Tina Carnally
Merseyway Workshop is Stockport’s creative, community space on the high street. It is a space for the whole community to use, to share ideas and creative work but also to learn new skills and connect with new people. We have an incredible community in Stockport and we’re sharing some inspiring stories of the amazing people who make it a great place to be.
Tina Carnally runs Forward, a social enterprise founded to support the wellbeing of Stockport’s LGBT+ community. Hearing about Tina’s work in the community we have reflected on how important it is for us all to have a space, with others, where we can truly be ourselves. An opportunity that sounds so simple yet many of us don’t feel we have that in our everyday lives.
Tina’s journey to running her own business was largely driven by the challenges she faced with her own mental health. Just a few years before founding Forward, Tina had had panic attacks whilst starting a new dream job and was let go by her employer. Determined, Tina decided to become her own boss and opened a cake shop and art gallery in Romiley called Pasia’s in early 2019. Tina describes Pasia’s as “a place for ‘other’ or for people who don’t feel like they fit in with mainstream.”
“I just don’t want trans people to have to wait forty years before society becomes more accepting.”
It was whilst setting up Pasia’s that Tina met one of her now, closest friends. “They were actually one of the first trans people I had met. I’d never known anyone [who was trans].” The two became close friends in an instant and have since spent Christmases together. Tina explains “I think it’s through hearing stories of how she’s treated that I thought, OK, I just don’t want trans people to have to wait forty years before society becomes more accepting. The ignorance and hatred directed towards them is similar to how gay men were treated in the 80's.”
Tina with friends at Pasia’s (yes it’s Ian McKellen!)
Tina’s last day running her cake shop and gallery, Pasia’s in Romiley
Pasia’s opened for a sweet (quite literally) and short 8 months before Tina’s landlord had to give up the lease and ask her to move out. However, running Pasia’s had allowed Tina to cultivate her dream to open a dedicated, supportive space for the LGBT+ community in Stockport. So, just a few months later, at the start of 2020, Tina founded the social enterprise Forward.
Tina has designed Forward’s offering around the ‘five ways to wellbeing’, a practice which supports mental wellness through; connecting with others, being active, taking notice, learning and giving. Forward began by setting up a helpline and regular, transgender ‘virtual socials’ – creating welcoming spaces online during the 2020 lockdowns and restrictions. Forward now run weekly LGBTQ+ virtual socials and Tina is leading on organising events for LGBT History month.
Tina explains why ventures like Forward are so important. “The LGBT community already has health inequalities. We are more likely to smoke, suffer discrimination in the workplace, less likely to report hate crimes and more likely to experience them. Add on top of that being trans or disabled for example… and then COVID.”
Forward’s logo is based on the progress pride flag.
Having faced her own struggles with poor mental health and addiction Tina has always felt supported by those around her. “I want to use that privilege to provide a platform to empower other people”
And it’s working. Forward’s social impact surveys confirmed just how important it was to people to have a space where they could “chill and be themselves.” Alongside the sense of connection, togetherness and listening ear that Forward provides, there’s also a love story…
Tina lives with her girlfriend Charley. “I believe that a lot of the success of Forward has been down to her constant love and support.” Charley joins in the virtual socials with Tina. “We just sort of bounce off of each other and some people have commented how nice it is to see that kind of relationship.”
“We want to be role models, a bit of an example…to anyone really, especially the younger generation, that LGBT people are normal and can have a totally normal life and so can trans people. We are just totally normal people who have exactly the same worries, issues, problems and interests that everyone else has. And there is hope.”
Tina and Charley at the trans rights protest in Manchester Piccadilly
“We are a cis, trans couple. We are totally in love. We are planning a family. This can be you.”
Tina and Charley took to the stage during the first trans rights protests during the summer of 2020 in Manchester, to spread that message of hope to the LGBTQ+ community. “We are a cis, trans couple. We are totally in love. We are planning a family. This can be you.”
Follow Forward on their inspiring journey and hear more about their plans and activities for LGBT History month and more over on their social media pages and website.
Twitter: @SCentrecic
Website: https://forwardlgbt.org.uk/
Forwards helpline is available on: 07719 103201