Support groups and services for gay men in London

Here are the details of some support groups and services available to gay and bisexual men in London. For youth groups and general social groups, visit GMFA's Guide To Gay Sports Clubs and Social Groups.

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Antidote

Address:	Antidote, Turning Point, 21 Wardour St, London, W1D 6PN
Telephone:	020 437 4669
Email:	antidote@turning-point.co.uk
Website:	www.antidote-lgbt.com

Antidote offers information and support exclusively to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) people around drugs and alcohol. Whether you want to cut down or stop using or drinking, or want information about keeping safe, Antidote can help.

Antidote is a self-referral service. It operates on two levels. The drop-in and auricular accupuncture services are open access and clients may simply turn up. Other services require an assessment. Clients may either book this via the Thursday evening drop-in service or telephone for an appointment.

Barnet Gay Poz

Telephone:	David on 07726 932 932
Email:	barnetgaypoz@hotmail.co.uk
Website:	www.barnetgaypoz.org

The Barnet Gay Men’s Support Group meets once a month to share experiences, concerns and information about HIV and its surrounding issues.

They generally meet at one or other of the members' homes where they share a meal and a drink or two - with occasional, more formal meetings, at a hired meeting room.

Their dedicated group facilitator attends all meetings and is an experienced social worker with a broad knowledge of HIV issues.

They particularly welcome newly diagnosed guys seeking support and advice about access to services and other information - or simply wanting a sympathetic ear to bend. If you have a long-term partner who is not positive, they are also most welcome to attend meetings with you.

Current members range from guys who have been HIV positive for many years to those just starting meds or recently diagnosed, from regular attendees to those who drop in from time to time.

Bede House

Telephone:	07958 039 151
Email:	rogermoore@bedehouse.org.uk
Website:	http://www.bedehouse.org/safe.html

SAFE is a service from Bede House which provides online and text message-based support for members of the LGBT community experiencing domestic violence or hate crime in Southwark.

Club Mellow Lounge

Address:	The ELOP Centre, 56-60 Grove Road, London, E17 9BN
Telephone:	020 8509 3898
Email:	info@elop.org
Website:	www.elop.org
How much:	£2

New Club Mellow Lounge at ELOP Lesbian and Gay Centre comes complete with snack bar, pool table, games corner, chill-out sofas, LGBT community library and second-hand sales corner. It's a great place to meet up with friends, make new ones, have fun and just relax. The weekday evening social space is for Men on Mondays, Youth on Wednesdays and Women on Thursdays and is fully accessible and open to all LGBT community members.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Helpline:	0844 477 9400
Email:	helpline@cruse.org.uk
Website:	www.cruse.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Services are free to bereaved people. The charity provides support and offers information, advice, education and training services.

FFLAG - Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays

Address:	PO Box 495 Little Stoke Bristol BS34 9AP
Helpline:	0845 652 0311
Email:	info@fflag.org.uk
Website:	www.fflag.org.uk

Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a continually growing national voluntary organisation and registered charity with 18 telephone helplines across the UK and parents' groups which hold regular meetings.

FAMILIES TOGETHER LONDON is the London based group which meets twice a month.

www.familiestogetherlondon.com

For more information contact 07806 746780.

Foundation 66

Telephone:	020 7234 9940 (Head office)
Email:	info@foundation66.org.uk
Website:	www.foundation66.org.uk

Foundation 66 exists to reduce the harm caused by problem alcohol and drug use. It provides client-focussed community and accommodation-based services, supporting people to achieve positive change and freedom from the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs.

London services include direct access day services in:

Elephant & Castle - 020 7403 4077
Choices (a black and minority ethnic alcohol service) in Lambeth & Southwark - 020 7737 3363
Kings Cross - 020 7837 0100 (LGBT support group on Thursday afternoons)
New Cross - 020 8694 2081

Galop

Telephone:	020 7704 2040
Email:	info@galop.org.uk
Website:	www.galop.org.uk

Galop works to prevent and challenge homophobic and transphobic hate crime in Greater London. Galop reduces crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and campaigns for an improved criminal justice system. The organisation offers a helpline and advocacy for those who have experienced homophobia or transphobia.

Their main services are:

Helpline and advocacy
Consultation and development of policy
Training
Research

If you have experienced, witnessed or know of a hate crime incident in the greater London area and you would like to report it, you can do so by using Galop's Report Form. They can report information to the Police on your behalf; your details will be completely confidential and, if you wish, you can remain anonymous.

