Creating Safer Systems. Strengthening Communities.

Alex is a 27-year-old trans person of colour, had avoided healthcare due to discrimination and fear of being misgendered. She wanted to find out about legal statuses and where to access medication, and speak to other queer-trans people of colour. Through Queertopia’s community forum and wrap around support, we signposted to trusted health agencies included Irie Mind, providing safe spaces, and connections to services and funding partners Alex accessed guidance on health, legal, and mental health support. We linked Alex to a trans-femmes whatsapp group to support her building community. Within months, Alex reported that her wellbeing had improved, had reduced anxiety, and a strong sense of belonging in Hackney’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Amina is a 26 year old Black British lesbian, neurodiverse, and living with a long-term health condition. Before connecting with Queertopia, she described feeling “shut out” of many mainstream services and anxious and isolated because of dismissive attitudes from staff who didn’t understand her intersecting identities as both LGBTQIA+ and a woman from the global majority. Amina first came to Queertopia, through a community forum, where residents were co-designing services for queer people of colour. She later attended a summer picnic. Amina told us that this was the first time she felt truly able to “just be herself in Hackney without fear or judgement.” Amina began attending our monthly forums regularly, contributing her lived experiences to discussions on healthcare access including for LGBTQIA+ people with disabilities. She has built new friendships, reducing her isolation and developed the confidence to take part in public speaking at a local Business & Partners Forum, sharing her perspective with service providers and businesses about the barriers faced by neurodiverse queer residents, shaping our community and offer. Amina reported that Queertopia’s spaces made her feel “included, valued, and listened to,” and that it’s improved her mental health.

“The ongoing partnership between Allia Impact and Queertopia Consortium has continuously provided support and reach to organisations and individuals across the borough. QC first got in touch with Allia to receive some business support but it was clear that the relationship would extremely valuable to Allia. Through Queertopia Consortium we at Allia Impact have become more aware of the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, especially because the community is often left out of the council’s engagement and target communities to support, but obviously the LGBTQ+ community faces a lot of challenges….What Allia has gained significantly from the relationship with Queertopia Consortium is the fact that we are more thoughtful as an organisation towards the LGBTQ+ community. We are better connected in Hackney and beyond to different people, organisations etc because of it.”

“…Being part of Queertopia has helped me develop my work within CAMHS in quite a meaningful way. I’ve been able to take the voices and views of the local LGBTQIA+ community back to the service and think about how we can make what we do more accessible and inclusive. One example of this has been adapting the wording of some of the information we share with other services and young people, so it feels clearer, more affirming, and easier to understand….Overall, Queertopia has created a bridge between community and service spaces. It has shown how collaboration, openness and care can make a real difference to the way we support young people.”

“Making a connection with Queertopia has been beneficial for the Homerton in many ways, both for individuals and for our organisation. Conversations and workshops have enabled us to discuss issues in an honest and open way, listen to feedback about our services and consider how to make our care more inclusive. We have happily shared information about Queertopia’s networking opportunities and other events with our Homerton LGBTQIA+ staff network, Homerton Rainbow, and across the organisation. It has been great to be able to contribute and collaborate in mutually beneficial ways, learning and sharing.”