Nexus-LGBT Staff Group

Employees of Essex Police founded the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) support group Nexus in July 2000. http://www.essex.police.uk/nexus

Set up with the remit of providing a resource that Essex Police can draw on for operational duties, along with a welfare support group for its own LGBT members of staff, the group continues to forge strong working relationships with its own membership and policing colleagues.

Nexus provides Essex Police with an LGBT centre of excellence for issues affecting its workforce. It is also heavily involved in providing welfare support to staff, policy generation and is highly active in delivering LGBT awareness raising initiatives. The combination of these efforts has resulted in heightened awareness and understanding of the LGBT community, within Essex Police.

Nexus is a formal network led by a Chair and Executive committee, who are assisted by Divisional Liaison Reps within the policing divisions of Essex. The Executive Committee meet on a monthly basis to review the status of live projects and campaigns, although the majority of work is done by members in their own time. This work includes school's visits, family counselling, recruitment events, police incident support etc.

Nexus Objectives

Nexus was set up with the remit of providing:

A forum for individuals to share experiences and obtain support
A partnership between the Nexus network and Essex Police
An integral part of the development of Equal Opportunities within Essex Police
Although Nexus is a stand alone organisation, it engages with other local and national LGBT organisations, including the Gay Police Association.