Gay men's hepatitis C support group

Address:	The Hepatitis C Trust 27 Crosby Row London, SE1 3YD (tube: London Bridge)
Telephone:	0845 223 4424 (10.30am - 4.30pm)
When:	Third Wednesday of every month 6.30pm (sharp) - 8pm
Email:	helpline@hepctrust.org.uk
Website:	www.hepctrust.org.uk

As part of its Gay men's hepatitis C project, The Hepatitis C Trust is running a support group for gay men with hepatitis C, on the third Wednesday of every month. The group is run by gay men for gay men in response to increasing demand from those who are just diagnosed with hepatitis C, undergoing treatment, or living with HIV and hepatitis C.

The group will focus on issues specific to gay men including: sexual transmission, HIV co-infection, stigma and discrimination within the gay community and of course the need for peer support from ones peers.

GMI Partnership Mentoring Service

Address:	GMI Partnerhip - various locations around London
Telephone:	020 8305 5002
When:	By appointment
Email:	mentoring@gmipartnership.org.uk
Website:	www.gmipartnership.org.uk

One man helping another Are you an HIV negative man that struggles with safer sex? Want to learn how to set goals and decide your strategies for playing safer? Our mentoring programme gives you the chance to talk to another gay men, one-to-one, about the challenges you face to stay negative.

Gender Trust

The trust's mission is to improve the quality of life of trans people and their families by providing support and working with anyone affected by gender identity issues.

Telephone:	Helpline: 0845 231 0505 or Office: 01273 234024
Email:	info@gendertrust.org.uk
Website:	www.gendertrust.org.uk
Address:	The Gender Trust Community Base 113 Queens Road Brighton East Sussex BN1 3XG
Age range:	18 plus
Gender:	Mixed
When:	Helpline: Mon to Fri 10.00am to 10.00pm Weekends 1.00pm to 10.00pm
Where:	Brighton based but National
How much:
New members welcome:	Yes

Harbour Trust

Website:	http://www.iain-rossmacleod.co.uk/harbour/index.html
Telephone:	020 83018142
Gender:	Mixed
Where:	Greenwich and Bexley

Harbour Trust aims to improve the quality of life of those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in the London boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley and the environs.

Harbour Trust provides one-to-one and group emotional support, advice and information on practical issues and financial help in cases of hardship. The organisation also advanced to the education of carers, volunteers and the public on the subject of HIV and AIDS.

Harbour Trust recognises that volunteers can make a significant contribution to the mission, objectives and work of Harbour Trust and enhance the range of activities it undertakes.

Inviting people living with HIV/AIDS into the organisation ensures that it has support and input into its activities from informed sources. Harbour Trust acknowledges the need for a clear, consistent organisational framework for involvement that creates a positive climate for development.

Harbour Trust is committed to equal opportunities and believes that volunteering should be open to all regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, HIV status, disability, religious or political beliefs

HPV online support group

Website:	www.mdjunction.com/hpv
Gender:	All
When:	24/7
Where:	Online
How much:	Free
New members welcome:	Yes

An online support group for people who have or think they have an HPV infection.

Juice @ The Metro Centre

Address:	Juice @ The Metro Centre Norman House 110-114 Norman Road Greenwich, SE10 9QJ
Telephone:	020 8305 5000
Email:	juice@metrocentreonline.org
Website:	www.metrocentreonline.org

Juice is a free, confidential alcohol counselling and support service specifically for young people (11 – 25) who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans or may be questioning their sexual and/or gender identity and who live in the South East London area. Juice provides 1:1 support and counselling as well as therapeutic group work. The service is for young people who may have questions around alcohol and would just like to speak to somebody or who may be concerned about their drinking or even that of somebody they know. They accept self referrals and referrals from other services and organisations. Either email or call and ask to speak to Jamie.

Living Well

Telephone:	020 31 373 373
Email:	admin@livingwellcic.com
Website:	www.livingwellcic.com

Living Well is an NHS-funded program which provides services for people living with HIV. Their goal is to help people enhance their quality of life by increasing confidence, developing decision making skills and improving self-esteem. Currently, the service is funded to run groups and one-to-one services in North, West and Central London. The group workshops include the Positive Self Management Program (dealing with HIV on a day to day basis) and Positive Life Clubs (setting long term goals and moving forward with life). On the one-to-one side Living Well offers Counselling (with a specialist team who have experience of the issues around HIV) and Life Coaching (a similar model to Life Clubs but on a one-to-one basis).

