Birmingham LGBT Community is ‘proud’ to announce that the Big Lottery Fund, through their Reaching Communities Strand, has awarded a grant of £479,263 over a four year period to establish an LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre for Birmingham.
The LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre will be a one stop shop for the community and community groups, and will work with other service providers to address health inequalities within the LGBT Community, such as high rates of smoking and drinking, self harm, depression and attempted suicide.
Steph Keeble, Strategic Lead for Birmingham LGBT Community Trust states, “The LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre will provide a safe, non scene space for LGBT people in the city to use which will decrease the isolation and stigma many people face. The centre will also be a gateway for many mainstream services that many LGBT people feel unable to access by negotiating with providers to deliver services from the building.
Beneficiaries of the centre will include the 35 voluntary and community groups who are members of the community forum Birmingham LGBT Community Trust facilitates, including sports groups, social groups, older peoples groups, youth groups and self help health support groups.
Commenting on the Lottery Award Matthew Daniels, Chair of Birmingham LGBT Community Trust stated “We are delighted with news of this award, which is a huge achievement for Birmingham LGBT Community Trust, and for Birmingham’s LGBT Community. Over recent years the Trust has really developed it’s strategic remit as well as the services and support it offers to the LGBT Community. The new Health and Wellbeing Centre will provide a strong focus and centre for the community from which we can continue to develop and thrive. ”