Below are a range of organisations and services that offer support for LGBTQIA+ people. Some of these are UK-wide, and some are specific to London and/or Greater Manchester where we primarily work.
If you are in crisis, please call 999.
- 24 hour crisis helpline (free for everyone). An excellent helpline for when you are in crisis. The Samaritans will listen to you without judgement.
- Call on 116 123 (Free)
- Email jo@samaritans.org.uk
- https://www.samaritans.org/
- LGBT Foundation provide a wide range of support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, including a range of support groups; counselling; a befriending scheme; a sexual health programme, a substance-misuse project, and many more.
- They also have a helpline that you can call on 0345 3 30 30 30, Monday to Friday, between 10am and 6pm. Outside of these hours you can email them via helpline@lgbt.foundation for further information and support.
- Galop works directly with thousands of LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced abuse and violence every year.
- They specialise in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, and other forms of abuse including honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and so-called conversion therapies.
- National LGBTQ+ National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428
- London LGBTQ+ Helpline: 020 7697 4081 (Hate Crime & Sexual Violence)
- Conversion Therapy Helpline: 0800 130 3335
- Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary, genderfluid, and their family, friends, colleagues and carers.
- Volunteers are trained in telephone counselling skills and have lived experience of being trans or non-binary.
- Call on 0300 330 5468, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8pm – Midnight
- A volunteer led social, peer support and community action group, which celebrates and platforms people of colour who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer and/or Intersex (LGBTQI)
- They exist to provide a voice for LGBTQIA+ people of colour in Greater Manchester and the North West.
- https://www.rainbownoirmcr.com/
- Confidential helpline offering support and advice to LGBTQIA+ individuals.
- Telephone: 0800 0119 100
- https://switchboard.lgbt/
- London Friend is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans charity which supports the health and mental well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community in and around London. They offer counselling and support around issues such as same-sex relationships, sexual and gender identity
- 020 7833 1674
- http://londonfriend.org.uk/
- Mermaids has been supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families since 1995.
- Helpline: 0808 801 0400 (Monday – Friday; 9am – 9pm)
- https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
- As an organisation they aim to promote high quality therapy and training services for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and others who identify as being gender or sexual diversities.
- http://www.pinktherapy.com/
Project Indigo
- Where/when: every Thursday, Off Centre, 68-82 Digby Rd, E9 6HX.
- A counselling service for young LGBTQIA+ people, or those questioning their sexual or gender identity, aimed at 13 to 25-year-olds.
- http://www.offcentre.org.uk/project-indigo/
Rainbow Grow Gardening Club
- Where/when: every Tuesday, times change seasonally – contact for details. Cordwainers Grow, Mare Street, E8.
- Are you a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and interested in growing edible plants, while making new friends and working outdoors? Come along to Rainbow Grow, the community gardening group where diversity thrives.
- Email rainbowgrowk2g@gmail.com or go to https://rainbowgrowhackney.wordpress.com/about/
- 42nd Street’s Inside Out service supports young people, aged 13-25 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or questioning their gender identity and/or sexuality (LGBTQIA+).
- They offer individual therapeutic support with an ‘out’ LGBTQIA+ worker and deliver groups and projects throughout the year.
- A social and support group for men over 40 who identify as gay or bisexual, or who are questioning.
- The group will provide a safe, encouraging and non judgemental space for men to take part in themed discussions and activities, and also to expand their social networks away from the village environment.
Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays
- A national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans sons and daughters.
- Telephone: 0845 652 0311
- https://www.fflag.org.uk/
- Horizon (formally Carousel) is a relaxed social group for lesbian and bisexual women and for those who are questioning their sexual orientation.
- It provides a valuable opportunity for women to come together, both in and away from the gay scene and take part in varied activities which are planned by the group themselves and range from quizzes and meals out to video evenings and discussions as well as a lot of laughs.
- The Sparkle mission is to promote a positive public image of the Trans community within the UK and beyond. Their aim is to build confidence and resilience, to develop understanding and cohesion in society and to challenge stigma.
- The National Transgender Charity organises the Sparkle Weekend celebration in July of each year. They also hold a series of events throughout the year to actively promote fundraising and Trans awareness.
- Offer support to LGBTQIA+ people of African heritage including refugees, and wider Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups (BAME).
- ARF offers support for LGBTQIA+ refugees and people seeking asylum, campaigns for global LGBTQIA+ equality, stands against hate crimes, and supports communities who face constant harassment, and discrimination because of their sexuality and or gender identity.
ELOP – East London’s LGBTQ Centre
- Each week discussions will take place on LGBTQIA+ history, culture, identity, sex and gender, sexual health, relationships and discrimination.
- Community-led mental health & wellbeing charity offering a range of advice, information, counselling and support services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans* (LGB&T) communities.
- Telephone: 020 7064 6500
- E-mail: admin@LGBTQconsortium.org.uk
- http://www.LGBTQconsortium.org.uk/directory/elop
Empty Closets
- A safe online environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals to discuss coming out with each other.
- https://forum.emptyclosets.com/index.php