Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally.
Our Bristol group campaigns for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all, speaking out for people whose rights are denied and those who defend them. LGBTI+ rights are human rights, protected by international law.
We want people to be:
Proud no matter what
Proud no matter where
Every one of us has right to be free from discrimination, to communicate freely, to gather and meet with others peacefully, to health and to our own private and family life – all of this regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity.
You are invited to join a movement that proudly shouts love is a human right!
Website:Bristol Amnesty International
F: Amnesty Bristol | T: @amnestybristol | I: @amnestybristol
Based in Easton, Brigstowe are a local HIV Support Organisation who have been supporting people in the Bristol, South Glos and North Somerset areas for nearly 25 years. We support anyone living with or affected by HIV.
Brigstowe’s vision is a world in which people living with HIV live long and healthy lives, free from poverty, stigma, prejudice and discrimination. Brigstowe’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for people living with HIV.
We pride ourselves on treating our clients with respect and dignity and with the highest regard for confidentiality. We work hard to ensure that our services are accessible, person-centred, non-judgemental, professional and of high quality at all times.
We offer a number of different services; Advice & Support, Migrant & Asylum Support, Peer Mentoring, Group Peer Support, Recently Diagnosed Workshops and HIV Awareness Training.
You can contact us on: 0117 955 5038 or info@brigstowe.org
Website: www.brigstowe.org
F: Brigstowe | T: @Brigstoweinfo | I: @brisgstowe
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service is a partnership between NHS and Alzheimer’s Society, working with GPs, professionals and partners across Bristol to support people living with dementia from diagnosis to end of life, providing help when and where they want, and in a way that suits them.
Each person with dementia is allocated their own navigator who remains the main point of contact for them and their family/carers. Our NHS practitioners work closely with navigators to provide intensive support and interventions as required, including Care Home Liaison.
Everyone receives a personalised wellbeing plan, reviewed at least every 6 months, that reflects their identity and experience, what is important to them both now and into the future and their support needs. This helps to build a structure of support to ensure people living with dementia are able to remain well and active in their communities.
Website: www.bristoldementiawellbeing.org
F: BristolDementia | T: @BristolDWS
Pride Without Borders is a project run by Bristol Refugee Rights designed to support LGBTQ+ community members seeking asylum in the U.K. We provide an advice service hotline, access to basic needs such as food, shelter, safety, solicitors, medication and data. In addition, we provide a weekly support group, regular well-being calls, online workshops and evidencing their asylum claim based on their gender and sexual orientation. Our project tackles structural inequality at every level and promotes safety, solidarity and action for change.
To donate go to: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/brrpride
Website: www.bristolrefugeerights.org
F: BristolRefugeeRights | T: @BristolRefugeeR
Start your adoption journey with CCS Adoption today. Rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted for the past ten years and four inspections, we are an independent adoption agency in Bristol with 115 years’ experience of finding permanent, loving families for children who need them. We particularly welcome LGBTQ+ people to come forward to find out more about adoption, and in the last year 1 in 4 of our adopters are LGBT couples or single adopters. We hold a monthly LGBT coffee morning for our adopters, creating a community of LGBT adoptive parents. If you’d like to find out more about adoption please get in touch, everyone is welcome to make contact whether you have been considering adoption for some time, or are just thinking about your options in becoming a parent.
Website: www.ccsadoption.org
F: CCSAdoption | T: @CSSAdoption
FFLAG Bristol is a support group for families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month to provide a safe, confidential and welcoming space.
At our monthly drop-in sessions people can:
– Share their personal experiences and find support from others
– Talk openly and confidentially to others who share similar experiences
– Learn about issues affecting the LGBT+ community
– Celebrate their LGBT+ family members and become active champions for the LGBT+ community
During the Covid 19 crisis we are meeting on-line via Zoom. If you would like to know more, call Sue on 01454 898644 or Janet on 01454 528805
Website: www.bristol.fflag.org.uk
F: FFLAG | T: @FFLAGBristol
Freedom is Bristol’s longest running LGBTQ+ gender and sexuality project for young people aged 11-25 in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Freedom is a fun, safe, social space for LGBTQ young people to meet each other, discuss issues important to them and have their voices heard.
