An Interview with Norfolk LGBT+ Project: The charity behind our Pride donation

If you’ve shown interest in our Pride range, you may have wondered what your donation will be going towards.

The success of this collection is helping to support an incredible charity. Norfolk LGBT+ Project is the only charity in our county solely dedicated to LGBTQIA+ support. Boasting a range of support systems, this not-for-profit has one-to-one sessions, LGBTQIA+ drop-in groups, family support, counselling, and awareness training. Focusing on an array of areas, there is an abundance of services available for the community to access at any time.

So, with Norwich Pride right around the corner, we thought it’d be a great time to give you some extra info about the wonderful Norfolk-based LGBTQIA+ charity behind our donation. We interviewed a member from Norfolk LGBT+ Project who, after stepping into this line of work by accident, found a passion in the support they were providing for the LGBTQIA+ community. We collated a selection of questions that this individual has crafted a response to, so you can find out what goes on behind the scenes!

We are an LGBT+ wellbeing charity so our focus is on that. We provide one-to-one support that is tailored to the client's needs and we also provide LGBTQ+ drop-in groups to all ages. Our Educating with Pride services work in partnership with places of education and we also provide LGBT+ Awareness training to organisations.

Every day is different for each member of the team, so that can be providing one-to-one appointments with clients, answering emails, organising training sessions, working with schools - the list is endless!

It will go towards our volunteers’ costs, e.g. DBS checks, as well as the running of our youth groups.

Yes, they are. But we are open to anyone volunteering with us, as long as they have an understanding of the issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and want to make a difference.

Last year we provided support to 733 individuals and that does not include those who benefit from our LGBTQ+ drop-in groups. We also provide support to families and carers.

Apart from continuing what we are doing, our goal is to increase our team. We are a small but passionate team but the more support staff we have, the more we can provide.

We believe that things happen for a reason. Ask each member of the team why we do what we do and no doubt we would agree that it’s personal. We want to give back to the LGBTQ+ community and make a difference, the majority of us didn’t have access to the support services that are available now.

It’s rewarding. Yes, it has its ups and downs but the positives are always reminders that we do make a difference.

Helping to provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals in need, this charity does incredible work in the name of Pride. But, this charity exists every day regardless of Pride. So, don’t worry - every 20% contribution from our range will go straight to Norfolk LGBT+ Project, regardless of if it was bought in Pride Month or not.

If you want to find out more about what the team at Norfolk LGBT+ Project get up to, or you’re interested in the services they provide, visit their website for more info. Or, contact them if you’d like to get involved in volunteering for them!