Helplines: ours and others
Our confidential LGBT helpline is 0845 6020 818.
All our helpline staff and volunteers are lesbian / gay / bisexual or trans people who are understanding, non-judgemental, understanding and sympathetic. If you would like to know more about our Helpline, go to our Helpline page.
We can also sometimes offer advocacy --- that is, we can help people deal with organisations that are letting them down because of homophobic or transphobic discrimination or prejudice. If you would like to know more about our Advocacy service, go to our Advocacy page.
Other places to go for help or information
Other sources of LGBT community help
The Dorset Lesbian and Gay Helpline is 01202 318822. It is normally staffed on Monday and Friday evenings, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.
The Somerset Gay Health Project Helpline is 01823 327078. It is normally staffed in office hours.
The Beaumont Society South West Helpline on Trans issues is 01398 371142,
or e-mail nicky (at) nacks.freeserve.co.uk.
Bristol Lesbian and Gay Switchboard on 0117 922 1328.
The London Lesbian and Gay Helpline is open as far as possible 24/7 (seven days a week, 24 hours a day ). Their phone number is 020 7837 7324.
They also look after a website called Queery, where you can find out about other possible sources of help.
FFLAG has been of immense help to countless LGB people and our families over the last ten years and more. FFLAG stands for "Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay Men". Their helplines are run by parents who have lesbian daughters and/or gay sons. They are very glad to be called by anyone who is LGB and is having family difficulties about coming Out, or who has an LGB family member, and who needs help or information, or would just like to talk about LGB and family issues.
The FFLAG central helpline is 0845 652 0311.
Other local sources of help
Intercom has worked closely for years with Cornwall Victim Support, and we have a great respect for their workers' skills and for the organisation's commitment to being inclusive and useful for LGBT callers from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. You can contact Cornwall Victim Support on 0845 0567 999.
We have also worked with Exeter Cruse Bereavement Care, who offer help and support in times of bereavement. We respect their determination to provide an inclusive skilled service for LGBT people in and around Exeter who are experiencing bereavement. Their phone number is 01392 272406.
There are also police Diversity Officers in Devon and Cornwall and Bournemouth who we know have a brilliant track-record in providing help and support in times of crisis for people affected by homophobic or transphobic crime. If you want to contact a local police Diversity Officer or LAGLO, have a look at our local policing pages for Devon and Cornwall or Dorset.
This is not a complete list!
We are sure there are also other sources of help and support in the peninsula who are inclusive and skilled on LGBT issues. If you feel there is one that ought to be added to this list, please contact us and let us know.