The biggest UK charity working with and for LGBTQ+ people over 50. Delivering activities, befriending, training and increasing LGBTQ+ visibility daily.
Important Closure Announcement:
It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the permanent closure of Opening Doors on February 29, 2024 due to ongoing financial challenges, ultimately resulting in insolvency.
Please read our full statement here:
Our heartfelt thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter for their generous donation in support of ODL! Your donation will help us support our LGBT+ members over 50 who are experiencing increased loneliness and isolation during this time🌈💖
To celebrate
#TransAwarenessWeek
we asked our members from our trans and non-binary group for over 50s what they would like others to be aware of and this is their message 👇
🏳️🌈Launching 'My First Pride' 🏳️🌈
Marking 50 years of
#LGBT
+ activism since the
#StonewallRiots
, we're putting the older LGBT+ community at the heart of the Pride conversation! ✊
With 10days left until
#Pride
in London, we asked 5 of our members about their first Pride March.✨
Older trans people are some of the most marginalised and isolated in our community. We offer support for older trans, non-binary and intersex people over 50 throughout the year. For more information email info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk or visit
We're proud to stand together with
@stonewalluk
, an organisation that has positively influenced the lives of so many LGBTQ+ people. We will not stop fighting for the rights of our communities. There is no LGBT+ without the T.
⭐️Announcement⭐️
We’re incredibly excited to announce our national ‘Pride in Care’ conference in London this June.
If you work or are interested in the health & wellbeing of older LGBT people then we’d love you to join us.
Full details here:
With the new national lockdown announced yesterday, this will be a tough winter. Whatever you’re feeling, don’t forget you’re not alone. There are many helplines available where you can express your feelings confidentially and get the support you need.
We're overwhelmed and so grateful for all the support we've received amidst the
#Covid19Outbreak
! It's really lifted our spirits to see our community come together against isolation!
You can still donate below as we adapt our services to keep supporting LGBT+ people over 50 👇
Our new, unique online peer support group for people with a diagnosis of dementia. There is no other group specifically for LGBTQ+ people who have a diagnosis of dementia to connect with and support each other, without the presence of partners and carers. Every Tuesday 5-6pm
To celebrate
#TransAwarenessWeek
we asked our members from our trans and non-binary group for over 50s what they would like others to be aware of and this is their message 👇
We are very excited to be re-opening our trans, non-binary & intersex group for over 50s on 20th May.
🏳️⚧️🥳
If you’d like to join us, contact info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk.
Happy Bisexual Awareness Week!
📆 16th - 23rd Sept 2022
📢 We need to celebrate the wide range of bi identities, create space & call out biphobia when we see it
💗💜💙 Bisexuality is equally as valid & we’re here to support *all* of our members
#BiAwarenessWeek
#BiVisibility
Many LGBTQ+ people over 50 were the ones to march in those early Prides demanding rights and recognition, yet our voices and concerns are often overlooked.
So this year, our members have sent in their
#Pride
pictures to say
#WhyWeStillMarch
. First up: for trans equality! 1/6
If you're an LGBT+ person over 50 and could do with a weekly call to stay connected during the
#Covid19outbreak
, get in touch with our telephone befriending service:
We want to support as many people as we can facing increased isolation during this time!
Our
#BuildingSafeChoices
report with
@tonichousing
and
@Stonewallhousin
launches today, which shows the
urgent need for better housing choices for older LGBT+ people.
Check out our Key Recommendations for public bodies below, and
read the full report here
We’re so proud to be a part of this year’s
@PrideInLondon
campaign. Here's some of our ODL members looking 🔥
It was only 50 years ago that being LGBT+ was against the law & being gay was considered a mental illness.
#pride
#PrideInLondon
✨ We’ve hit 5000 followers ✨
5000 thank yous to all of our incredible followers for all your support of our work supporting the older LGBT+ population across London.
Our friends at Little Gay Brother have designed this wonderful T-shirt with ALL proceeds going to our Telefriending!
At this time of increased isolation, thank you for reminding us that we are part of a strong LGBT+ community💜
#LoveIsNotCancelled
❗️ Can you spare £2 a month so LGBTQ+ over 50 can live happy and fulfilled lives?❗️
🙏Your donation costs less than a coffee and it makes a HUGE difference to our members
➡️Donate
🗣Spread the word!
#SupportQueerPioneers
#2pounds2opendoors
Thank you to everyone who came to our first Silver Pride Tea Dance on Sunday 2 October 2022 at the iconic
@stowtradeshall
🪩
Amazing to see our members, volunteers and supporters come together to have fun, socialise and and show off their dance moves!
#SilverSunday
Join our
#BAME
sessional worker Rachael for the first Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
#LGBT
+ over 50 social of the year! ✨ Sunday 20 January we are hosting a film screening at the Good Hope Place in Ladywell 📽️
👉 Click the picture to find out more and book your spot!
⭐️Announcement⭐️
Take a look at the incredible line up we have at our national ‘Pride in Care’ conference in London this June.
If you work or are interested in the health & wellbeing of older LGBT people then we’d love you to join us.
Details here:
We are so excited to have received a grant from
@IndependentAge
to support older LGBT+ people with a telephone befriender!
One of our members said: "I can’t put it into words how good telefriending has been for me. I look forward to our weekly conversations."
We're happy to announce that we got a
#NationalLottery
funding for 2022! Thanks to
@TNLComFund
we will be able to hire a BAME/PoC Engagement Officer as well as keep developing our organisation and growing to support more LGBTQ+ people over 50 nationally.
❗️Are you LGBTQ+ and over 50? ❗️
We’re carrying a research aiming to improve the lives of our communities and influence policy on health services for LGBTQ+ people.
