Ensuring that people have a safe and enjoyable Pride is one of main aims of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and this year they are working with Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans as they realise that for everyone Pride is not always a happiest of times. The two organisations will be working together to ensure that trained Samaritan volunteers are available at the park to offer a listening ear to people throughout the day. Samaritan volunteers will be based at the Access Tent at the south-side of the park.

Billie Lewis, volunteer Chair of the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum (LGBT CSF) said, “The LGBT CSF have seen an increase for the need for this service over the past two Prides. We have developed our partnership to provide a consistent service that can be effectively lead and delivered by volunteers. The service from the Samaritans is discrete, consistent and focussed. Having experienced festival volunteers available across the park will not only be reassuring for some Pride attendees but will provide a safety net of support and advice to those that need it the most”.

Samaritans as an organisation is available around the clock, every single day of the year and Brighton and Hove volunteer Branch Director Daniel Cheesman is particularly keen to support Pride in this way saying “supporting Pride is very important to us and it gives us the opportunity to remind people that we are here and our trained volunteers will be in the park and available to talk to and listen to people throughout the afternoon”.

This initiative between the Forum and Samaritans is a natural development of their existing partnership that has been developed over the last year, where people calling the LGBT Community Safety Forum Helpline can be directly put through to Samaritans.

Whatever you’re going through, call us free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org or visit us in person at Dubarry House, Newtown Road, Hove. BN3 6AE. Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum helpline 01273 855620 – option 1 to be directed to Samaritans.

You can catch up with Brighton, Hove & District Samaritans here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Brighton Pride Festival, Sat 6th August 2016, tickets are available here

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