Precarious Lives … LGBT+ Stories on BBC iPlayer … Bridgewater Hall: Live at Lunchtime … Free concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music and University of Manchester

News

Precarious Lives

It is becoming increasingly evident that many LGBT+ people face financial and material problems in later life. Despite this, there has been little research to date as to why these problems are so prevalent.

On 25 February Tonic Housing is publishing a major study, entitled Precarious Lives, that explores financial and material hardship among LGBT+ people in London aged 50 and above. There are four themes in their research:

Discrimination – They look at the long-term impact of discrimination on the financial wellbeing of older LGBT+ people, and at the intersectional nature of this problem.

Social isolation – They explore the high levels of social isolation, and the low expectations of institutional support, among older LGBT+ people, and how these affect financial wellbeing.

Long-term health conditions – They look at the high levels of disability among older LGBT+ people, how disability can increase social isolation, and how both impact financial health.

Financial stress – They show how living in London is a mixed blessing for older LGBT+ people, exploring factors such as the precarity of life in the private rental sector.

Launch / Webinar

Precarious Lives will be launched with a webinar. This 90-minute event will be on Tuesday, 25 February at 10.30am – 12.00 noon.

To register for the webinar please click here.

Participation is free. The event will be held on Zoom.

The webinar will be chaired by Baroness Barker (House of Lords). It will include short presentations by:

Report

The report will be published on Tuesday 25 February, and will be available from that date.

Credits

The first phase of Precarious Lives was organised by the charity Opening Doors, which sadly closed in February 2024, after which Tonic took on this important project. They would like to thank all of the older LGBT+ people who answered the survey and took part in the focus groups and interviews, as well as the panel of specialists in the Advisory Group. Precarious Lives has been funded by Trust for London.

LGBT+ Stories on BBC iPlayer

This LGBT+ History Month dive into comedies, dramas and documentaries celebrating the LGBT+ communities in all its fabulous forms.

There are lots of programmes on the BBC iPlayer including:

Gentleman Jack

Halifax, 1832. Anne Lister shakes up her shabby ancestral home, determined to restore its fortunes and find herself a wife.

Gentleman Jack Changed My Life

Six British women rediscover their sexuality, come out to themselves and their families, and rekindle long-lost love after watching drama series Gentleman Jack.

Gateways Grind: London’s Secret Lesbian Club

Sandi Toksvig goes behind the iconic green door of one of the most famous lesbian venues in the world, The Gateways Club.

HIV, PrEP and Me

Dan Harry explores how a drug that has contributed to a steep decline in HIV rates among gay and bi men could help end new HIV infections across the UK. 

Olly Alexander: Growing up Gay

Documentary in which Years and Years frontman Olly Alexander explores the mental health issues faced by members of the LGBT+ community.

A Change of Sex

Groundbreaking BBC series that follows Julia Grant’s life as a transgender person, from her first year living as a woman to her gender reassignment surgery and beyond.


🎵 Season Just Announced! Live at Lunchtime 2025 🎵

All concerts are free, unticketed events in the Stalls Foyer – just turn up!

Run Remedy

Friday, 2 May 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Chetham’s School of Music

Friday, 9 May 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

The Apple Sellers

Friday, 16 May 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Lorena Paz Nieto & Helen Glaisher-Hernández

Friday, 23 May 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Dimitra Ananiadou & Richard Whalley

Friday, 30 May 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Music for the Mind and Soul: Jonathan Mayer & Kousic Sen

Friday, 20 June 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Hannah Brine

Friday, 11 July 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Union Chapel Jazz Band

Friday, 1 August 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Canter Semper

Friday, 5 September 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Duo Gimeno-Sanchís

Friday, 12 September 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

So Many Beauties Collective

Friday, 19 September 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

Tracey Browne

Friday, 26 September 2025 – 12.45pm to 1.30pm

In addition to the above there are free concerts (with a ticket) at the Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD.

Get tickets via box office 0161 907 5555 on Mondays and Thursdays from 2.00pm to 5.00pm or via the website rncm.ac.uk

The upcoming concerts are:

Monday, 24 February – 1.15pm – Violin and piano duos by Brahms and Wieniawski

Thursday, 27 February – 1.15pm – Kai Strobel directs the RNCM Percussion Ensemble

Monday, 3 March – 1.15pm – Piano music by Chopin and Beethoven

Thursday, 6 March – 1.15pm – RNCM Guitars with director Craig Ogden

Monday, 10 March – 1.15pm – Two duos from the Popular Music course

Wednesday, 12 March – 1.15pm – European Chamber Music Academy Recital

Thursday, 13 March – 1.15pm – Kleio Quartet performs Bach and Bartok

Monday, 17 March – 1.15pm – Duos by Mangani, Mellits and Bowen

Thursday, 20 March – 1.15pm – Harp students perform

Monday, 24 March – 1.15pm – Soprano and piano duos by Burleigh and Falla

Thursday, 27 March – 1.15pm – Chamber music from Silja Trio and Palmieri Piano Quartet

Monday, 31 March – 1.15pm – Sonatas by Schubert and Harberg

Thursday, 3 April – 1.15pm – Rob Buckland directs the RNCM Saxophones.

Also The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama at The University of Manchester have a dynamic arts programme. There are 20 music concerts, open to the general public, free of charge and no booking necessary. For details see: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/mhc

Leave a comment