About us - 1975 and forward - lending a friendly ear and keeping people in touch, whatever the need

Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard has been providing a service to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) communities since April 26th 1975. It was originally called 'The Brighton Lavender Line'¹ so as to prevent callers having to announce their sexuality. We have come a long way since then, you can read all about our history here. We provide a helpline, email help service and a Minicom service. We are open every night and receive over 3,000 calls per year and our website handles over 70,000 visitors per year, lending a friendly ear and keeping people in touch, whatever the need.

Brighton's LGBT community is estimated to be around 35, 000² (13% of the total population) and Switchboard offers a unique service operated from the heart of the community by a range of ordinary lesbian and gay men with the skills to listen. To find out more about why and what people call Switchboard about click here.

Why phone Switchboard? Whether it's for going out, coming out or checking something out, speaking to an operator who is lesbian or gay makes an important difference to our callers. The scope of information that Switchboard operators have to offer can range from gay hotels or saunas in the area, the date of Brighton Pride,

Brighton Pride 2002, showing the top of the march, london road
to coming to terms with sexuality or HIV status.

Often people want inside information about the lesbian and gay scene, or don't know where else to go to find what they are looking for; finding lesbian/gay friendly accommodation, for example. Or it might be that you just want to talk to someone and don't know where to turn, that’s what we are here for.

Help us to help others. Switchboard relies entirely on our ever increasing team of 70 or more volunteers, supported by small grants and donations. There are a variety of ways that you can help Switchboard. The helpline answers around 20 calls a night, providing sympathetic and helpful listeners from 5pm to 11pm every night. If you would like to volunteer please see our volunteers vacancies page.

We also provide face to face counselling service with professional counsellors, who are all LGBT, and a youth project aimed at meeting the needs of LGBT youth under 26.

If you would like to make a donation to Switchboard, your gift will be gratefully received. Please see our donations page.

Your donations help us to keep Switchboard's services going, for you and for all the lesbians and gay men in Brighton and Hove and across the country. Please click here if you would like to see how you can help

Brighton and Hove Council has stated that Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard "provides excellent value for money" and "Switchboard runs a unique service by and for lesbians and gay men. The helpline service is unique. The low-cost counselling service is the only dedicated service for LGBT adults in the city."Many LGBT community organizations rely on Switchboard to give their contact details out to callers. The organisation provides excellent value for money."

All calls to Switchboard remain confidential. If you would like to leave us some feedback, please click here

If you would like to download a copy of our Annual report, please choose from below.

Web Awards

References

¹Out of the Closet, 1967-87, A History of Brighton's Lesbian & Gay Community, http://www.brightonourstory.co.uk/lgbt4.html

²SPECTRUM - Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Trans Community Forum http://www.spectrum-lgbt.org/

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