LGBTQ+ Resources

About us

Sometimes people prefer to travel for support so it can be useful to know what is available in nearby areas as well as national sources of information.As an organisation, we are keen to support local prides as this is a way to show our support of LGBTQ+ colleagues and service users, increase our knowledge and help the public know of and access our services. Also, the events are popular and fun.

Resources

North West

Cheshire and Chester

• Silver Rainbows is a Cheshire based older people’s LGBT network
• Farmers’ helpline someone to talk to who understands being gay in the farming community.Call 07837931894 or email: info@gayfarmer.co.uk
• Chester Pride usually held in August
• Rainbow Tea Rooms by Chester Pride, Bridge Street, Chester
• Just Ask LGBT+ Helpline run by Chester Pride. They can help with a wide range of topics such as: coming out, hate crime, mental health support, social anxiety or isolation, gender transitioning, sexual health, domestic abuse, and anything else you might need.
  Email: justask@chesterpride.co.uk Text or whatsapp: 07718 066 684 or call: 01244 257 602

Halton

• GLOW for LGBTQI+ young people in Halton. Delivered by The Studio, Lacey Street, Widnes with support from Halton Borough Council. GLOW provides access to youth worker support, information and advice. They provide a safe space for young people to socialise with access to informal educational opportunities and positive activities. For more information about the group and to see how you can get involved, contact them on glowlgbt@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.3

Greater Manchester

• Indigo Gender Service is an NHS adult gender service pilot in Greater Manchester, which has been commissioned to provide care that is local, timely and easier to access. Indigo is a partnership between gtd healthcare, a not for profit organisation with an established presence of primary care and urgent care services in the North West, and LGBT Foundation, a national charity delivering services, advice and information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. This is not direct referral. Patients can access via GP.
• TransForum Manchester is a discussion forum and mutual peer support group for all gender diverse people and those in any way questioning their gender, together with their partners, family and friends.
• BYou + supports LGBT+ adults in the Wigan borough. BYou is an under 19s LGBT+ group in Wigan.Email: b.youproject@wigan.gov.uk 

Knowsley

• Youth Mutual delivers LGBT+ services

Liverpool

• Liverpool Pride usually held in July
• Services previously held at the Armistead have been moved or closed
• LGBTQ+ sexual health advice at Axess clinic
• Young Person Advisory Service
• CMAGIC the charity provides counselling and psychological support
• CMAGIC Mersey Care, is a specialist service supporting trans and non binary people who are already on the Gender Identity Clinic waiting list. There are no new referrals
• Sahir House, Trans Health Merseyside (THM) is a monthly wellbeing peer support space held via Zoom covering a range of health and wellbeing issues. Every third Tuesday of the month from 6pm to 8pm, Sahir House. New participants must register before attendance. Contact Kath Charters for more details via transhealthmerseyside@sahir.uk.com5
• Butterfly Clinic Trans Sexual Health Clinic
• Liverpool Trans Wiki is a useful source of information

Sefton and Southport

• Embrace is a Sefton community network for all LGBT+ people who live, work or socialise in Sefton
• Southport LGBT+ Coffee Morning, Southport Life Rooms.St HelensSt Helens Pride usually held in July
• Over the Rainbow a social and support group for young people aged 13-25 years who identify as LGBT+

Warrington

• TAGS is a friendly and supportive group for LGBT+ young people aged 13-25 years old in Warrington
• FRUIT social nights the event’s got a lovely, friendly community around it now and they want to continue that for LGBTQ+ people in the town. Straight and cis allies are welcome too. Instagram handle is @fruit.warrington. They also have a Facebook event page.6

National

• National Charity Stonewall offers resources to support LGBT+ people
• LGBT Foundation provides a wide range of support services to LGBT+ people. Advice, support and information telephone line: 0345 330 3030
• Gendered Intelligence is a not for profit community interest company aiming to increase understanding of gender diversity
• LGBT Foundation provides a wide range of support services to LGBT+ people. Advice, support and information telephone line: 03453 303 030

Young people

• Juno Dawson’s This Book is Gay is a guide to sexuality and gender for young people, written by a young adult author and available to buy online
• The Proud Trust provides LGBT+ youth information
• Young Minds including their mental health guide for parents and young people
• FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity. We are dedicated to supporting parents and families and their LGBT+ members. It has a range of downloadable resources and leaflets including themes such as: How do I tell my children I am trans? How do I tell my parents I am trans? A guide to family and friends
• The Gingerbread person is a teaching tool for breaking the big concept of gender down into bite-sized, digestible pieces
• GIDS: Gender Identity Development Service is a clinic for young people presenting with difficulties with their gender identity
• Stonewall provides resources, role models and support for all ages including schools (such as resources for a LGBTQ inclusive curriculum)
• TransLondon discussion and support group for all members of the trans community.
• UK Trans Info national charity focused on improving the lives of trans and non binary people
• Outhouse East youth groups, free counselling and LGBTQ awareness sessions based in Colchester.8
• Anna Freud website has a new booklet resource, LGBTQI+ mental health, which explores important topics in relation to being a member of the LGBTQI+ community and provides advice for young people on where to go to get additional support for mental health problems.

Homeless

• The Albert Kennedy Trust provides support for LGBT+ people who are homeless or living in a hostile home environment: www.akt.org.uk 

Asylum Seeker: local and national

• Sahir House, Many Hands One Heart is a network to support people seeking asylum and refugees living in Merseyside who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and or trans regardless of your HIV status. It provides a safe and confidential space to talk and receive advice, support and information. The network meets every Thursday 3.30pm via Zoom
• Rainbow Migration Supporting LGBTQI+ asylum seekers through the immigration system.9

Black and Minority Ethnic Groups and People of the Global Majority

• UK Black Pride The world’s largest celebration for African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Caribbean heritage LGBTQI+ people
• African Rainbow Family Support for LGBTIQ people of African heritage and the wider Black and Asian Minority Ethnic groups
• Rainbow Noir is a social and peer support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people of colour (POC) in Manchester. The group have a physical space, an online group space and also advocate for LGBTQI POC in and around Manchester.RainbowNoirMCR@gmail.com
• British Asian LGBT+ Support for South Asian LGBT+ people
• Queer China UK

Traveller Community

Traveller Pride supporting LGBT+ people from the traveller community.

Telephone : 07395 355 066 or email: travellerlgbtpride@gmail.com.

For more information about ways to make contact visit: LGBT Travelling Pride website

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens andresponds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377 Freephone: 0800 328 2941Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk