Switchboard (UK)

{{Short description|UK telephone helpline for LGBT+ people}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline

| logo = Switchboard (UK) logo.png

| logo_size =

| logo_alt =

| logo_caption =

| map =

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| map2 =

| map2_size =

| map2_alt =

| map2_caption =

| abbreviation =

| motto =

| predecessor =

| merged =

| successor =

| formation = 4 March 1974

| founder =

| founding_location = London

| extinction =

| merger =

| type = LGBT Helpline

| vat_id =

| registration_id = Charity Number 296193 / Company Number 02098685

| status = Charitable Organisation / Company Limited by Guarantee

| purpose =

| headquarters =

| location = London

| coords =

| region = United Kingdom

| services = LGBTQ Support

| products =

| methods = Telephone, Instant Messaging, Email

| fields =

| membership =

| membership_year =

| language =

| owner =

| sec_gen =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title2 =

| leader_name2 =

| leader_title3 =

| leader_name3 =

| leader_title4 =

| leader_name4 =

| board_of_directors =

| key_people =

| main_organ =

| parent_organization =

| subsidiaries =

| secessions =

| affiliations =

| budget =

| budget_year =

| revenue =

| revenue_year =

| disbursements =

| expenses =

| expenses_year =

| endowment =

| staff = 12

| staff_year =

| volunteers = c. 200

| volunteers_year =

| website = {{URL|http://www.switchboard.lgbt|switchboard.lgbt}}

| remarks = Helpline Number: 0300 330 0630

| formerly = London Gay Switchboard / London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

| footnotes =

}}

{{LGBT rights in the United Kingdom sidebar|support groups}}

File:London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard banner at Pride London 2010.jpg

Switchboard{{cite news|last1=Duffy|first1=Nick|title=London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard changing its name to be 'more inclusive'|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/24/london-lesbian-and-gay-switchboard-is-changing-its-name-to-be-more-inclusive/|access-date=18 May 2016|work=PinkNews|date=24 June 2015}} is the second-oldest LGBT+ telephone helpline in the United Kingdom, launched the day after Edinburgh Befrienders (later known as Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard).

Switchboard was launched in March 1974 as the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, providing help and information to London's gay community, particularly in the aftermath of the 1967 partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales. It received its first call on 4 March 1974.

In the 1980s, Switchboard was the leading source of information on HIV/AIDS, with some of Switchboard's volunteers amongst the founding members of the Terrence Higgins Trust.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tht.org.uk/our-charity/Our-work/Our-history/1980s|title=Terrence Higgins Trust in the 1980s {{!}} Terrence Higgins Trust|last=Trust|first=Terrence Higgins|website=www.tht.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-05-23}}

In 2008, Switchboard was the recipient of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The organisation was invited and accepted to go to Buckingham Palace to collect the award. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II acknowledged the 40th anniversary of the organisation's founding, marking the first time she has had any involvement, voiced support or recognised an LGBT charity during her reign, and the first time the Crown has ever publicly supported the LGBT community.{{cite web|title=Hear, Hear! Queen Elizabeth Makes First Gesture of Goodwill to the LGBT Community|url=http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/35130-here-here-queen-elizabeth-makes-first-gesture-of-goodwill-to-the-lgbt-community/|website=Passport magazine|access-date=12 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019104841/http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/35130-here-here-queen-elizabeth-makes-first-gesture-of-goodwill-to-the-lgbt-community/|archive-date=19 October 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.towleroad.com/2014/03/queen-elizabeth-ii-congratulates-glbt-charity-organization-on-40th-anniversary.html |title=Queen Elizabeth II Congratulates GLBT Charity Organization On 40th Anniversary |publisher=Towleroad |access-date=10 March 2014}} LLGS received a comment from the Queen saying: "Best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on this most special anniversary."{{cite web |url=http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/35130-here-here-queen-elizabeth-makes-first-gesture-of-goodwill-to-the-lgbt-community/ |title=Hear Hear Queen Elizabeth Makes First Gesture of Goodwill to the LGBT Community | Passport Magazine News |access-date=2014-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019104841/http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/35130-here-here-queen-elizabeth-makes-first-gesture-of-goodwill-to-the-lgbt-community/ |archive-date=2015-10-19 }}

Switchboard rebranded to its current name in 2015 to emphasize inclusion for persons of all sexual orientation and gender identities, and that its services are not limited to London.

Today, it has expanded considerably to more than 15,000 callers each year, and now also provides support through email and instant messaging. Switchboard provides a listening service for people to discuss their feelings in an impartial and non-judgmental way, as well as information and advice for going out in London and the UK.