Switchboard (UK)

Switchboard
Formation March 1974 (1974-03)
Founded at London
Type NGO
Registration no. 296193
Legal status Charitable organization
Services Telephone counseling
Staff
1[1]
Website switchboard.lgbt
Formerly called
 London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard group at Pride London 2010.

Switchboard[2] is the oldest LGBT+ telephone helpline in the United Kingdom, based in London.

Switchboard was founded in March 1974 as the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, providing help and information to London's gay community, particularly in the aftermath of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in 1967.

In the 1980s, Switchboard was the leading source of information on HIV/AIDS, with some of Switchboard's volunteers amongst the founding members of the Terrence Higgins Trust[3].

In 2008, Switchboard was the recipient of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The organisation was invited and accepted to go to Buckingham Palace to collect the award. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II acknowledged the 40th anniversary of the organisation's founding, marking the first time she has had any involvement, voiced support or recognised an LGBT charity during her reign, and the first time the Crown has ever publicly supported the LGBT community.[4][5] LLGS received a comment from the Queen saying: “Best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on this most special anniversary.”[6][5]

Switchboard rebranded to its current name in 2015 to emphasize inclusion for persons of all sexual orientation and gender identities, and that its services are not limited to London.[2]

Today, it has expanded considerably to more than 30,000 callers each year, and now also provides support through email and instant messaging. Switchboard provides a listening service for people to discuss their feelings in an impartial and non-judgmental way, as well as information and advice for going out in London and the UK. Switchboard also operates an internet database of LGBT+ organisations in the UK known as "queery".

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Volunteer". Switchboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016. We only have one paid member of staff
  2. 1 2 Duffy, Nick (24 June 2015). "London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard changing its name to be 'more inclusive'". PinkNews. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Trust, Terrence Higgins. "Terrence Higgins Trust in the 1980s | Terrence Higgins Trust". www.tht.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  4. ↑ "Hear, Hear! Queen Elizabeth Makes First Gesture of Goodwill to the LGBT Community". Passport magazine. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Queen Elizabeth II Congratulates GLBT Charity Organization On 40th Anniversary". Towleroad. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-10-19. Retrieved 2014-06-29.


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