LGBTQ+ Carers Solidarity Group

There’s over 100,000 Trans and Queer carers in the UK and yet so many of us find it hard to find the socially specific care and community support we need. If you’ve felt underrepresented in traditional carers’ spaces or you’re looking for your queer carer community, you’re so welcome here. This space exists to address the specific joys and challenges of caring while queer rooted in our shared and individual experiences, struggles and wisdoms.

Join us for 5 weeks of queer-centered care for carers dedicated to seeing, supporting and empowering each other in our caring journeys and sharing culturally sensitive advice and resources.

Every session will start with the space for us to just be, acknowledging what it means to show up for ourselves and each other. We’ll then move on to the theme for the session, held by each other and supported by our facilitator(s)

You are welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Your presence is your participation and we are grateful to have you here.

This is a space for radical solidarity where we uplift and centre the experiences of the most marginalised voices in our community. We centre the experiences of Trans, Black, Disabled, PoC, Womxn, and Immigrant Carers. Your voice matters here.

This is a group by and for carers for family, friends, and loved-ones. We appreciate the input and knowledge of professional carers who are or have-been unrecognised carers. We welcome allies with Queer politics who care for Queer and Trans family and friends.

Come as you are.

Welcome

Whether you’re just starting your caring journey, currently caring, or navigating the after, this session invites us to welcome each other to the caring community. We’ll swap stories and experiences and find solidarity in the specific joys and challenges of being Queer Carers.

More info: We’ll move at the pace of the group this week. Gently facilitated and peer-led with some prompts to help us get to know each other.

Rest, respite and maintaining self

It’s easy for the identity of carer to overwhelm the other parts of us. This session we’ll be exploring how to make time for ourselves when it feels like there isn’t any. We’ll share what self-care practices and social resources are available to us based on our lived-experiences.

Navigating queerness

Trans and Queer people still experience higher rates of isolation and marginalisation both socially and within our own families. This week will be dedicated to exploring how Queerness intersects with our role as caregivers, the particular challenges that arise in the context of family, and how to affirm and celebrate the queerest parts of us.

Further info: Whether you are the sole/primary caregiver, have family (bio or chosen) that supports you in your care journey, or you find yourself navigating isolation or dysfunction, this is our space to reflect on the community we’d like to see.

Admin

PIP, LPA, NHS oh my! They always try to get us with the paperwork. This session we’ll explore the options available and share our own experiences, tips, fears and wins surrounding the process.

Future planning

We’ll reflect on our time together, the things we’ve learned and the ways we want to move forward. There’ll be space to explore our personal goals, our hopes for our community and what we want our caring journey to look like as this group closes.

Accessibility

The Centre’s accessibility statement is here.

Covid safety at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre

To keep our community safe, we ask that all visitors do not visit the Centre if they are feeling any Covid-19 including headache, fever, sore throat, consistent cough and chills.

You can wear a mask if you feel more comfortable. We also have masks and hand sanitiser available at the Centre.

For current information on Covid please visit the NHS website.

Donate to the Centre

We rely on donations to ensure that the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre can keep its doors open for years to come.

To donate or become a Friend of the Centre, visit our website.