Resources for: LGBTQ+
Although identifying as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi sexual, Trans & Queer plus communities does not always mean you will have poor mental health and wellbeing, evidence does indicate that LGBTQ+ people are likely to have poorer health outcomes compared to heterosexual people.
This section provides some information and services that may help.
Breathing Space
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Helpline number: 0800 83 85 87
Web: https://breathingspace.scot/
Anna Freud Centre
Anna Freud Centre is a UK charity focused on improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, and families. Free resources are available to download for under 5s, children and young people, families, and professionals.
The Anna Freud Crisis Messenger text service is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope. Text AFC to 85258.
Helpline number: Text AFC to 85258
Web: www.annafreud.org/
Ditch the Label
A youth charity for ages 12–25, offering support with bullying, mental health, identity, relationships, and growing up. Through free online advice, safe spaces, and digital mentoring, young people can explore challenges and find help in a non-judgmental environment. The site also features real stories, practical guides, and tools to build confidence and self-esteem.
Web: www.ditchthelabel.org/
Fumble
A friendly, youth-led charity providing free online resources about sex, relationships, and mental health. Their guides, created by young people for young people, help build confidence and understanding around consent, identity, and sexual health.
Web: www.fumble.org.uk/
Galop
The UK’s specialist LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, providing free, confidential support, advocacy and helplines for LGBT+ people who have experienced domestic abuse, hate crime, sexual violence, “conversion therapy” or other forms of abuse.
Also contains a range of downloadable resources on a range of topics affecting LGBT+ people.
Helpline number: 0800 9995428
Web: www.galop.org.uk/
LEAP Sports Scotland
promotes inclusion and equality in sports, focusing on LGBTQ+ participation. They offer support, resources, and advocacy to create safer and more welcoming environments for everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or background.
Phone: 0141 202 0777
Web: www.leapsports.org/
LGBT Domestic Abuse Support
provides information and support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing domestic abuse. It offers guidance, resources, and access to specialist services to help individuals stay safe and understand their options.
Helpline number: a range of helpline information is available on the website
Web: www.lgbtdomesticabuse.org.uk/
LGBT Foundation
supports LGBTQ+ people with advice, guidance, and services on health, wellbeing, and social issues. They provide resources, community connections, and advocacy to promote equality and inclusion.
Phone: 0345 3 30 30 30
Web: www.lgbt.foundation/
LGBT Health and Wellbeing
Provides health information and support specifically for LGBTQ+ people. They offer resources, advice, and guidance to promote physical and mental well-being within the LGBTQ+ community. They welcome the entire diversity of our LGBT+ community including non-binary, queer, intersex, asexual people and all identities under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella.
Phone: 0800 464 7000
Web: www.lgbthealth.org.uk/
LGBT Hero
Supports LGBTQ+ people with trusted information, advice, and peer‑support on a wide range of issues, including mental health, sexual health, HIV, coming out, and discrimination.
Web: www.lgbthero.org.uk/
LGBT Youth Curriculum
A comprehensive guide for Scottish schools to develop an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum across all subject areas, aligned with the Curriculum for Excellence, providing pupils with meaningful opportunities to understand and engage with LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.
Web: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/media/1585/lgbtys-curriculum-inclusion.pdf
LGBT Youth Scotland
Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQI young people, supporting 13–25 year olds with peer support, resources, education, and safe spaces. They deliver the LGBT Charter programme to schools and organisations, aiming to make Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTQ+ youth.
Phone: 0141 552 7425
Web: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/
Lifelink
A confidential counselling service accessed through West Dunbartonshire secondary schools, where young people can chat to a counsellor to help manage personal and social issues which may be affecting their life.
Web: https://www.lifelink.org.uk/
Mermaids
Support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families. Mermaids has evolved into one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities, empowering thousands of people with its secure online communities, local community groups, helpline services, web resources, events and residential weekends.
Helpline number: 0808 801 0400
Web: www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/
NHS Inform
NHS inform is Scotland's national health information service helping the people in Scotland to make informed decisions about their own health and the health of the people they care for. Also includes a service directory with details of health and wellbeing services across Scotland.
Web: www.nhsinform.scot
Samaritans
A 24 hour support service for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
Web: www.samaritans.org
SHOUT Crisis text service
Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Helpline number: 85258 free text support service
Web: www.giveusashout.org/
The Mix
The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile.
Phone: 0808 808 4994
Web: www.themix.org.uk/
The Proud Trust
The Proud Trust is an LGBT+ organisation that supports LGBT+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring programs and the Proud Connections chat service
Phone: 0161 660 3347
Web: www.theproudtrust.org/
Tullochan
Tullochan supports both young people aged 5-25 and those aged 25+ through a range of development programmes delivered from our Tullochan Training Academy, within Primary/Secondary schools or through their Social Enterprises. Programmes such as Timber Transitions, Furniture Fix, Gardening & Landscaping, Personal Development, Work Placements within their cafe 'The Common Good', or Employability sessions are on offer, alongside LGBTQ+ Youth Action Group and High School Drop-in Youth Club. Their support allows young people and the wider community to improve their mental health and wellbeing, break down barriers and progress positively into education, employment or training.
