Labour councils spend hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants on LGTBQ+ paddleboards and cooking

Two Labour-run councils have been criticised by campaigners over their use of taxpayer money after channelling thousands of pounds into activities including “Cooking with Pride” lessons and “LGBTQ+ Paddlesport” social events.

Since 2019, forum+, a charity, has received £627,710 in government grants, with Camden and Islington councils alone giving £250,000 in total for 2022 and 2023.

Forum+ states its aim as promoting “equality for LGBTQ people in Camden and Islington” through “hosting social groups and events which celebrate LGBTQ life in the boroughs” and “supporting victims of homophobic and transphobic hate crime”, among other activities.

For its Rainbow Paddlers event, attendees are invited to “join fellow LGBTQ+ pirates for a relaxing early evening paddle”. Tickets cost £10 per session, but forum+ says it’s “free to join”, with the event being marketed “for LBGTQ+ people aged 18”.

The charity also held a LGBT History Month Art Workshop forum+ in February, where participants celebrated “queer joy and creativity” and regularly posts links to its international film club where participants can “enjoy trips to the cinema”, a “free monthly spoken word event” and “Cooking with Pride” lessons.

Kate Barker, CEO of LGB Alliance, told The Telegraph: “Councils should have a clear idea of who they’re funding and what they’re up to. Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals would be as keen as every other ratepayer to understand what the T, the Q and especially the ‘+’ actually stand for.

“And, what any of those people have in common with those of us who are same-sex attracted. The forced-teaming of disparate groups serves none of the individuals within them well and obscures their purpose in a way that should ring alarm bells for councils.”

Paddling canoes

Neil Garratt, AM, leader of London’s Conservatives in City Hall, said: “It sounds like they’ve had a lovely day paddling their canoe, but when we look at the budget pressures on councils, paying for a fun day on the water can’t be the priority. Meanwhile, assuming that gay Londoners are all impoverished and oppressed and unable to fund their own watersports is a patronising negative stereotype. These Labour councils must do better.”

Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are fed up with councils doing everything in their power to avoid cutting their own pet projects. Council bosses moan that there’s no fat to trim, yet it’s clear to residents that they’ve barely even begun to crack down on the huge waste that goes on in town halls. Local authorities should only provide grants to organisations with clear, measurable plans for delivering genuinely achievable and desirable goals.”

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “In Islington, we are proud to stand against any, and all, forms of injustice and inequality, and support local organisations that do the same. We work with forum+ and other groups as part of our commitment to standing alongside our LGBTQ+ community, who are more likely to experience disadvantage and discrimination, including hate crime. Their work supports victims, transforms attitudes and brings people together, as well as playing a key role in the Islington Hate Crime Forum. This is a key part of our work to make Islington a more equal place.”

Camden Council told The Telegraph: “We are proud to support all our residents and we work closely with forum+ to stand up to discrimination and hate our LGBTQ+ residents experience, in line with our responsibilities under the Equality Act. Last year 90 incidents of hate crime against LGBTQ+ people were reported in Camden, and forum+ carry out important work to support these victims, as well as bringing people in our communities who have experienced harassment and social isolation together for events and activities.”

Forum+ said: “forum+ is proud to support LGBT+ people – many of whom suffer hate crime and discrimination.

“Our annual events programme and outreach connects with up to 6,000 people each year – from young people up to those in their 70s. It promotes understanding and social cohesion and breaks down social isolation within the LGBT+ community.”