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Hello all. I thought it was about time I updated the West Midlands pages and gave you a bit of information about myself.

I took over from Dorion as the West Midlands Rep earlier in the year as he decided to concentrate on his role as the PROUD disabled members rep. I’m 30 years old and live in Birmingham. I currently work for The Pensions, Disability and Carers Service – Part of DWP. My current role involves checking accuracy of Pension Credit. I joined the civil service in April 2005 and have been active in PCS for just over three years.

Recently I, along with about 80 others, attended the PCS LGBT seminar in Leeds. I will be writing out to members in the area shortly with a review of the weekend. The title of the seminar was ‘Over the Rainbow’ and examined where we have come from, where we are now and looking to the future in relation to LGBT issues. It was a fantastic weekend and I would encourage any members who have not attended a seminar before to look out for the application forms for next years seminar which will take place in November. Further details will be posted on the website nearer the time.

In the region I attended the first official Stoke-On-Trent PRIDE in the summer. It was a great event and had a real community feel. I’m hoping PCS will support the event again next year and it would be great to see as many of you from the region as possible. I would advise taking an umbrella though. I took two days to dry out!!

Birmingham gay village is due to get a facelift soon. The City Council have earmarked £500,000 to improve the appearance of the area and to install more lighting and CCTV cameras. This followed a consultation exercise in 2006 and work will commence in spring 2009.

I’d also like to give the PCS PROUD members forum a plug. It’s accessed from a link on the main page and you can discuss toppings relating to LGBT issues, regional issues, LGBT in the news and more light-hearted stuff such as your favourite music. There are also forums for the equality groups (Disabled members, BME members, women, Trans members and young members) that can be accessed by e-mailing Dave P who is currently looking after the website.

I would like to organise a regional meeting and a regional social sometime in the New Year. We haven’t had one for about a year so I thought it was about time. I’m thinking sometime around February. If anyone has any ideas for a social activity please feel free to contact below to discuss. I’m very conscious that not everyone lives in or around the Birmingham area so ideas outside would be greatly appreciated.

Remember as the West Midlands representative it is part of my role to engage with the members in the area. If you have any queries or ideas or anything you feel should be discussed at National Committee level please let me know. You can reach me on 07852 450003 or by e-mail at:

Christopher.Carroll1@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk or tofer78@hotmail.co.uk

Anything you do wish to discuss will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

Chris Carroll