Why join Living Well?

Those that have joined Living Well have reported many benefits, here are just a few of them:

Increased confidence and optimism
Greater sense of control
More energy and motivation
Better social life

To find out more, please visit our website or feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information.

Met Police LGBT Liaison Officers

The Met Police appoint officers whose job it is to liaise with members of the LGBT community. Amongst other things the LGBT Liaison Officers aim to make it easier for the LGBT community to report hate crimes, safe in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and treated with sympathy and respect.

For your local LGBT Liaison Officer, visit:

www.met.police.uk/contacts/LGBT.htm

London Gay Men's Group

Website:	www.gmg.org.uk
Age range:	18 and over
Gender:	Men only
When:	Mondays (except bank holidays)
Where:	Soho
How much:	Free
New members welcome:	Yes

The London Gay Men's Group is a group of gay, HIV positive men living in or around London, UK. The group has members of all ages and include those who have been recently diagnosed with the virus, those who have been living with the virus for more than 20 years and everything in between. Members live mostly in London but have come to the city from all over the UK and the world.

The Metro Centre

Address:	The Metro Centre Norman House 110-114 Norman Road Greenwich, SE10 9QJ
Telephone:	020 8305 5000
Email:	info@metrocentreonline.org
Website:	www.metrocentreonline.org

The Metro Centre periodically runs workshops and groups covering a range of issues such as ‘Sexuality’, ‘Intimacy’, ‘Loss’, ‘Isolation’, ‘Stress & Anxiety’ and ’Self Esteem’. Call for more details.

It also runs the 'Metrosafe' programme to help gay men stay HIV negative.

The Midmonth Group (formerly 'Midweek Group')

Address:	Venue details are emailed out prior to the evening in our regular newsletters
Telephone:	07939 563 317
Email:	midweekgroup08@hotmail.com

The Midmonth Group offers a valuable meeting space for gay postive men to meet and socialise and has speakers on a semi regular basis. The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month and now holds regular dinner evenings across London (sponsored by the trust) Anyone interested in joining the group can come along to a meeting by emailing Peter at the above email address. The Midmonth Group is supported by The Eddie Surman Trust.

Naz Project

Address:	Naz Project London 241 King Street London W6 9LP
Telephone:	020 8741 1879
Fax:	020 8741 9609
Email:	npl@naz.org.uk
Website:	www.naz.org.uk

The Naz Project provides sexual health promotion services and support groups for various BME MSM: Portuguese speakers, Somalis, South Asians, and Spanish speaking Latin Americans. We also provide support services for BME MSM living with HIV.

NRG

Address:	NRG Terrence Higgins Trust London Lighthouse South 14-15 Lower Marsh Street London SE1 7RG
Telephone:	020 7803 1684
Call / Text:	07771 858057
Email:	nrg@tht.org.uk
Website:	www.tht.org.uk

A social and support service for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. NRG runs a weekly social group in Central London, as well as providing advice and help with employment, housing, drugs, alcohol, sexual health and 'coming out' amongst other things.

PACE

Address:	34 Hartham Road London N7 9JLT
Telephone:	020 7700 1323
Email:	info@pacehealth.org.uk
Website:	www.pacehealth.org.uk

PACE is London's leading charity promoting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Since 1985 our professional and experienced staff and volunteers have been offering a range of services that includes:

Counselling – general, sexual health, alcohol & drugs
Employment coaching
Family support – including national helpline
Mental health advocacy
Training
Workshops and groups
Youth work (for under 25's)

All PACE services are either free or low-cost.

Positive 21

Address:	HERO/GMFA Office Unit 11 Angel Wharf 58 Eagle Wharf Road London N1 7ER
Telephone:	07549 430 465 Mon-Fri: 12pm to 7pm. (Weekends: use email)
Email:	michael@positive21.org.uk
Website:	www.positive21.org.uk

A progressive support group, created with the sole aim of providing a confidential discussion and advice outlet to gay and bisexual men living with HIV/AIDS.

Positive East

Address:	Positive East Stepney Centre 159 Mile End Road London E1 4AQ
Telephone:	020 7791 2855
Email:	gaymen@positiveeast.org.uk
Website:	www.positiveeast.org.uk www.itsbettertoknow.org.uk

As part of Positive East, our HIV+ Gay Men’s team offer a dedicated and comprehensive range of services for gay men and men who have sex with men who are positive, negative or untested, who live or work in London.

