Description

For the rest of 2023 we are taking charitable donations for Birmingham LGBT.

This is an important cause for us at Loaf, both as individuals and as a co-operative, and when looking for an organisation to support we were drawn to the work Birmingham LGBT does in counselling and mental health. This is apparently a hard area to fundraise for from the usual sources so individual donations and sponsorships are key to providing services.

You can make a donation here or at our bakery counter.

Birmingham LGBT was established in 2002. Originally called Birmingham Pride Trust and then Birmingham LGBT Community Trust, it was established as a grassroots breakaway group from the Pride Festival by individuals who felt that a Pride event once a year did not meet the community’s diverse needs. From the outset, Birmingham LGBT aimed to raise awareness of issues that affect Birmingham’s LGBT citizens through consultation, community engagement, advocacy, strategic engagement and lobbying.

As Birmingham’s leading charity advocating for and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities in Birmingham and the West Midlands, we offer a range of services focused on improving the health and wellbeing of individuals, including:
– sexual health promotion services
– older people’s services
– a domestic violence service
– volunteering
– befriending and peer mentoring
– arts and cultural programmes
– counselling and wellbeing support

A small £12 donation provides a safe meeting space for an hour for an LGBTQ+ community group to socialise, share ideas and have fun without fear of discrimination. We have over 20 groups who meet regularly at the centre, ranging from film clubs to support groups.

Just £25 provides a one-hour session with a counsellor or a domestic violence advocate, helping LGBTQ+ people to live an authentic life free from abuse and self-doubt.

And £120 pays for a three-hour trans youth group, fostering a fun, welcoming and inclusive environment for trans young people. Our support makes it possible for them to make new friends who share their experiences, and explore their identity in a safe space. A survey of the members of the group showed 100% had made new friends as a result, almost 90% said it had boosted their confidence and almost 75% said it had helped improve their self-esteem.