LGBTQ+
Sunderland Counselling Service is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community. Our counselling service is open to all, and our counsellors will provide a safe, supportive environment for anyone from the LGBTQ+ community to talk about any issue that is bothering them. Below are some useful local services and resources of support.
Support Services
Rainbow Foundation
Focus on education, awareness raising and activities to support and promote the LGBTQ+ community across the North East region. They were circulating a monthly bulletin that provides updates on latest activity and upcoming events that can be signed up to on their website. Recently they had established an LGBTQ+ Youth group aimed at individuals aged 16-24 years, and had been running the 3rd Saturday of each month, 1pm-4pm at a venue in Roker.
Currently they are working remotely and aim to provide support to people via online/social media, by email or phone. Their website or social media accounts should hopefully provide further information. The Chairman of Rainbow Foundation is the chair of our LGBT Forum.
Sunderland Partnership Equality Forum
Sunderland Partnership run four Equality Forums, one of which is for the LGBTQ community. At the moment the group is not as active as it usually would be due to COVID-19, but normally they have monthly meetings and regularly circulate information regarding LGBTQ+ across the Sunderland area and wider region. https://www.sunderlandpartnership.org.uk/equality-forums
The following resources are subject to change due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Sunderland Pride Group
Based at Bridge House in Sunderland, they are also the organisers of Sunderland Pride that has been postponed for 2020. They had been operating a Trans Group for young people aged 18-25 years once a fortnight up until the COVID-19 outbreak. They also offered LGBT awareness training and LGBT Hate Crime awareness training to businesses. https://www.facebook.com/sunderlandpride/
Age UK Sunderland
Age UK Sunderland offer a variety of LGBT support groups for 50+ people, collectively known as the “Meaningful Connections” network.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/sunderland/about-us/news/articles/2017/meaningful-connections/
Washington Mind
Providing an LGBT youth group for young people aged 14-25 years.
https://www.washingtonmind.org.uk/
Sunderland College
Sunderland College have a Trans group and LGBT group for their students.
University of Sunderland
University of Sunderland has a LGBT Society that can be signed up to by any of their students, usually during Freshers Fair towards the end of September. The Students Union at the University also elects a new LGBT+ officer every year so that may also be a useful point of contact. https://www.sunderlandsu.co.uk/your-voice/lgbtofficer
Gentoo Housing in Sunderland
Trans self-support group. Occurring the 2nd Tuesday each month, 12pm-2pm, from their space on Athenaeum Street in Sunderland City Centre.
Be
Trans Support and Community in the North East. Working to improve the lives of Trans and Non-Binary people throughout the North East and West of England and beyond through peer support groups and social events https://be-north.org.uk/
Helpline for Trans Survivors Project
Trans Survivors Project provides support , information and space to trans and/or non-binary people or those who are questioning, especially if they have experienced violence or abuse.
Helpline: 01273 204050
MESMAC
MESMAC Newcastle works with gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men to increase the range of choices open to them. Mesmac provide services for sexual health, wellbeing, counselling and groups. https://mesmacnewcastle.com/
LGBTQ Victims
The Gay Times online magazine features an article, ‘The rise of domestic abuse during COVID-19 in LGBTQ relationships and how you can get help' available here
If you are LGBTQ and need assistance then additional help and support is available via
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/criminal-law/domestic-violence and their helpline: 08009995428
Or LGBT Foundation https://lgbt.foundation/domesticabuse and their helpline: 03453303030.
Or National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline Tel 0800 999 5428 https://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/