Fill the survey below or contact ben.thomas
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk for a paper copy
We're SO excited to announce the launch of our oral history project From a Whisper to a Roar - capturing the lives of lesbian, bi and trans women over 50 years 🏳️🌈✊
Bisexual history shouldn’t be a mystery! Join our Bi The Way group for a free talk about bisexual histories 23 July from 6pm
Bi historian Martha Robinson Rhodes, will talk about her studies into Bisexuality in 1970's & 1980's Britain More info at
Women's History Month 💜
Today's Key Figure is Anne Lister; British diarist, landowner and key figure in lesbian history.
Anne's diaries detailed her life of travel, business & female partners.
#WomensHistoryMonth
#lesbianhistory
#lgtbqhistory
We can't wait for
@BiPrideUK
, Saturday 7 September in Hackney 😍 and we're super excited to be representing bisexuals over 50 at this important event!
📸Photo via the wonderful
@bihistory
.
#BiPrideUK
Did you know? Compared to heterosexuals of their age, LGBTQ+ people over 50 are less likely to have family to support them, and many remember a time it was illegal to 'come out'.
Find out how we support the generation that fought for us this
#Pride
month:
We're delighted to partner with
@BishopsgateInst
to deliver our LGBTQ+ History Month Exhibition 🖼
🗓 Wednesday 22nd - Saturday 25th February 2023
🕚 11am - 4pm
📍Bishopsgate Institute
🎟 Free Entry and All welcome
We look forward to seeing you there!
#LGBTHM23
We know that Pride month is an important time for our members, and to celebrate, we're hosting a webinar looking at the history of Pride, from the Stonewall Riots to the present day.
Whether you're a casual sketcher or fancy yourself a bit of a Michelangelo- come along to our informal art group on Friday 28 September 12:30pm 🎨. Materials are available, but also feel free to bring your own. Any questions? Just give us a call 020 7239 0400
We’re super excited to be representing bisexuals over 50 at
@BiPrideUK
, Saturday 7 September in Hackney 😍 Who's coming?
📸Photo via the wonderful
@bihistory
.
#BiPrideUK
Join ODL as our Head of Fundraising! This is a new and exciting role – and one where you can help shape the future of this dynamic organisation.
Check more info and how to apply here:
Join us for an hour discussing the issues facing older trans and non-binary people in the UK., the core concepts of allyship, and tangible take aways to improve your own allyship.
#trans
#transawareness
Book here ➡️
We're delighted to be recipients of the
#LGBT
Futures grant! ✨This will support our engagement work with LGBT+ people over 50, funding our
#BAME
group and
#Trans
and
#nonbinary
group!
BREAKING NEWS: 24 LGBT+ Organisations to Share £200,000 from LGBT+ Futures Fund. Funding from the LGBT+ Futures Fund will support diverse communities across England to become more visible.
Read the full story and see the successful organisations:
#LGBT
+
⭐️ Announcement ⭐️
Opening Doors London is proud to announce our Pride in Care Quality Standard.
We are delighted to be joined by Prof Martin Green OBE, CEO of
@CareEngland
to launch it at our
#Prideincare
conference
Further information will be on our website soon.
Join our September webinar on Tuesday 29th!
This month we'll look at how social isolation affects older LGBT+ people due to lack of family support and higher rates of poor mental health. We'll also focus on the impact of lockdown.
More info at 👉
To celebrate
#LGBTHM22
we invited some 50+ LGBTQ+ people to share their experiences and stories from their lives, that might shed some insight into what it was like growing up as LGBTQ+ in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Book your ticket here 👉
🚨TAKE ACTION 🚨At the end of March it’ll have been 1000 days since the UK Gov promised to ban conversion therapy. We risk not having a meaningful legal ban if we don’t act today. Email your MP to
#BanConversionTherapy
now 👉👉
Join our regular social group for trans, non-binary and intersex people over 50!
Currently hosted over Zoom, its a welcoming and supportive space for both old and new members ✨ Email info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk for more info!
📢📢 Job Vacancy
Interested in leading a unique LGBTQ+ charity? We're looking for a CEO to join our team.
For more info and to apply visit:
Deadline for applications is midnight, 13th July 2023.
Earlier in the year, we asked some of our members who participate in our BAME/Poc group for LGBTQ+ people over 50, what advice they would give to younger generations. Here is what Elvette told us!
#BlackHistoryMonth
Are you looking after a friend, partner or relative with dementia, memory loss or cognitive problems?
Our Rainbow Carers' Group is a supportive space for LGBTQ+ carers over 50!
✨✨ Email info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk to join on Monday 21 June, 15:30 to 17:00
Join our regular social group for trans, non-binary and intersex people over 50!
Currently hosted over Zoom, its a welcoming and supportive space for both old and new members ✨ Email info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk for more info!
There is no other group specifically for LGBTQ+ people who have a diagnosis of dementia to connect with and support each other, without the presence of partners and carers. Every Tuesday 5-6pm.
✨✨ Email info
@openingdoorslondon
.org.uk to join.
We're delighted to be featured in
@PinkNews
article exploring positive representation of older LGBTQ+ people on BBC's show, The Traitors.
Read more here:
On
#IDAHOBIT
2018 we keep on with our work supporting the older LGBT* community across the capital.
We thank all our members, volunteers and friends for enabling us to do this work and for their partnership and companionship in the years to come
Check this opportunity to be a part of a documentary 👇
I'm a documentary photographer based in Cardiff and I'm looking for LGBT+ veterans, who were impacted by the 'gay ban' in the armed forces prior to 2000.
On
#WorldAIDSDay
we remember and celebrate those lives lost and embrace the achievements made through improved antiretroviral treatments and PrEP. There's still much to do, so please consider making a donation to a HIV charity.
#CantPassItOn