NRAS Relationships Matter Online Focus Group Tuesday 6th Feb 7pm – 8pm. Deadline January 30th

[Aribah-NRAS]

NRAS is looking for 10 to 12 people to give feedback on our development of a new printed resource called ‘Relationships Matter’.

In this new resource we are exploring how RA or Adult JIA impacts on close relationships with life partners; intimacy and sex life; dating and communications with those closest to you.

We have the main framework of the resource and wish to ensure that we’re going in the right direction with the booklet and that it will reflect the needs and concerns regarding all types of intimate relationships.

In this focus group we are looking for people to reflect different ages, sexuality, ethnicity as well as the views of partners. While we appreciate it is difficult to get a full and comprehensive demographic on a single focus group we have been also consulting with the LGBT Foundation to ensure we are imagery, tone, terminologies, language etc. are appropriate.

For this group we are ideally looking for a good mix of people of different ages but must be over the age of 18 to include

- people from diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds

- at least 2 partners of people living with RA or Adult JIA to attend but without their partner

- people from the LGBTQ+ communities

- people who are newly diagnosed and those who have lived with RA or Adult JIA for many years

- people who are not in a relationship as well as those in long standing relationships

Anyone chosen to participate in the focus group can be assured that the discussions will be treated respectfully and in strictest confidence. Any contributions will not be attributed to any individual and will only be used to guide the production of the new booklet. You will be compensated for your time with a £10 gift voucher.

Thank you for considering this request.

If you are interested and willing to openly discuss such sensitive topics please express your interest by completing this form survey.sogolytics.com/r/y2W24i

[whitedog]

I would respectfully suggest that you consult with a wider range of groups than just the LGBT Foundation if you want to make sure you are a) staying within the law and b) using terminology that doesn't alienate, for example, many women and gay people who find tone, language and imagery used by the TQ+ highly offensive and questionable.

You might also familiarise yourself with court cases won by Rachel Meade v Westminster Council, Jo Phoenix v The Open University and The LGB Alliance v Mermaids (Mermaids have since found themselves under investigation).

There are many more court cases either happening now or in the pipeline.

The LGB Alliance and Transgender Trend would offer balance.

Thank you.

[NRAS_SallyM Moderator in reply to whitedog]

Thank you for this suggestion. We will have a look at the court cases you recommend. Work on the booklet is already underway. In addition to the support of LGBT Foundation, we are also working with an external editor who has worked on a number of NRAS publications and is also experienced in writing for the LBGTQ+ community. Of course, our work to make this booklet feel as inclusive as possible is just one element of a much wider topic of relationships and RA, for which the principal author is suitably qualified, as a psychotherapeutic counselor, who also has RA herself.

[grumpygirl]

Hi

Just tried to look at application survey and link doesn’t work.

[NRAS_SallyM Moderator in reply to grumpygirl]

The maximum number of responses have been received for this focus group. Thank you for showing interest.