akt supports LGBTQIA+ young people in the uk experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments to find safe homes, employment, education or training, and to celebrate their identities in order to improve their life outcomes.
Resources: LGBTQIA+
BiVisible Bristol
Socialising and support for Bristol’s Bisexual Community. Please note that the link directs to a private Facebook group.
Bristol Drugs Project
Bristol Drugs Project provide free and confidential support to people who are looking for help with their own alcohol and drug use, and the people who care for and about them. Services include support groups, drop-ins, harm reduction, and a dedicated helpline. Specific and targeted support is available for children and young people, students, older people, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. A specific service is available for recent drug and alcohol-related bereavements.
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services Partnership
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services offer a free and confidential support service to victims of hate crime, including emotional support, support through the legal process, and support making complaints.
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services Partnership website
Crossroads Transgender Social Support Group
Crossroads is a social support group where transgender people of all kinds can get together, swap knowledge and experience, and have a fun relaxed time. The group is for adults only, and changing facilities are provided for those who need them.
Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)
EACH is a charitable support agency for people affected by homophobia. They provide a confidential helpline for children and young people (up to the age of 18) who have been the target of homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic bullying.
FFLAG
FFLAG is a national voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting families and their LGBTQIA+ loved ones. An FFLAG group meets in Bristol to bring together carers and parents of LGBTQIA+ young people. carers
Freedom
Freedom is a gender and sexuality social action project from OTR Bristol & South Glos. The Freedom Youth project provides social, informative, and safe supportive group sessions to young people aged 13-19, and the Freedom project provides a support, advice, and social opportunities for young people aged 19-25. All sessions take place online.
Galop
Galop are a LGBTQIA+ anti-abuse charity, providing support to LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They provide helplines, advocacy, online support communities, and dedicated services for LGBTQIA+ children and young people.
Gay West
Gay west is a social and support group for LGBTQIA+ people in Bath, Bristol, and surrounding areas.
Intercom Trust
Intercom Trust provide support to LGBTQIA+ people across the South West of England. They offer a dedicated South West helpline, and specific services for people in Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.
Meeting Minds LGBTQIA+
Meeting Minds LGBTQ+ is Bristol Mind’s low-cost counselling service for people who identify as LGBTQIA+. The service is delivered by LGBTQIA+ counsellors.
Mermaids
Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth and their families, up to their 20th birthday, and offers webchat support to gender-diverse students up to the age of 25.
Mindline Trans+
Mindline Trans+ is a UK-wide confidential emotional support and signposting helpline for people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or otherwise gender-diverse and their families and friends. The service is provided by Mind in Somerset, and is staffed by listeners with lived experience of being trans+.
Non-Binary South West
Non-Binary South West is a support group for people based in the South West of England who identify beyond binary gender. Meetings are held in Exeter.
Off The Record (Bath and North East Somerset)
Off The Record BANES provide a range of free services for children and young people, including counselling, advocacy, listening support, and targeted support for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Off The Record (Bristol & South Glos)
Off The Record (Bristol and South Gloucestershire) provide a range of free services for children and young people, including counselling, projects and activities, support groups, and targeted support for LGBTQIA+ youth.
OTR Bristol & South Glos
OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11 – 25 living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Projects include social groups and workshops, talking therapies, and focused support for LGBTQIA+ and BAME young people.
Pink Therapy
Pink Therapy is an online directory of LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapists. Search “Avon” to see therapists in the local area. Please note that this is a directory of private therapists and Bristol Mind does not endorse any individual private therapist.
Prism
Prism is Bristol’s free LGBTQIA+ alcohol and drug service, operated by BDP. They provide information, advice, and support.
Safe Space Support Groups
Bristol charity Changes hold four peer support groups which are categorised as closed safe spaces because they are only open to specific members – Women’s, Men’s, Women of Colour, and LGBTQIA+ online meetings. These groups are open to anybody identifying as part of the community that the group serves.