charter

In 2003, a group of young people in Dumfries (Phoenix LGBT Youth) began a project to find out more about the UNCRC and UDHR and how they related to their lives. They were supported by LGBT Youth Scotland, Save the Children and Dumfries Youth Enquiry service.                                                                          

The group explored topics relevant to LGBT people including education and social and health, and it emerged that although LGBT people should have all the rights laid out in the UNCRC and the UDHR, these rights were often denied because of discrimination and prejudice. That group decided to create the LGBT Charter to increase understanding and awareness of the barriers LGBT people face. LGBT Youth Scotland then responded by developing a programme to support and guide groups and organisations on their journey to LGBT equality and inclusion.