Free To Be Me is a voluntary run organisation supporting the LGBTQ+ community – working together to encourage equality and inclusion.

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Pride of Place Space has been set up within Pride of Place Leeds, with the aim of creating a Cultural Community Space for the LGBTQ+ communities in Leeds.

During the Covid-19 pandemic it became apparent that although there were organisations in Leeds supporting older LGBTQ+ members of the community these were not sufficiently resourced to provide the activities required to meet the needs of the growing numbers who were isolated. Whilst older members of the Leeds population are serviced by a series of Neighbourhood Networks there was a lack of resources to cater to the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

Whilst Pride of Place Space is working towards setting up a permanent LGBTQ+ Centre, it felt that helping to bring together some of the other organisations and groups as a consortium and applying for Covid-19 funding would be the most beneficial thing to do.

Helped to promote better ageing for members of the older adult LGBTQ+ community.

Sage was a Time-To-Shine (Lotteries) funded project managed by MESMAC and AGE UK Leeds helping to support older adults in the LGBTQ+ community who were 50+ years old and living anywhere in Yorkshire, though the majority of members came from the Leeds area. Sage organised a variety of events to help combat loneliness and isolation for its members and provided opportunities to give back to the community through volunteering. lgbtwomensspace@gmail.com

LGBT+ Women’s Space was born out of a need for older women who identify as LGBT+ to be able to meet in a safe and welcoming space. The group started out as a women’s session within the SAGE project but became independent in June 2019. We pride ourselves on being a place where LGBT+ women of 40+ can socialise, discuss chosen topics, laugh together and exchange information safely.

The Alphabet Collective (AC) is a community group which supports the social and emotional well-being of LGBTQIA+ people aged 18 – 25 years old across Leeds and the surrounding area. We hold weekly group sessions in the city centre which explore identity through creative workshops, discussions, networking, and recreational activities.

The AC was established in 2021 and aims to facilitate affirming spaces where young people can feel themselves, celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture and form positive friendships. We accommodate people who identify as LGBTQIA+, as well as being inclusive of those who are questioning or unsure about their sexual and/or gender identity and are seeking a safe space to explore that.

Fresh Grassroots Rainbow Community (FGRC) is a UK-based support and social group specifically designed for LGBT individuals seeking asylum, refugees and other migrants, particularly those of black and Ethnic Minority; Asian and African heritage. We offer full-service and peer support with a focus on the complex needs of our LGBTQIA members.

Formed as a response to a growing need for specialised support and sanctuary, FGRC was founded by two friends who wanted to offer practical day-to-day support for members navigating the asylum process and life in the UK. We play the core part of standing with them through the process of getting settlements and integrating them into UK society, by bridging gaps with the hopes of establishing a relationship with other organisations.