When the CCG informed me that the youth group had to go
I told them “No.”
Because I knew that there were safeguards against removing commissioned services
Where there were no viable alternatives
And there weren’t.
They told me “But we never commissioned this!”
I told them “No, you didn’t, because you see
This youth group is much older than the CCG.
You commissioned us to educate seldom heard, high risk demographics about good sexual health.
To make STI screening accessible
Regardless of age, gender, orientation or wealth.
And that’s what the LGBT youth group is for.
And if you make us get rid of it your
Key Performance Indicators won’t be met.
The youth group helps us hit the targets you’ve set”.
They said “Still, it’s not in the service specification
And there’s no longer any ringfenced funding allocation
We can’t afford for you to hire a venue
So it’s going to have to stop.” “but then you
See, I said, we use the service user space, at no extra fee,
Hell, don’t pay me those two hours a week. I’ll run the thing for free!”
“About the service user space”, they said, “That’s going too.
We can’t have drop in sessions, we’ve got better things to do
With the building. Patients who need STI checks can go to the GU.”
Having special services for the LGBT community
Is segregation. Discrimination.
We do not wish to appear prejudiced you see,
So we’re slashing that community’s resources, for the good of that community.”
When the CCG informed me of their intent
I told them “No.
Never.
If that youth group goes
If the sexual health drop in goes
If the community outreach work goes
I will absolutely lose my shit.”
Nevertheless, it went.
Still.
The building where it used to be
Ended up being the occupational health office.
Which was a great way to cut costs.
So I spent a lot of time there anyway
When my shit got absolutely lost.
Tom Juniper Poetry 