Switchboard is 50

Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line, which has provided support and information to more than 4 million people across the UK, turns 50 today.

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Switchboard is 50!

(London, United Kingdom; 4th March 2024): Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line, which has provided support and information to more than 4 million people across the UK, turns 50 today.

BT Tower lit up to say Happy 50th Switchboard

To celebrate, the iconic BT Tower in London has been lit up with “Happy 50th Birthday Switchboard” to commemorate this milestone for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Switchboard, originally called London Gay Switchboard (then London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard) was established in 1974 in response to a call to organise a ‘helpline’ by the Gay Liberation Front and Gay News, who were receiving an ever-increasing number of calls to their offices. Initially set up to help individuals navigate the growing LGBTQIA+ scene that began to emerge after the partial decriminalisation of (male) homosexuality in 1967 they have since gone on to provide support for members of the community through police raids, the HIV/AIDS crisis, Section 28 and more. Through all the crises, celebrations and changing attitudes, Switchboard has been a clear and unmistakable voice.

“The milestones of LGBTQ+ history can be traced in the calls that Switchboard has taken since 1974” — Lisa Power, former Switchboard Volunteer, co-founder of Stonewall and former Policy Director at the Terrence Higgins Trust

Today their listening volunteers, who all identify as LGBTQIA+, have over 15,000 conversations each year with service users across the UK, who are often dealing with similar issues to those reaching out in those early days of Switchboard. Discussing topics such as coming out, discrimination, sexual health, isolation, finding LGBTQIA+ community, dealing with difficult family relationships, dating, mental health and more. Significant progress has been made for the LGBTQIA+ community, but Switchboard believes that their service is needed just as much now as ever when LGBTQIA+ rights, especially those of trans people, continue to be on the line.

“Switchboard owes its existence to the unwavering dedication of countless volunteers spanning the past five decades. These individuals, steadfast in their commitment, have selflessly contributed their time and effort to uplift and support members of the LGBTQIA+ community, their families, friends and allies. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to these remarkable individuals. Today, fifty years on, our volunteers carry on this legacy..” — Stephanie Fuller, CEO, Switchboard

Throughout 2024 Switchboard will continue to have a variety of events and activations to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Switchboard Tech Volunteer

We are on the lookout for people to join Switchboard as Tech Volunteers. This means you won’t be answering phone calls, or responding to chat messages or emails sent to us by service users, but you’ll instead be on-call to triage any technical issues faced by our Listening Volunteers.

Tech Volunteers ensure our systems stay live and that Listening Volunteers can start their shifts and respond to service users without any technical issues.

APPLY HERE