This is why Sheffield Council is the first authority in country to receive award for its efforts to tackle LGBT+ bullying and inequality

Sheffield Council has become the first local authority to have its children and young people's service recognised with a national award for tackling LGBT+ inequality and bullying.
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The authority was given the Stonewall Gold Champion Award after it scored a "remarkable" 128 out of 130 possible points.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The council is right in its vision for Sheffield to be the fairest city in Britain, where all people feel included regardless of their age, race, gender, sexuality or ability, and that whilst we have come a long way, it is essential that this success is built on so that everyone feels accepted in our city.

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“These are important developments and perhaps even more remarkable given the decade of austerity inflicted on the city by successive governments but there should be no complacency and the council must strive to do even better.”

Stonewall is a national charity that campaigns for LGBT+ rights.

The council is also one of only two to feature in the top 10 of every Stonewall Education Index since 2011.

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To achieve the award, Sheffield Council demonstrated how it tackles issues around things like poor mental health among the LGBT+ community and bullying.

Statistics from the Stonewall survey show 84 percent of transgender and 61 percent of gay and bisexual young people have self-harmed while half of LGBT+ pupils hear homophobic slurs frequently or often at school.

The issues will be discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday.