LGBTQ Carers
How can Swindon Carers Centre help?
Unpaid carers do not always get the support they need and are entitled to. This is especially true for carers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Some young people make a conscious choice not to join groups aimed purely for LGBT people as they feel they can get all the support they need from family and friends. However, some support groups are extremely important for those who have not found peace and acceptance from family and friends or are still confused about their sexuality and identity.
We aim to work together with carers to find the support that may make your caring role more manageable. All carers have the right to inclusive services, to be respected and feel safe. Carers who identify as LGBT may worry that support services may not be LGBT friendly. They may also feel uncomfortable about ‘coming out’ and telling professionals about their relationship.
What we offer
Depending on your age and who you care for will, each service is slightly different as listed below:
Once registered with our Adult/Older carer services, you can access:
- Carers Support Line
- 1:1 Support
- Benefits Advice
- Access to breaks and complementary therapies, training sessions and self-help groups
- Volunteer qualified Counsellor (Small donation asked)
- Bereavement support following the death of your dependant.
- Emergency Card scheme
Useful Links
Please see the below links which may be useful to you. Click on the organisation name to access the information.
Slides from an LGBT awareness workshop – delivered by Tanya, our Health and Social Care Liaison Officer, an accredited LGBT Ally.
Wiltshire’s No 1. LGBTQ+ Festival returning on August 7th, 2021
LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering a wide range of services to lesbian, gay and bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.
Stonewall – Acceptance Without Expectation
Exists to let all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, here and abroad, know they’re not alone.
Gay Wiltshire – PrideWest
Gay Wiltshire is part of the PrideWest Magazine. It informs and support the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community in Wiltshire. You’ll find details of gay scene venues in the County, and also details of support and social groups to participate in.
FFLAG – Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
A national voluntary organisation and registered charity dedicated to supporting parents and their lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans daughters and sons. Offer support to help parents and families understand, accept and support their lesbian, gay and bisexual members with love and pride.
Out of the Can Plus, Swindon is a young person led LGBTQ+ action group for 13-19-year olds that meets regularly. The group gives you peace of mind and a place to chill
Mermaids is passionate about supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity. They work to raise awareness about gender nonconformity in children and young people amongst professionals and the general public. They campaign for the recognition of gender dysphoria in young people and call for improvements in professional services.
TransUnite is a comprehensive resource for people in the UK searching for support in the transgender community.
The Swindon TG Group is a local Transgender support group. Their aim is to provide an informative, understanding and non-intrusive environment for partners, relatives and friends of all Transgendered people.
Busting some common myths about being trans: A video created by the BBC to help people understand what being transgender means.
COVID-19
LGBT Foundation has published a new research report, which recognises that there are several factors which may make LGBT people more at risk of contracting COVID-19. You may also find these articles useful:
LGBT in Britain: Stonewall’s Health Report.
Advice from the Terrence Higgins Trust.
akt – safe homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ young people.
Register with us
When a carer first contacts us, we go through a registration process and make sure carers feel confident to talk to us about all aspects of their life and caring role in confidence.
For Carers over 18 |
For Carers under 18 |
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