There is lots of information available to you. Please look through the various links to help you.
www.itgetsbetter.org – ‘The It Gets Better Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach – if they can just get through their teen years. The It Gets Better Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone — and it WILL get better.’
Bullying help – A great guide for young people from the NHS.
Information about coping with cyberbullying from the NHS.
Department for Education, behaviour and bullying – Commonly asked questions on bullying.
www.childline.org.uk and their page about online bullying.
Football V Homophobia – Football v Homophobia exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression at all levels in football.
At work
ACAS – (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Advice leaflet – Bullying and harassment at work: Guidance for employees.
Pink News – Europe’s largest gay news service.
The Albert Kennedy Trust – Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans homeless young people.
bgiok YouTube channel – Run by bgiok forum users, covering a range of topics.
Stonewall – The lesbian, gay and bisexual charity.
Schools Out – Equality in education.
Wellbeing
‘London Friend – LGBT health and wellbeing: ‘Our services are developed to improve the health and mental well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people (LGB&T) and we work to be there when people need us most.’
Catalyst – Catalyst is a not for profit organisation, providing a range of services and support for people in Surrey.
Sexual health
Sex and young people – Lots of useful information from the NHS about sex, for young people. Highly recommended.
www.gmfa.org.uk– ‘GMFA – the gay men’s health charity. Improving gay men’s health by increasing the control they have over their own lives.’
www.avert.org – AVERT: Teens, Young People & Sexual Health
www.naz.org.uk – Mobilizing BME (Black & Minority Ethnic) communities for sexual health (London).
www.tht.org.uk – Terrence Higgins Trust is the leading and largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK.
www.checkurself.org.uk – Offers South London based 16-24 year olds an opportunity to order free Chlamydia self-testing kits. Also includes a good sexual health links section.
Shine ALOUD magazine – ‘The magazine acts as a social enterprise that aims to educate and inform young people about sexual health and relationships on a personal level’.
Sexual Health (STI) Clinics For London and Surrey |CNWL Sexual Health Services – Providing sexual health services in London and Surrey
Mental health
Mental health – Information from the NHS.
NHS Counselling information – Information about counselling, the different types and how to access them.
Mind Out – ‘…a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people. Based in Brighton and Hove, we provide local services as well as a number of national initiatives.’
www.samaritans.org.uk – The Samaritans provide emotional support, 24 hours a day, by email and telephone for people in distress.
SANEline – National out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems.
Youth Access – The largest provider of advice and counselling services in the UK.
www.counselling-directory.org.uk – Enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs.
Rethink – The leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
National Self Harm Network – (NSHN) The charity aims to empower individuals to explore reasons for their self-harm and to seek appropriate professional help.
A note about counselling (UK): if you are referred by your NHS doctor to a counsellor (can include one-on-one or group therapy) there is often a waiting list, but the counselling service is free of charge. Finding counselling services via a service like Youth Access will also be free of charge. An alternative to going via your GP is to find a private counsellor or psychotherapist yourself via local adverts, word-of-mouth recommendations, or a website like the Counselling Directory but you will have to pay for the counselling. Charges vary, but expect to pay £40-£100 per session/hour. Often counsellors offer a free initial consultation to help you decide if the service is suitable and with someone you want to work with. See the NHS page here for more information about counselling, the different types and how to access them.
Transgender
The NHS’s Gender dysphoria section
Substance abuse
www.talktofrank.com – Drugs advice and support.
www.drinkaware.co.uk – Information about responsible drinking.
Eating disorders
www.b-eat.co.uk – The leading UK eating disorders charity.
www.mengetedstoo.co.uk – ‘Men get eating disorders too!’
LGBT Youth groups
B
Bournemouth:
www.spaceyouthproject.co.uk
Brighton and Hove:
www.allsortsyouth.org.uk
D
Dorset:
www.spaceyouthproject.co.uk
Eastleigh:
Breakout Eastleigh
F
Fareham and Gosport:
Breakout Fareham
H
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s Local LGBTQ+ Support Charity:
Breakout Youth
I
Ireland:
Cara-Friend – Gay and lesbian youth Northern Ireland
L
London:
www.mosaicyouth.org.uk (Uxbridge, Camden and Ealing)
P
Poole:
www.spaceyouthproject.co.uk
S
Scotland:
LGBT Youth Scotland (various youth groups across Scotland)
Southampton:
Breakout Southampton
Somerset:
2bu
Surrey:
Pride in Surrey – Celebrating Surrey’s LGBTQ Community –
Blossom
Twister
Catalyst
W
Winchester:
Breakout Winchester
UK-wide
Regional services
London Friend – LGBT health and wellbeing: ‘Our services are developed to improve the health and mental well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people (LGB&T) and we work to be there when people need us most.’
Doncaster Pride (Yorkshire)
Q:Alliance (Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire)
OKCupid – For men and women over 18. Free to use and lots of active users.
Plenty of fish – For men and women over 18. Free to use and lots of active users.
My Single Friend – My Single Friend believes that your friends know you best – so they write your profile for you! It takes the hassle and stigma out of dating and paints a better picture of you as a person.
www.familiestogetherlondon.com – Families Together London: support group for parents of gay children.
www.fflag.org.uk – FFLAG is dedicated to supporting parents and their gay, lesbian and bisexual sons and daughters.
Family Ties Project – (Northern Ireland) Support for parents of LGBT children.
Rainbow Families – support group for LGBTQ parents
Emergency or crisis support
www.samaritans.org.uk – The Samaritans provide emotional support, 24 hours a day, by email and telephone for people in distress.
www.childline.org.uk – ‘Whatever your worry, large or small, we’re here to offer advice and support.’
LGBT
www.outlinesurrey.org – Telephone, text and email support in Surrey.
London Friend – LGBT health and wellbeing: ‘We are here to support the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around London.’
The Albert Kennedy Trust – Supports young LGBT 16-25 year olds who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment.
www.switchboard.org.uk – Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard.
LGBT Switchboard Northern Ireland
London Switchboard – We have provided support and information to millions of people since our phone started ringing in 1974
J-FLAG – ‘J-FLAG is the first human rights organisation in the history of Jamaica to serve the needs of LGBT peoples.’
Samtoking’78 – The National Queer Organisation of Iceland
LGB Alliance – USA LGBA is dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals
GLAAD – USA GLAAD is a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change.
LSVD – Germany We provide support for questions and problems confronting LGBTIQ* due to prejudice, social or legal discrimination and exclusion. We also raise awareness among professionals, for example, in youth work, elderly care or family and educational counselling.