Freedom is open to anyone that identifies as LGBTQ+ or is questioning their sexuality or gender identity – no labels applied! We have two groups – one for those aged 13-18 and the other for those aged 18-25. Freedom offers one-to-one support, workshops, counselling, training and consultancy.
If you would like to find out more – email:
lgbtq@otrbristol.org.uk or call 07496 965262
Website: www.otrbristol.org.uk/freedom
F: FreedomYouthLGBTQ | T: @FreedomLGBTQ | I: @FreedomLGBTQ
I first became involved with GayWest in November 2009 when I went to the GayWest’s Saturday morning “ Rainbow Café “ in Bath.
Now as Chairperson of GayWest the group is celebrating it’s 50th year an amazing achievement for an LGBT organisation.
A social and support group GayWest has around 100 members.
I believe that there are very few LGBT organisations in the UK that are run by volunteers and completely self funded that have survived for 50 years, this says a lot about the passion and enthusiasm of its many members over these years.
The group has its own Website, Facebook page and Magazine and has now introduced the GW members WhatsApp group.
Its easy to join us and become part of an active social and support group by contacting us via our website or email address or phone.
Colin GayWest ChairPerson.
Website: www.gaywest.org.uk
F: GayWest
It’s in the Bag provide hands-on support for men with testicular cancer in the South-West, as well as raising awareness of the disease across the region and beyond.
It is run by a group of testicular cancer survivors with support from specialist NHS staff.
We have three simple aims:
Support
Being diagnosed with testicular cancer and going through treatment is a huge challenge – physically, mentally and emotionally. We provide a range of activities and initiatives to help men through this tough time.
Awareness
We teach men the importance of checking their balls regularly and taking any issues straight to their GP. Spreading this knowledge promotes earlier diagnosis, which often means simpler, more effective treatment and better chances of a cure.
Survival
With UK cure rates for testicular cancer running above 98%, we focus on survival – helping guys tackle the emotional and practical impact of cancer, both during treatment and beyond.
Website: www.itsinthebag.org.uk
F: Itsinthebag | T: @ItsInTheBag | I: itsinthebagcancersupport
Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. They provide support through their email, web chat and helpline services, as well as running private forums for peer support, residential weekends for families, training to a variety of organisations and more.
Website: www.mermaidsuk.org.uk
F: MermaidsGender | T: @Mermaids_Gender | I: MermaidsGender
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary… We are also here to support family members and friends and to provide signposting to other services and resources.
We are a national helpline, you can call us from anywhere in the UK.
The MindLine Trans+ provides a safe place to talk about your feelings confidentially. We don’t record calls nor ask for any personal details. Our listeners will try understand the multitude of feelings and concerns that may be going on for you. We are here to listen and offer our support.
We have volunteers with lived experience of Trans+ or are Allies responding to your calls as often as possible and are open 2 evenings a week Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight. You can talk things through with one of our trained volunteer listeners. Or we can just listen. You don’t have to tell us your name.
Calls can last up to 30 minutes per evening. This allows the volunteers to really listen carefully to what you have to say. It also allows us to support as many people as possible.
Website: bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus
F: MindlineTrans | T: @mindlinetrans | I: @mindlinetrans
Missing Link provides cutting edge metal health and housing services for women in the Bristol area. Next Link is the leading provider of domestic abuse services and Safe Link supports those who have suffered sexual abuse. Please call 0117 925 0680 if you need support around domestic abuse and 0333 323 1543 for our sexual abuse helpline.
Website: www.missinglinkhousing.co.uk
F: nextlinkhousing | T: @MissingLink_MLH | I: missinglinkbristol
We train 3 times a week at the University of Bristol swimming pool to improve our fitness and technique. We have an amazing coach who has helped us swim faster, stronger and with more confidence.
We welcome a wide range of abilities – from those who want to improve their swimming… to medal winning competitors, open water distance swimmers and triathletes.
Every Saturday we meet for a coffee after training to catch up, and have social events throughout the year.
As part of the Out to Swim family, we have teams in London and Brighton with hundreds swimming, playing water polo or taking part in synchronised swimming – many of whom have competed in the Gay Games and Eurogames.
If you want to join us and swim for fitness or competition….head to our website.
