Social and mental wellbeing

LGBT Switchboard – Switchboard is an LGBT+ helpline – a place for calm words when you need them most. They’re here to help you with whatever you want to talk about. Nothing is off limits and conversations are 100% confidential. Call 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm daily).

Meetup – allows people to search for relevant groups in their area. You can also set up your own.

FFLAG – supports friends and family members of LGBT people.

Maytree – provides support for people who are feeling suicidal and provides a 4-day or 5-day stay. Call 020 7263 7070 for more details and to be assessed. Email address: maytree@maytree.org.uk. The site is in London and they are hoping to open another house in Manchester in 2020.

Papyrus – the national charity for prevention of young suicide. They run HOPELineUK which is a National Confidential Helpline. Phone: 0800 068 41 41 / Text: 0778 620 9697 / email: pat@papyrus.org.uk (Mon-Fri 10am-10pm / Weekends & Bank Holidays 2-10pm)

 

General useful support and advice

Equality Advisory Support Service EASS) – advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights across England, Scotland and Wales. Phone number 0808 800 0082.

Citizens Advice (CA) – provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice on a broad range of subjects, including debt, benefits, housing, legal matters, employment, immigration and consumer issues. You can find details of local CAs on their website.

 

Support for trans people, families and allies

Mermaids UK – family and individual support for gender diverse and transgender children and young people. Mermaids is passionate about supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity.

The Gendered Intelligence (GI) Network for Therapists and Counsellors – aims to support therapists and counsellors to enable a positive experience in a therapy setting for trans people (including young people) and their families. Here's a link to the PDF version.

MindLine Trans+ – a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as transgender, agender, gender fluid and non-binary. Phone number 0300 330 5468.

 

Violence and abuse

Galop – If you’ve experienced hate crime, sexual violence or domestic abuse, GALOP is there for you. They also support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system.

 

Resources For LGBT People Of Faith

Faith is an important part of many LGBT people’s lives. However, the misconception that LGBT people cannot belong within faith communities has been deeply damaging.

 

Faith-based Groups And Organisations

Here are the details of groups and organisations that can provide community and support:

Diverse Church is a supportive community of over 600 LGBT+ Christians in the UK and Ireland. They aim to be a pastoral/mission resource for the wider church so that LGBT+ people do not give up on God or life.

Fateh is a source of support for LGBT Sikhs.

Kolot HaKeshet is a project that provides training on campaigning and messaging skills to enable LGBTI+ Jews to push for inclusion within Jewish communities.

Hidayah's mission is to provide support and welfare for LGBTQI+ Muslims and promote social justice and education about the Muslim LGBTQI+ community to counter discrimination, prejudice and injustice.

House of Rainbow (HOR) fosters relationships among Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals, people of faith and allies in order to create a safer and more inclusive community.

Humanists UK promote humanism as a rational, naturalistic worldview that trusts the scientific method as the most reliable route to truth and encourages a moral and ethical life based on logic, reason and compassion. They campaign for equality and diversity, particularly relating to sexual orientation and identity – both in the UK and internationally.

Imaan is a national LGBTQ Muslim charity.

KeshetUK's vision is a world where no one is forced to choose between their LGBT+ and Jewish identity. They are the only charity in the UK working with Jewish schools, youth and young adult organisations, synagogues, and wider community organisations to become more inclusive of LGBT+ people through education and training.

Open Table Network is a growing partnership of Christian worship communities which welcome and affirm people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA for short), our families and friends, and all our allies.

Queer Spirit London is a Radical Faerie group running events on LGBT+ spirituality.

Quest exists to provide pastoral support to lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender Catholics.

Rainbow Pagans UK and Ireland is an association of LGBTQ+ Pagan groups and individuals in the UK and Ireland.

Sarbat is a London-based international organisation for LGBT Sikhs.

 

Resources For Disabled LGBT People and LGBT People With Accessibility Needs

Regard is a national organisation of lesbians, gay men, bi, trans and queer people (LGBTQ) who self-identify as disabled. They follow the Social Model of Disability. This is a way of thinking about disability that says it is society that needs to change by removing the barriers that deny us inclusion and equal rights. Email: secretary@regard.org.uk

Deaf Rainbow UK provides information, represents and supports deaf people who are either coming out and/or identify as LGBTIQA.

 

Mental health and finding a therapist

Pink Therapy is the UK’s largest independent therapy organisation working with gender and sexual diversity clients. You can search and find therapists on their site.

Counselling Directory is a comprehensive database of UK counsellors and psychotherapists, with information on their training and experience, fees and contact details. Use keywords such as ‘LGBT’, ‘gay’, ‘lesbian’, ‘bi’, ‘trans’ or ‘same-sex couple’ to find professionals who specialise in supporting LGBT people.

The Gendered Intelligence (GI) Network for Therapists and Counsellors aims to support therapists and counsellors to enable a positive experience in a therapy setting for trans people (and their families). Here's a link to the PDF version.

 

Nationwide free support phone lines

• Switchboard – the LGBT+ helpline. Telephone: 0300 330 0630, open 10am–10pm every day. Email support: chris@switchboard.lgbt. Online chat is also available through their homepage
• Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm, Monday to Friday) info@mind.org.uk
• MindLine Trans+ – a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as transgender, agender, gender fluid and non-binary. Telephone: 0300 330 5468.
• Samaritans offer a safe place to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Free phone calls, 24 hours a day, from landline or mobile: 116 123. Email: jo@samaritans.org