At Lancashire Friend, we offer a range of confidential services by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered People, Transvestites and their friends, families and partners.

Phoneline

Our telephone phoneline is currently open three nights a week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7.30pm - 9.30pm. The phone is answered by volunteers, who all have experiences of being lesbian or gay. All the staff who work on the phone line are trained to offer advice, support, information or to just listen, whatever you need from us. You might want to know the nearest gay friendly pub, want support coming out to friends or family, be looking for some gay friends, or just want to talk about things, we're here to support you.

We also have access to a range of information about lesbian and gay services from pubs and clubs to GUM clinics. If you want any information, we can try and help you.

The free phone line is the easiest way to contact us, and is also a way of accessing other services such as counselling and befriending.

Face to Face Counselling

Lancashire Friend offers a free face to face counselling service to anyone in the area. Counselling is provided by a team of trained counsellors in a safe environment. Most counselling takes place at our base at the Jarman Centre, in Blackburn, however if you prefer to meet us elsewhere, we can arrange this. The counselling service is free to anyone who needs it, and is completely confidential.

If you think counselling may help you and you want to find out more, please ring the freephone line on 0800 052 0151, or see the contact page for other ways to get in touch,

Befriending and Outreach

From time to time, we get phone calls from people who are a bit lonely or just want a friendly face to talk to, so that's where the befriending service comes in.

We choose a public place where the person feels comfortable and relaxed, such as a pub or a cafe, during the day, or at night. Befriendings can go on as long as the person wants, and be about whatever the person wants, whether its just a chat, or support going to a gay venue. In some cases, befriending can turn into long term buddying. Some recent befriendings have involved going to the gay village in Manchester, and to pubs in Blackburn. We have even visited ill people in homes.

After some of the befriendings, we ask the person if they would like to join the group for a night out, and if they wish, introduce them to other gay people. This can help people feel more comfortable in the gay scene, and also helps them to get to know people.

As with all our other services, everything discussed is kept completely confidential.

Blush Packs

In partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, we know provide safer sex condom packs to the Blackburn area. The packs are put together by volunteers, and come in two varieties- 'Butch' holds one extra strong condom and a sachet of lubricant, 'Fruity' has a flavoured condom and a sachet of lubricant. Blush packs are available from Stage Door and Neva Neva land pubs in Blackburn, and from the Jarman Centre Blackburn.

History

On 20th October 1992 a group of people from the North West of England decided they wanted to do something to make the lives of lesbians and gay men in the area better. The first meeting was held in a Burnley nightclub, and followed with premises and training for telephone skills and so East Lancashire Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, known as ELLGAS, was born.

In 1997 the group moved to an office in Blackburn, so we could offer helpline services from two offices; one in Blackburn, the other in Burnley.

In 2002, the desision was made to rename the group as Lancashire Friend, in line with other gay switchboards. This included a massive relaunch of the charity, including new logo and new publicity and closing of the Burnley office.