Website: www.outtoswim.org/west
F: outtoswimwest | T: @outtoswimwest | I: @outtoswimwest
We are the biggest and longest running LGBTQ+ choir in the south west. We currently have around 120 members and prior to lockdown we met for a rehearsal every Tuesday. We have performed at every Bristol Pride, usually opening the main stage and in that time have seen our Pride audience grow from a handful of friends and family to literally thousands at the more recent Harbourside and Downs venues. As well as our annual concert at St Georges, we run a Pride fundraiser in the same venue each July. We also raise funds each year for two different AIDS charities on World AIDS Day. We don’t audition and everyone is welcome, why not check out our website and be part of this amazing community. We look forward to seeing you when restrictions are lifted.
Website: www.singoutbristol.org.uk
F: SingOutBristolChoir | T: @SingOutBristol | I: @SingOutBristol
Trans Pride South West is an unincorporated association celebrating the diversity of transgender, non-binary, intersex, & gender variant individuals, and actively encouraging awareness, openness & interaction.
Since 2016, we’ve hosted an annual pride programme in the autumn for trans people based in Bristol. Every year we host a Community Day with stalls from local and national trans organisations and charities, and other events including pride marches, gigs, comedy shows, fashion shows, social events, youth groups, cabaret nights, and our official afterparty.
Find out more about us by following us on social media or visiting our website!
Website: www.transpridesw.webs.com
F: TransPrideSW | T: @TransPrideSW | I: @TransPrideSouthWest
As an independent charity, we work towards a world where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve. We help people feel safer and find the strength to move beyond crime. Our support is free, confidential and tailored to your needs.
Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk
F: VictimSupport | T: @VS_AvonSomerset
OTR LGBTQ+ supports the wider Voice and Influence Partnership to inform, engage and involve LGBTQ+ citizens in citywide opportunities to influence decision making.
The Voice and Influence Partnership is made up of leading equalities organisations and community champions from across Bristol. As a member, you can benefit from their combined expertise, support and influence.
The partnership is for people who are:
over 55
a member of a faith group
identify as disabled
are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic group
identify as LGBTQ+
You can sign up for free membership here:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QRZXHH6
Website: www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk
F: LGBTQVIP | T: @lgbtqvip | I: @lgbtqvip
SARI is a service user/community-led Charity that supports victims of hate crime and promotes equality and cohesion for all equalities communities. SARI’s primary service is a free, confidential client-led casework service to clients who have suffered from any type of Hate Crime. This includes those from LGBT+ communities or those attacked because they are perceived to be LGBT+.
SARI also engages in a wide range of preventative and strategic work, coordinating and taking part in key strategic forums and initiatives; dealing with critical incidents, tensions and conflict; designing policies and strategies that ensure best practice response to hate crime, delivering ED&I training, audits and consultancy to organisations and providing education interventions such as classroom sessions, lectures, teacher training, group work and 121 work to schools, colleges and universities for students and staff. SARI also delivers anti-hate based behaviour and cultural awareness sessions to various organisations. Whilst victim-focused, SARI also provide restorative sessions for perpetrators and young offenders.
SARI’s Social Media pages can be found here:
Coordinating and hosting this first event, Kiki is an award-winning, volunteer-led collective who create joyful, safe social spaces and cultural events led by and for the QTIBPoC community in Bristol. We seek to empower ourselves through engagement with the broader community by taking our place, being visible and having a voice in our city and its institutions. All this whilst having a Kik
T: @kiki_bristol
F: KikiSocials/
OutStories Bristol is a volunteer community history group gathering the stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people associated with Bristol and its surrounds. Our aims
>Record the life stories of LGBT people, in writing or using audio and video
>Collect and preserve documents, artifacts, memorabilia
>Archive material in public institutions so it is accessible to everyone
>Put on exhibitions, talks and guided tours
>Support theatre and story-telling
> Provide a resource for researchers, journalists, archivists – and you
Our oral history team conduct audio interviews to gather the stories of local people. Some members spend time combing local archives, newspaper libraries or the internet for relevant information. Others develop our digital archive and maintain this website and our Facebook page. And we organise public events and talks. You can help, whatever your interests and skills. We welcome newcomers.
Website: www.outstoriesbristol.org.uk/
F: Outstories.bristol | T: @OutstoriesBris
