So... January saw the launch of my business, Drew Dalton Consulting - what a month! I expected it to be (quite honestly) a 'dry' month and a gentle start to everything. I had an overly romanticized image of me twiddling with my website and making pretty social media content, while building up networks. I was a fool (though I am not complaining, it was ace). Fundraising Strategy. Training Courses. Workshops. It has been busy!
This was my first month as a Company Director...
University of Sunderland and the SDGs:
I delivered a cracking two-week session with Laura and Natalie from the Centre for Graduate Prospects at the University of Sunderland. These packed staff sessions were about raising awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and then how to integrate them into programmes and modules. I also got to play with the SDG cubes, which is always fun!
Feedback was excellent, and they want me back! Do you need support in integrating the SDGs into your place of education, business, or NGO? Speak to me!
Delivering Talks at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals:
For Holocaust Memorial Day, I spoke about the 'Men with the Pink Triangle,' who lived and suffered under Nazi-occupied Europe. I have delivered this one many times, and it is always a sad one to deliver. But, it is also needed, as genocide of LGBTQ+ people can happen right under our noses, and I draw parallels to what was/is happening in Chechnya in recent history. We must never forget all genocides and crimes against humanity, so I thank Sheffield Teaching Hospitals for offering this to their staff.

Rachel Salmon, the amazing EDI Manager at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, left lovely comments on my feedback form and has allowed me to use them and show off a bit (thanks, Rachel):
"A thorough, insightful talk into the experiences of gay men during the Nazi Holocaust, and subsequent genocides. You deliver in such an engaging way, making the talk interesting and relevant, even when the topic is as hard-hitting as this one. Definitely the best presenter I have worked with/seen present, and I always learn something new. You present in a way that I think everyone should experience - humour, mixed with information, research, and real-life experience."
See? It is not just me saying it. Bookings for LGBTQ+ History Month are coming in thick and fast. I am up and down the country (and online) speaking on a range of LGBTQ+ history topics, from the above talk, to global queer histories, the history of Pride, and bisexual invisibility. Want to book me for a talk? Contact me!
Outreach Talks:
I love working with the wonderful Peter Darrant and Justine Gillespie. As part of OUT North East's fantastic Emerald 55 Exhibition, Justine and I have been doing outreach workshops to so many organisations. I get paid to talk about LGBTQ+ history and rights, and that makes me very happy!

With organisations as varied as the Glasshouse, the NHS, youth groups, and Wearside Women in Need (featured above), this project is seeking to engage with the wider community in submitting to three exhibitions to be held in February in South Tyneside, Gateshead, and Sunderland. The idea behind this exhibiton is to ask people 'what makes YOU proud?' Pride is not a thing which is under the exclusive ownership of the LGBTQ+ community, as being proud is something that we all share. These workshops have been asking people to submit what they are proud of, to the upcoming exhibitions.
Feedback has been excellent so far, and we have had hundreds of entries submitted. I love to deliver a workshop and I have a range of pre-planned workshops, or I can fit around your needs. Want to talk more? Contact me.
Global LGBTQ+ Dangers and Rights (Online) Course:
The world looks pretty scary right now. With the rollback of many LGBTQ+ rights at a national level, and with some global businesses stripping back DEI programmes, we are seeing it at the global level too. It is time that we understood queerphobia a lot more. We all urgently need to come together, but we also need the knowledge in which to do this - so this course will equip you with this. Populists and authoritarian regimes often start with LGBTQ+ people, and they inevitably come for others. That could be you.
With this in mind, I teamed up with the wonderful Ross Othen-Reeves to design an 8-week online course to really understand what is going on in the world, and to probe deeper into some of the motivations behind what is going on with our increasingly authoritarian world.
Costing only £100 for experts delivering this, this course will examine some of the following topics:
What is meant by LGBTQ+ identity politics and where did they come from?
The impact of colonialism
What’s gender got to do with it?
How has globalisation impacted upon LGBTQ+ populations?
Shifting sands? What does LGBTQ+ life look like in the SWANA region?
Case study: Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean
The ‘Iron Man’ of Europe and his allies: Russia and Eastern Europe
Danger ahead? The rise of populism and the far-right
No essays, no exams, just sit back and learn. This is the first of many training courses to come!
We have had a number of people sign up! This is exciting. It is not too late, you can sign up too.
Bid writing and writing a fundraising strategy:
I offer support for charities with their fundraising and fundraising strategies. Want to hire me?
As part of a contract I have with Ability Consultants, I am bid writing for two different charities and creating a fundraising strategy for another. Money is coming in, and I am celebrating some good wins this month! Do you need support for your charity? Contact me.
My new love affair with a strawberry:

Being self-employed can be lonely, and last week I was scaling the walls just being at home. So, I decided to get out and about and try co-working spaces. It is safe to say that I have fallen in love with One Strawberry Lane in city centre Newcastle. It is a warm and friendly community space, and they do an excellent (and cheap) coffee (food is amazing too - recommend the halloumi sandwich...)
I appeared on a podcast!
Take a listen on your next car journey...

Hosted by the lovely Gillian Russell, I appeared in my capacity as CEO of ReportOUT, my own charity. However, it wasn't long before I started talking about the course I am offering! This podcast was an absolute pleasure to do, and Gillian made me feel at ease. Want to take a listen? Listen here.
I have business cards! I feel like a 'grown-up' Company Director:
I just had to share this. I am giddy at having my own branded business cards, and after this first month of operation, it is going to be a valuable thing to have! Snazzy, eh?
Want to work with me? Great! Drop me a message and let's meet for a real (or virtual) coffee.