Our History

Formed "Gloucestershire Friend", embarked on a six-month set-up, fund raising and volunteer training programme.

Telephone Helpline and Face-to-Face services began.

We affiliated to National Friend Ltd, an umbrella support organisation and registered charity (although now disbanded).

Organised & Hosted National Friend Conference - Sir Ian McKellen became our patron.

Name changed from "Gloucestershire Friend" to "Gay & Lesbian Friend Helpline (Gloucestershire)" to better reflected our work at that time.

Launched website and email Helpline direct support service.

Thought to be the first LGB&T support group in the UK to provide email support service.

Became a member of the Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered voluntary and community organisations.

Successful Big Lottery bid announced for Development & Rural Outreach Workers.

2-year Big Lottery funding commenced.

Name changed to "GAY-GLOS" with a strap-line of 'supporting LGBT people, their families and friends'. Shorter to remember and use.

Dropping the words Friend and Helpline removed our old link to the defunct National Friend Ltd and the implication of only being a Helpline. Range of services much broader.

Domain name simplified to Gay-Glos.

First Rural Friendship Groups launched.

Website revamped, catering for Accessibility and compliance with Disability Discrimination Act requirements.

The news section on our Home page was moved to a News page on its own. It lists our own news items and notices as well as some mainstream new items and contributions from website visitors.

Rural Friendship Groups amalgamated into a Social Calendar of events & activities.

Limited GAY-GLOS details on Facebook and Twitter:

Facebook (GAY-GLOS) and Twitter (GAYGLOS)

Reducing demand for Services.

Telephone Helpline - Operational days reduced from all 5 weekday evenings to 3 days Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week, 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

Ceased direct provision of our personal support through our Telephone Helpline, Email Helpline and Face to Face Meetings. Difficult decision taken after a decline in demand in recent years.

Telephone Helpline and Face to Face Meeting services ran for nearly 22 years; Email Helpline service for 14 years from January 1998.

Strategic Engagement, External Training and Education Programmes for Schools and Colleges continued. Plans for a new Youth Group in progress following award of funds for 1 year pilot.

Practical arrangements and promotion of the social group for young people (14-18 yrs old) who are LGBT and those exploring their sexual orientation or gender.

Became an accredited as a Partner Club of Young Gloucestershire Youth Club Partnership Scheme.

First meeting of the GAY-GLOS Youth group. See youth group page for more details.

Awarded funds from the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Fund (OPCC) for one year.

Confirmation of extension of Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund for a further 3 years to March 2016.

Funds awarded for Hate Crime work by OPCC.

PO Box Number closed (after 25 years of use) due to reduced demand and increased Royal Mail costs. (Contact by email and telephone for postal address if needed.)

Landline telephone number in use since 1989 no longer available, replaced by mobile: 07903 472899.

Confirmed 4-year extension funding from OPCC for Youth Group and Hate Crime on a sliding reducing level.

‘Pilot’ Parents Group launched, meeting in central Gloucester 2nd Saturday in each month.

Obtained funding for our Parents Group

We obtained Refugee and Asylum funding, and launched the new Social Group

Our key focus remains on young people through schools, youth group and parent support; and our strategic engagement on Hate Incidents and Crimes, Suicide Prevention; VCS Alliance.

New Website Launched.