London Friend

London Friend was originally a part of Friend which was a befriending offshoot of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) and first operated from a flat in Earl's Court, before moving to a community centre in Church Street, Westminster.

In 1974 London Friend appeared alongside CHE in a documentary titled 'Speak for yourself' produced by London weekend Television at which time the organisations offices were in at 47 Church St, London NW8. The organisations were working closely together through social events, Friend was a counselling service, whereas CHE was a campaign and political group[.{{cite web |title=Speak for yourself, Gay's The Word |url=https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-homosexual-equality-1974-online |website=British Film Institute |publisher=London Weekend TV 1974 |accessdate=15 June 2019}}

London Friend was separated from CHE in 1975 and then obtained premises in Upper Street, temporarily in Seven Sisters Road, and later in Caledonian Road.{{cite web |url=http://www.londonfriend.org.uk/history/ |title=London Friend |publisher=London Friend |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=30 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708231148/http://www.londonfriend.org.uk/history/ |archivedate=8 July 2010 }} The Caledonian Road premises were reported by January 2011 to be under threat and an appeal was launched to safeguard the building.{{cite web|url=http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2010/dec/appeal-launched-after-reprieve-gives-charity-year-find-%C2%A3100000-needed-save-building |title=Appeal launched after reprieve gives charity a year to find £100,000 needed to save building |publisher=Islington Tribune |date=3 December 2010 |accessdate=30 January 2011}}{{cite web|last=Geen |first=Jessica |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/11/25/london-gay-charity-hopes-to-keep-premises/ |title=London gay charity hopes to keep premises |publisher=Pink News |date= 25 November 2010|accessdate=30 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://callylabourcouncillors.org.uk/2010/03/02/islington-council-rent-rise-threatens-valued-charity-london-friend/ |title=Islington Council rent rise threatens valued charity, London Friend | publisher = Labour Councillors representing Caledonian Ward in Islington (Paul Convery, Rupert Perry and Charlynne Pullen) |date=2 March 2010 |accessdate=30 January 2011}} During 2012, as a result of the appeal, and also additional funding following a merger with another charity, London Friend was able to purchase the property.{{cite web |url=http://www.londonfriend.org.uk/whatsnew/ |title=London Friend News |accessdate=10 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314180337/http://www.londonfriend.org.uk/whatsnew/ |archivedate=14 March 2012 }} Meanwhile continued expansion has meant that additional space is now being used at the GMFA office elsewhere in Islington.

London Friend has at various times provided befriending, counselling, meeting spaces, helplines, support groups, a library of gay and lesbian books, and training for volunteers, police cadets and social workers.

In 2011 British electronic singer Andi Fraggs recorded a charity single "Reality" for London Friend, followed by a fundraising show at Madame Jojo's in London's Soho.{{cite web |url=http://www.gailymail.co.uk/culture/andy-fraggs-interview/ |title=Andi Fraggs interview |work=www.gailymail.co.uk |accessdate=5 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426013409/http://www.gailymail.co.uk/culture/andy-fraggs-interview/ |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=usurped }}Special one off show to celebrate the release of the new Andi Fraggs single 'Reality' and the 'London Friend' charity. {{cite web |title=Andi Fraggs 'Reality' Live |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/270804 |website=residentadvisor.net |accessdate=27 December 2018}}

• Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2016{{cite web |title=Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2016: recipients |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/527091/Queens-award-voluntary-service-winners-2016.csv/preview |website=Cabinet Office |accessdate=27 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=London LGBT charity honoured with Queen's Award for Voluntary Service |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/06/02/london-lgbt-charity-honoured-with-queens-award-for-voluntary-service/ |website=Pink News |date=2 June 2016 |accessdate=27 December 2018}}
• GSK IMPACT Award 2016{{cite web |title=2016 GSK IMPACT Award winners |url=https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/gsk-impact-awards/2016-gsk-impact-award-winners |website=The King's Fund |accessdate=27 December 2018}}
• National Diversity Awards 2014{{cite web |title=2014 Winners |url=http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/2014winners/ |website=National Diversity Awards}}

[http://londonfriend.org.uk/ Official website]

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

• Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard
• Gay & Lesbian Switchboard of New York
• Gay Liberation Front
• Switchboard (UK)

{{reflist}}

Category:LGBTQ organisations in London

Category:LGBTQ culture in London