About Us

What is Navajo?

Navajo is a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people’s project in Lancashire that aims to involve and serve the LGBT community in terms of their social well-being. It operates as a loose network of LGBT friendly organisations and has strong links with the LGBT Community.

Navajo was set up in 1999 after focus groups were carried out and a stakeholder conference held with the LGB community and local statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

The concept was initiated from what was originally the North West Lancashire Health Promotion Unit. Tackling oppression, inequality, prejudice and addressing social well-being and acceptance in society of LGB people has a direct positive impact on their health.More recently the scheme has been extended to include Transgender people too.

The name ‘Navajo’ was chosen by those involved at the start of the project in 1999, to pay tribute to the traditions of tolerance, non-discrimination and goodwill that historically formed a central part of the Navajo Nation's belief, including respect being paid to’ two-spirit people’ whom in our own society we recognise as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

What does Navajo do?

The Charter Mark - Private and public sector organisations that take positive steps to welcome and encompass LGBT issues within their organisation or service provision can apply for the Navajo Charter Mark. Charter Mark applications will require an evaluation of the organisation applying by one of the members of the Navajo Charter Mark Panel.

If the application meets the required standard then organisations will be awarded the Charter Mark at a special ceremony held annually. Organisations will be reviewed periodically after that to ensure that they still meet the criteria. Over 150 organisations now hold the Navajo Charter Mark.

Navajo Consultative Partnership

The Navajo Consultative Partnership (NCP) has been established to provide a strategic platform for organisations to address Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues across Lancashire including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.

The NCP is open to all people regardless of their own sexual orientation or gender identity. All members must be able to affect change within their own organisations or groups and be able to offer support to NCP through pro-active involvement this includes management, staff or volunteer representation from Statutory, Voluntary and Community Sector organisations. This includes Equality and Diversity Leads, Health and Social Care Professionals, LGBT community groups or project representatives, Human Resources and Training professionals, Education professionals.

The main aims and objectives of the NCP are to support organisations in the following areas.

• To carry out Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) on sexual orientation and gender identity issues
• To ensure a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of high quality sexuality / LGBT / sexual orientation / transgender awareness training across organisations and within communities
• To ensure a co-ordinated approach to tackling homophobia and transphobia in educational settings
• To support national / local days of action e.g. LGBT History Month and IDAHO
• To act as a forum for sharing good practice around LGBT issues
• To monitor and respond to relevant consultations e.g. any proposed new legislation affecting LGBT communities across Lancashire
• To work closely with other forums including Lancashire Diversity and Equality Network, Navajo Charter Mark Panel, Local Area Agreement People and Communities Thematic Group