Need help?

GALHA doesn't directly provide counselling or helpline services, though there are many available to the LGBT community. This page should point you in the right direction.

Please see separate pages for:

• Young people and their families
• Faith-based LGBT support organisations
• Occupation-based LGBT support organisations
• Local helplines and support groups

LGBT Support organisations

London gay and lesbian switchboard: 020 7837 7324

If you're a LGBT individual needing urgent help, anywhere in the UK, call the London gay and lesbian switchboard: 020 7837 7324 daily from 10am - 11pm, or http://www.llgs.org.uk/. Registered charity 296193.

The London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual people - and anyone considering issues around their sexuality.

All volunteers identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, so the person answering the telephone will have an understanding of your situation.

The helpline operates 10am to 11pm, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

The associated website queery.org.uk provides information and resources relevant to the LGBT community.

Gay men's health: GMFA

"GMFA was established in 1992 and is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to gay men’s health. GMFA’s mission is to improve gay men’s health by increasing the control they have over their own lives. We believe that the best health promotion for gay men comes from gay men themselves, and so we use the knowledge and ideas of our 170 volunteers (most of them gay men) to design and plan our thought provoking sexual health interventions.

We have received international acclaim for our Sex and Sexual Health website (www.gmfa.org.uk/sex) which was visited by a third of London’s gay men in 2006. Our other websites include a detailed listing of sexual health services available for gay men in London (www.gmfa.org.uk/londonservices), an information resource for HIV positive gay men (www.gmfa.org.uk/positive) and a guide to gay sports and social groups in London (www.gmfa.org.uk/theguide).

All of our sites can be accessed at http://www.gmfa.org.uk/". Registered charity 1076854.

Domestic violence: Broken Rainbow

Support for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence. Web: http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/. National LGBT domestic violence helpline: 08452 60 44 60 open Monday: 2 - 8pm, Wednesday: 10 - 1pm, Thursday: 2 - 8pm. Registered charity 1103624.

LGBT organisations: the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Voluntary and Community Organisations

A membership-based national body. Different to other national LGBT charities such as Stonewall, the focus of the Consortium is around the development and support of LGBT groups, organisations and projects, rather than actually delivering direct services or campaigning for individual LGBT rights. It champions the value and importance of LGBT specific organisations and groups, as well as the need for their existence. Web: http://www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk/. Registered charity 1105502.

Disabled LGBT: Regard

The national organisation of Disabled Lesbians, Gay Men, Bisexuals and Transgendered People. Web: http://www.regard.org.uk/. Registered charities 1056873 and 1105458.

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

"The UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group, formerly the Stonewall Immigration Group, is a charity providing information and advice on immigration rights for same sex couples and support for lesbian & gay asylum seekers". Web: http://www.uklgig.org.uk/. Registered charity 1101400.

The UK counselling support network enables those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs. The search is a free, confidential service. The website also contains a number of sections on emotional disorders (types of distress section) and provides some useful statistics. Every counsellor on the site who has submitted their profile has either sent a copy of their qualifications and insurance cover to them, or is registered with a professional body online with recognised codes of ethics and practice, to be assured of their professionalism.

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

HIV / AIDS information: AVERT

"the world's most popular AIDS website", AVERT is an international HIV and AIDS charity based in the UK, working to AVERT HIV and AIDS worldwide. Information, education and research. Web: http://www.avert.org/.

Gay support/friendship group: the Edward Carpenter Community of Gay Men

"We are a group of gay men committed to principles of caring, trusting, personal growth, sharing, and creativity aimed at nurturing 'community' as an alternative to the commercial scene. We are open to all men who identify as gay and we particularly encourage and support disabled, black, older and younger men to become involved in our events". Web: http://www.edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk/. Registered charity 298791.