Your World of Legal Intelligence
 United Kingdom | +44 (0) 20 7284 8080

AN LGBT+ helpline run by Chester Pride has reported a "ste[...]

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date04 August 2022
The Just Ask helpline supports any LGBT+ person with any issues that may be worrying them and Chester Pride chair Warren Allmark said that they had noticed a worrying rise in demand for their services of late

The helpline supports people with concerns about any issues, including coming out, hate crime, mental health support, social anxiety or isolation, gender transitioning, sexual health and domestic abuse. They offer confidential support or will signpost to other sources of support as appropriate.

Warren said one of the issues LGBT+ people had faced came as a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that a number of students who had been able to be openly LGBT+ while at university were forced into the closet when they had to return home after lectures moved online.

And some young people had been kicked out by their own families after finding out they were LGBT+, ending up homeless and in dire need of support from organisations like Chester Pride's Just Ask service.

Mr Allmark said: "There's been an increase in dark thoughts and a steep jump in calls to the helpline - enough to notice it. The helpline is here for people but it is stretching our staff who have been working longer hours than they should.

"We've seen a lot of young people going to uni where they were openly gay and then due to COVID they have come home and gone back into the closet. Their parents have...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT