Community

Rainbow Renegades LGBTQI Group is a support groups set up by Washington Mind for young people aged 13 to 18. They provide a safe space for young members of the LGBTQI+ community to engage with others, form friendships and safely explore who they are. Ours/Us/We! is an LGBTQ+ arts group fro 14 to 21 year olds who are creative. This takes place at Customs House, South Shields on Wednesdays 6-8pm. You have the opportunity to create music, visual art, writing and performances. Plus Group is an LGBTQ+ social/issue based group for anyone 13 to 19 years of age who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or questioning their sexual orientation. Meets every Wednesday in central Gateshead from 5-7pm. Mesmac Young Gay & Bisexual Men’s Support offers 1 to 1 support to young men from the Newcastle area aged 16 to 25 years who are, or think they may be, gay or bisexual. You can contact Mesmac for info on 0191 233 1333. LGBTQ+ Newcastle group meets at the George Street Social 5-7:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. This group is for 15-21 year olds who identify as LGBTQ+. As well as this group, they also provide support for 11 to 25 year olds, offering 1-2-1 support, family support and activities. T and Coffee is a gender identity support service for young people aged 15 to 25 years old. Offering one to one support and access to support groups and activities. These meetings take place every Wednesday, but you must contact Debs before attending, on either debswalker@trinityyouth.org.uk or 07415 104559 Under 16s Transgender Group is a fun, safe group meeting in Central Newcastle once a month. Suitable for 12 to 16 year olds who identify as Transgender, non-binary or are currently exploring their gender identity. The aim of the group is to enable young people to meet and socialise with people with ismilar experiences, to make friends and build confidence & self-esteem, particularly around gender identity. Contact debswalker@trinityyouth.org.uk. Support for Transgender Children. Contact debswalker@trinityyouth.org.uk to discuss support, information and guidance available for transgender/gender nonconforming children from aged 5 to 14, and their parents and carers. LGBTQ+ Youth at The Base! Two groups meet at the BASE; 10-13 year olds on a Monday 4-7pm, and 14-18 year olds on Tuesday 5-8pm! Transport available, food & refreshments. Space to get changed – Be Yourself! LGBT Health and Wellbeing is a young peoples service aged 15 to 25 who need support with their orientation or gender identity. They provide tailored support to encourage and enable young people to have the confidence to be themselves. A safe space is provided and peer support groups. HumanKind can also provide family support and offers services for 11-14 year olds. Take Pride – The Detached youth project in Consett is running an LGBT drop in every Wednesday for from 6-7:30pm for 11 to 19 year olds. Call 01207 501863

Newcastle University Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Society. Please contact LGB.Union@NCL.ac.uk to find out more University of Northumbria – Thursday 7:30pm during term in the ‘Annexe’ (Student’s Union). Open to non-students. Offers social events, speakers, support, trips out!. Contact 0191 227 3737. Newcastle College LGBT Society. Please contact 0191 200 4527 for more information. Northumberland College has a LGBT group that meets every Wednesday afternoon for socialising and support. South Tyneside College LGBT Group. Please contact lgbt@stc.ac.uk for more information. Sunderland University Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Society. Contact su.lgb-officer@sunderland.ac.uk

Parents Enquiry North East offers advice, support for parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sons and daughters. You can contact them via email joansmall@penejoan.plus.com Acceptance is a helpline and support service for parents of LGB people. You can contact them on 01795 661463 Tuesday to Friday 7-9pm. The LGBT Family Group is a group for dads, mums and carers who identify as LGBT and their children. Family fun events open to families living in the Northumberland area with children under 12. For more information contact Dorothy on 0191 237 5184 or 07951 838328. St Peters House Project provides support for wives and girlfriends of gay, bisexual or other MSM, offering non-judgemental listening ear and accurate advice and referrals. Call 01737 763 000 North East Rainbow Families is a private community page on facebook which has around 100 LGBT families as well as LGBT people interested in starting a family signed up to it. You can join by request via facebook. Information is shared on LGBT parent events, ask questions to other families and share new things relevant to LGBT parenting, e.g., legal changes, developments in clinics or developments in LGBT parenting internationally. Parents (of Transgender Children and Young People) Support Groups meets in Central Newcastle once a month, usually a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. This is a peer support group, enabling parents and carers to share experiences and information. Facilitated by youth workers working with Trans children and young adults. Offers a safe space to talk about the ups and downs of parenting Transgender young people. Contact Debs for more information on debswalker@trinityyouth.org.uk.

