Support Groups

Here are the details of some support groups and services available to gay and bisexual men in London.

Click to go to:

ARP
Barnet Gay Poz
FFLAG
Galop
Gay men's hepatitis C support group
Met Police LGBT Liaison Officers
The Metro Centre
The Midmonth Group (formerly 'Midweek Group'
PACE
Positive East
The Positive Place
Somalian Gay Social Network
Step Forward
THT London Lighthouse

ARP (Alcohol Recovery Project)

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

ARP 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 at:

ARP in Elephant & Castle - 020 7403 4077
ARP Choices (a black and minority ethnic alcohol service) in Stockwell - 020 7737 3363
ARP in Kings Cross - 020 7837 0100
ARP in New Cross - 020 8694 2081

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.

FFLAG - Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays

Address:	7 York Court Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8HQ
Telephone:	London 0845 652 0318 (Families Together) Head office 0117 9429311
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.

GALOP

Address:	2G Leroy House 436 Essex Road London N1 3QP
Telephone:	020 7704 2040
Email:	info@galop.org.uk
Website:	www.galop.org.uk

Galop is London's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community safety charity. They are a driving force in changing the way the police work with our communities and give advice and support to those affected by homophobic and transphobic violence or hate crime.

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 their 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.

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

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:	South Central (side entrance) 349 Kennington Lane Vauxhall London SE11 5QY
Telephone:	07939 563 317
Email:	midweekgroup08@hotmail.com.
Website:	www.midweekgroup.org

The Midmonth Group offers a vaulable meeting space for gay men to meet and socialise and have speakers on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in South London. Anyone interested in joining the group can come along to a meeting enquire about membership. The Midmonth Group is supported by The Global Strong Trust & The Eddie Surman Trust

PACE

Address:	34 Hartham Road London N7 9JLT
Telephone:	020 7700 1323
Email:	info@pace.dircon.co.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 East

Address:	Positive East Stepney Centre 159 Mile End Road London E1 4AQ Positive East Stratford Stratford Advice Arcade 107-109 The Grove Stratford E15 1HP
Telephone:	020 7791 2855
Email:	gaymen@positiveeast.org.uk
Website:	www.gaymenswellbeing.com www.positiveeast.org.uk

The Gay Men's Team at Positive East offers a 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 east London. These include: Himat, a group for South Asian gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men exploring issues of sexuality, culture, religion and race; Kaleidoscope a group for black gay, bisexual and who have sex with men, of African or Caribbean heritage providing educational/information based meetings and social events; Positive Life, an activities group for HIV positive gay and bisexual men; Workshops on Thursdays, and art-based workshop open to all gay and bi-men regardless of HIV status; and Signpost, a confidential telephone helpline for men who have sex with men provides basic information and guidance on sexual health, HIV/STIs as well as accessing services and groups across east London.

Opening times

Call, email or visit the website.

The Positive Place

Address:	52 Deptford Broadway London SE8 4PH
Telephone:	020 8694 9988
Email:	info@thepositiveplace.org.uk
Website:	www.thepositiveplace.org.uk

Providing peer support, mentoring, courses & workshops, information, volunteering opportunities, client services and complementary therapies for people affected by HIV/AIDS living in South London.

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.

Lighthouse West London (Terrence Higgins Trust Lighthouse)

Address:	111 - 117 Lancaster Road London W11 1QT
Telephone:	020 7313 2900 0845 12 21 200 - 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 0845 12 21 200.