Web: www.tullochan.org/
Y Sort it
Y Sort It youth centre provides a dedicated youth friendly space with various weekly youth activities offered throughout the West Dunbartonshire area, including support for young carers (10-25 years), peer mentoring for care experienced young people, Outreach Project (8-25 years), Intandem (ages of 8 and 14 and on a Compulsory Supervision Order) and Y Sort-It FUSION LGBT Youth Group for young people 25 years and under, and currently meets online.
Phone: 0141 941 3308
Web: www.ysortit.com/
Fear Free Scotland
A Scottish service supporting men and LGBT+ individuals experiencing domestic abuse. They offer confidential guidance, safety planning, and practical help through dedicated caseworkers.
Phone: 0131 624 7270
Web: www.fearfree.scot/
Stonewall Scotland
Stonewall Scotland works with education, employment and public services to ensure they develop better policies which will lead to better lives for LGBT people, whilst also campaigning for changes in legislation and attitudes.
Web: www.stonewallscotland.org.uk/
Internet Matters
dedicated to helping children and young people aged 3-18 stay safe online. They provide free, expert-backed resources tailored to different ages, online activities, and specific needs, including support for neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and care-experienced children. Their tools include age-specific guides, conversation starters, and digital safety checklists, all designed to empower parents, carers, and professionals to navigate the digital world confidently
Web: https://www.internetmatters.org/
Pink Parents
Information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families.
Web: https://www.pinkparents.org.uk/
Clydebank Can
Clydebank Can is a community-based project that aims to bring to life the canal and bandstand area of Three Queen’s Square in Clydebank. It will bring more arts and leisure activities into the area for local people to enjoy, giving everyone in the community more opportunity to take part in events and activities which improve health and wellbeing, and increase social and economic activity in the area.
The website also contains a 'What's On' section with a wealth of information on local events, clubs, activities and more.
Web: https://www.clydebankcan.com/
Mentally Healthy Schools
Mentally Healthy Schools from Anna Freud brings together quality-assured mental health resources, information and advice for primary and secondary schools and further education settings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Web: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/?
Swan Scotland
SWAN is a place for autistic women, girls and non-binary people to understand themselves better, connect with others, and learn from and support one another, without the stress of masking to fit in.
SWAN runs a range of events and activities, both in person and online, including local meet-up groups, online peer support, pre-and post-diagnosis groups, and wellbeing webinars.
All SWAN staff and volunteers are autistic and work hard to make SWAN a safe, welcoming and stress-free place for autistic women, girls and non-binary people.
Web: https://swanscotland.org/?
NHSGGC Mental Health Improvement Resources for Early Years, Schools and Youth Providers
This comprehensive document gathers some resources listed individually on this site and more! It shares a range of suggested resources (curricular packs, toolkits, guidance etc) that can be used in early years, schools, by youth providers to help protect, promote, and support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
Web: https://www.nhsggc.scot/downloads/mental-health-resources-for-schools-and-organisations/?
LGBT Traveller Pride
LGBT Traveller Pride is are group made up of Travellers (used as inclusively as possible) who are LGBT+ (likewise) who want to provide a platform for their intersectional community. They act as a network that can provide guidance, support and information to make life easier for LGBT+ Travellers as well as providing essential services, meetup spaces and collaborating with other organisations to make them more welcoming to LGBT Travellers.
Helpline number: 0800 233 5066 Mondays 5pm - 8.30pm
Web: https://www.lgbttravellerpride.com/
Shameless Youths
Shameless Youths is a youth-led campaign which recognises the importance of supportive conversations between young people and the adults in their lives, particularly when it comes to being online and engaging in relationships online. These conversations need to be regular, judgement-free, informed and respectful... they need to be shameless.
Our aim is to promote positive conversations which support young people to understand what consenting and positive experiences online look like.
The campaign was developed in partnership between West Dunbartonshire Youth Council, West Dunbartonshire Council, NSPCC Scotland a steering group of local partners.
Web: https://www.wdhscp.org.uk/children/shameless-youths/
Tie Time for Inclusive Education
Tie address homophobic, biphobic and transphobic prejudice and bullying through education. They create resources for schools, run workshops and assemblies for young people, and deliver professional learning for teachers on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Web: https://tie.scot/
Hollie Guard app
A free personal safety app from the Hollie Gazzard Trust. It lets you discreetly send an alert by shaking your phone or tapping a button that shares your location and live audio/video with your emergency contacts. Features include journey tracking, meeting timers, fall detection, and “stealth” or “deterrent” modes to help you stay safe in risky situations.
Web: https://hollieguard.com/
Supporting transgender pupils in schools: guidance for education authorities and schools – revised
A Scottish Government publication providing non-statutory guidance for education authorities and schools on how to support transgender pupils, covering legal, policy and practical issues to promote safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments.
Web: https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-transgender-pupils-schools-guidance-education-authorities-schools-revised/
Outside the Box
Outside the Box provides development support to groups and people across Scotland who want to make a difference in their communities.
They have loads of downloadable resources such as cost of living guides, info for LGBTIQ+ families, and human righths and equality.
Phone: 0141 419 0451
Web: https://otbds.org/
Social Workers' Toolbox
a free online collection of printable tools and resources for work with children and young people, adults and families. If offers worksheets, guides, posters and activity sheets designed to support emotional wellbeing and assessment in professional or educational settings.
Web: https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/