Canny Queer Collective – a Newcastle based group, set up in January 2022, with an aim to create a safe and friendly space for Queer people across the North East. They organise causal events, meet-ups, where Queer people can meet other like-minded individuals. Hart Gables is a community based project for LGBT people that provides a wide range of services in Teeside. The LGBT Federation work to unite LGBT individuals, groups, organisations and communities across the North East. Undertaking research and developing self-sustaining activities that aim to change attitudes and behaviours towards LGBT people. They host regular meetings for information sharing, support and socialising. The LGBT Federation are also a hate crime reporting centre. Outreach Cumbria is a LGBT helpline, every Thursday evening from 7-9:30pm on 0800 3457 440. Northern Proud Voices are a LGBT and friends choir. Meet Thursday 7-9pm in Newcaslte. Newcastle Frontrunners is a running group for everyone, meeting in the North East. Meetings schedule: Newcastle every Wednesday evening at 6.45pm and Sunday mornings at 8.50am at Gosforth Swimming Pool Newcastle Panthers FC is an LGBT+ football club that anyone can play for regardless of gender, sexuality or prior experience with football/sport. Everyone is welcome. Gay Outdoor Club is a national organisation with several regional groups, as well as specialist groups covering interests such as caving, cycling, swimming and day walks. Weekends away are organised. LGBT History Project seeks to promote the inclusiveness of LGBT history. They are a regional based organisation covering the North East area, from Northumberland to County Durham.

Tyneside Cinema – A must-see piece of heritage, the Tyneside Cinema has been lovingly restored to preserve and celebrate the grandeur of its original 1937 art deco design. Shows numerous LGBT films and hosts many LGBT Film Festival events. Also home to the Tyneside Coffee Rooms – very gay friendly.

Mesmac Newcastle – works with gay/bi men to increase positive choices around safer sex, sexual and mental health. Also offers advice and information, general support and signposting to LGBTQI+ people. They also offer HIV testing by appointment Monday to Friday. A helpline is also available on 0191 233 1333 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. GMT (Gay Men Tyneside) are an independent social group that offers social activities as an alternative to the commercial gay scene. Aiming to provide a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Open to gay/bisexual men aged 21 years old and over. This group meets every Wednesday evening between 7-10pm in the city centre. GASBAGS are a social support group for gay/bisexual men over the age of 18. They meet every Thursday evening between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Newcastle Ravens Rugby Team is Newcastle’s Gay Rugby Team, who meet for training from 7-9pm every Tuesday at Percy Park Rugby Club in North Shields. Outdoor Lads is a weekly group for gay/bi men aged 18-35, which does organised indoor climbing, swimming, cycling, and other physical activities.

Shine is a service for ALL women in the Newcaslte area. Shine offers services for sexual health and health & wellbeing. Dyke Hikes is a lesbian walking group who meet monthly.

LGBT Carer Support Group is held on the last Monday of the month between 6-8pm offering members a chance to receive carer support and take part in some fun and social activities. A support worker is part of the group activities and so is on hand to offer the group an opportunity to speak to him about benefit entitlement, carer rights, training needs or any other issues, this can be either in the group setting or 1-2-1 support.

Northern Lights MCC is an inclusive church founded by LGBT people in the North East of England. MMC stands for “Metropolitan Community Church”. This is part of an international Christian denomination, founded in, and reaching beyond the LGBT communities. Newcastle Cathedral LGBT & Allies Hub. LGBT and allies meeting for people who are Christian or exploring faith. For more info email clare.mclaren@stnicholascathedral.co.uk Quaker Gender & Sexual Diversity Community is a welcoming and supportive group for Quakers of all sexualities. Quest is a support group for lesbian/gay Catholics and others who struggle with their faith and sexuality. LGBT Humanist is a national group for atheist/agnostic LGBT.

Civil Service LGBT+ Network helps to create a more diverse, inclusive and equal place to work for LGBT+ civil servants. Our volunteers develop policy, organise and deliver social, networking and learning events, and promote diversity and inclusion of LGBT+ staff.

Bobby’s Newcastle is a friendly, inclusive and entertaining late night venue and cabaret pub. The Yard is Newcastle Gay Scenes longest owned and operated safe LGBT space for the North East Queer Community. Open daily with a number of events and entertainment.