In addition to our fortnightly group: Positive Life run by HIV+ gay and bisexual men for all HIV+ gay and bisexual men living ain/around London; we also provide advice and counselling services, a range of one-day workshops plus short run courses such as recently diagnosed and employment support.

Free, fast and friendly HIV testing sessions for gay men are held at Positive East every Wednesday (5.30pm to 8.30pm) and Saturday (11am to 3pm) - additional sessions are also held in Hackney and Newham (these are open sessions and not gay-specific). For details about Positive East HIV testing venues and times, visit: www.ItsBettertoKnow.org.uk, email: testme@positiveeast.org.uk, or telephone: 020 7791 2855.

Opening times

9.30am Monday to Friday (bank holidays excluded)

Schools Out!

Telephone:	Male helpline: (01582) 451 424 Female helpline: (020) 7635 0476
Email:	secretary@schools-out.org.uk
Website:	www.schools-out.org.uk
Address:	BM Schools Out! National, London, WC1N 3XX

Schools Out! aims to provide both a formal and informal support network for all people who want to raise the issue of homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism in education, to campaign on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans issues as they affect education and those in education and to research, debate and stimulate curriculum development on LGBT issues.

Somalian Gay Community

Email:	info@somaligaycommunity.org
Website:	www.somaligaycommunity.org

An online space and medium for Somalian gay and lesbians to access information, share experiences and develop support networks.

Step Forward

Address:	234 Bethnal Green London E2 0AA
Telephone:	020 7739 3082
Email:	info@stepforward-web.org
Website:	www.stepforward-web.org

Step Forward provides a free and confidential service to young people aged 11-25, living in and around Tower Hamlets. Step Forward actively challenges discrimination and welcomes young people from all sections of the community regardless of their race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious, political and cultural lifestyles and beliefs.

Stonewall Housing

Telephone:	020 7359 6242
Advice Line:	020 7359 5767
Email:	info@stonewallhousing.org
Website:	www.stonewallhousing.org

Stonewall Housing provides supported housing, advice and advocacy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in London. They research and lobby at a strategic level on the housing issues affecting our communities. They are the only specialist housing support provider in England wholly dedicated to serving the LGBT communities. At the heart of their work is the aim to help LGBT people find a home they feel safe and secure in.

Stonewall Housing helps LGBT people in London who are homeless or in housing difficulty. If you need help now, call their Advice Line on 020 7359 5767 Mondays, Thursdays and Friday 10.00am – 1.00pm and Tuesdays & Wednesdays 2.00pm – 5.00pm.

For advice in person call in to one of their drop-in advice surgeries to talk to an advisor face-to-face. These surgeries are for any LGBT person who wants advice:

Mondays
2.00pm – 3.30pm
London Friend, 86 Caledonian Road, N1 9DN

Wednesdays
10.00am – 11.30am
Contemporary Urban Centre, Great Chapel Street, W1D 3SY

Thursdays
2.00pm – 3.30pm
THT Lighthouse, 14-15 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, SE1 7RJ

These drop-ins are an opportunity to speak with a worker in person for about 15 minutes. You will be able to get basic advice and find out what your options are. If we think we can help you further, we will arrange a time to speak to you in more detail.

SWISH

Telephone:	020 7812 1809
Email:	swish.london@tht.org.uk
Website:	www.tht.org.uk/swish
Address:	Terrence Higgins Trust, 314-320 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP
Age range:	16 and over
Gender:	Male, female, transgender
When:	See website or contact for details
Where:	See website or contact for details
How much:	Free and Confidential
New members welcome:	Yes

Sexual health support and testing for all Sex Workers, Male, Female, Transgender.

Services also include support and advice on sex work and the law, substance misuse, housing, benefits, education and employment. Swish can also offer free condoms, lube and fast access to sexual health clinics.

Services are free, confidential and non-judgmental.

Lighthouse West London (Terrence Higgins Trust Lighthouse)

Address:	111 - 117 Lancaster Road London W11 1QT
Telephone:	020 7313 2900 0808 802 1221 - THT Direct for service information
Email:	information@lighthouse-west.org.uk
Website:	www.tht.org.uk

London Lighthouse West London is a support centre for people living with HIV which offers

a cafe;
advice and advocacy through CAB, complementary therapies, counselling and podiatry;
peer support groups;
African Day on Saturdays once a month.

For information on the above services as well as others in London please contact THT Direct on 0808 802 1221.