LGBTQ+ resources and support

It’s LGBTQ+ history month! While a lot of progress has been made over the past century around LGBTQ rights, awareness, and acceptance, there is is still a long way to go. The Proud Trust’s 2022 theme for this month is “The Arc is Long”, a reminder that there is still a way to go towards fairness, justice, and equality.

We have compiled a list of resources for people looking to access LGBTQ+ support groups, information, and helplines, as well as some resources specifically for young people and parents. Not all of these are Trafford-specific.

LGBTQ+ organisations in Trafford/Greater Manchester

• Family and Friends of Lesbians And Gays (FFLAG): FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and registered charity. We are dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay and bisexual daughters and sons.
• Galop National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline: Our National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* (LGBT) Domestic Abuse Helpline provides confidential support to all members of the LGBT communities, their family, friends, and agencies supporting them.
• LGBT Foundation: LGBT Foundation, formerly known as The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (The LGF), is a national charity delivering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.
• Proud 2 B Parents: Proud 2 b Parents is a service for LGBT parents to be, LGBT parents and their children. We have lots of activities and events throughout the year.
• Stonewall: At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full.
• Switchboard: We have provided support and information to millions of people since our phone started ringing in 1974. Throughout our history, we have been at the forefront of supporting our communities in facing the issues of the day.
• Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN): AVEN hosts the world’s largest online asexual community as well as a large archive of resources on asexuality. AVEN strives to create open, honest discussion about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike.

Resources specifically for young people

• The Proud Trust: The Proud Trust supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people in Manchester, Greater Manchester and the North West.
• Trafford LGBT+ youth groups (via Proud Trust): Click here for groups near Trafford
• Mermaids: Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. We also currently offer web chat support to students up to the age of 25.

Mental health resources

• Find support in your area
• Samaritans: If you need to speak to someone you can call the Samaritans day or night. They’re always open and here to listen. They are available on 116 123
• Click here for a list of mental health resources on the Healthwatch Trafford website.
• Kooth: an on-line counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people
  up to 18 years old.
• Young Minds: Young Minds is a mental health charity for children and young people