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Unfortunately, those in the LGBTQ+ community may at times experience exclusion or be discriminated against and it can be incredibly isolating, especially on campus. Be prepared to take action and call it out if you can, in a sensitive and discreet manner wherever possible. Speak with a member of staff you feel confident with if you need help.

The Students Union help@bedssu.co.uk or LGBTQ+ Alliance Staff Network Group LGBTQ+alliance@beds.ac.uk are there to not only run student events, but also to help and support you.

Sexual orientation and gender reassignment are protected characteristics as part of the Equality Act 2010, a law which universities follow to prohibit discrimination within their institutions.

Reporting an Incident of Exclusion or Discrimination:

If you or someone you know, experiences exclusion or discrimination you can report this in a variety of ways:

Contact the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½:

• Support from staff, the university has trained advisors who can offer specialist support on how to report an incident. You can contact the university by emailing supportandreport@beds.ac.uk
• You can also make a complaint, the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is committed to maintaining an effective procedure to allow all members of its community to make legitimate complaints. Our Student Complaints Policy and Procedure [PDF] sets out how student concerns may be addressed, and has been established with the aim of resolving complaints informally through negotiation between individuals immediately concerned with the matter and their immediate line management, where possible.

Contact the Police:

• Bedfordshire Hate Crime Reporting is the specific mechanism where you can report hate crime which will be dealt with by specific trained officers, visit to report to the police.

Contact a specialist charity:

• Stand Alone is a charity which has set up a support helpline for students who have become estranged from their families, visit for support, advice and guidance.
• Galop supports LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence, find out more by visiting

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ can help through the Student Union and the Student Support Teams if you wish to speak to someone to gain, advice and support.Ìý

• The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Student Union known as Beds SU provide a dedicated LGBTQ+ Society, to find our more visit
• Beds SU also provide a dedicated LGBTQ+ Network, to find out more, visitÌý
• The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Student Support Department have trained counsellors who can provide vital support. To register for one-to-one counselling at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, please visit Student support - CounsellingÌýand complete the registration form or email counselling@beds.ac.ukÌýand a member of the team will respond to you.

There are local services who can provide information, advice and guidance:

Bedfordshire:

• LGBT Foundation: provide a functionality to search for local support groups local to where you live, visit to find out more.Ìý
• LGBT Bedfordshire:Ìýprovide a wide range for support and advice, visit to find out more.
• Rainbow Bedfordshire:ÌýAn NHS mental health campaign, to find out more visit, ÌýÌý
• Mind BLMK: local services relate to individual and corporate mental wellbeing across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Provide a range of support for individuals including Crisis Support, Peer Support Groups, Mentoring, as well as specialist groups such as supporting people who are graduates of the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. To find out more, visit Ìý

Luton:Ìý

• Identity Luton: Confidential one-to one support for LGBT people in Luton aged 13+ over the phone, telephone: 01582 349373 for support.
• TOKKO: OK2B is a group for LGBTQI+ young people. The Group is held at the safe, and friendly Tokko Youth Space in Luton and enables young people to meet new people, get support from a great team of staff, play pool or games with other LGBTQI+ young people. Telephone 01582 544990 or visit to find out more.
• Mind BLMK: local services relate to individual and corporate mental wellbeing across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Provide a range of support for individuals including Crisis Support, Peer Support Groups, Mentoring, as well as specialist groups such as supporting people who are graduates of the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. To find out more, visit Ìý

Milton Keynes/Buckinghamshire:

• Q:alliance: is a registered charity that provides support, information and representation for the LGBTQ+ people who live, work and play in Milton Keynes and Bedford. Visit Ìýfor more information and advice including drop in service information and upcoming events to get involved in.
• LGBT Bucks: Support and advice to people about services in and around Buckinghamshire, visit Ìýfor more information.
• Sexual Health Buckinghamshire: Buckinghamshire Local Support, visit to find out more.
• Mind BLMK: local services relate to individual and corporate mental wellbeing across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. Provide a range of support for individuals including Crisis Support, Peer Support Groups, Mentoring, as well as specialist groups such as supporting people who are graduates of the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. To find out more, visit Ìý

Birmingham:Ìý

• Birmingham LGBT: offers information on services available including free, confidential and non-judgemental support services and sexual health services, visit Ìýto find out information.Ìý
• Umbrella: Free Sexual health services in Birmingham and Solihull, visit Ìýfor more information.
• Birmingham LGBT Meetup: A monthly coffee afternoon in central Birmingham, regular nights out in the gay village, and a variety of other smaller scale meetups hosted by group members. Visit Ìýfor more information.
• Birmingham Swifts: LGBT running group open to everyone no matter what your ability, age, sexuality or gender. Visit Ìýfor more information.Ìý

London Bridge:

• Gendered Intelligence: a registered charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people's quality of life. It also runs a peer-led support group in London for people aged 18 to 30, visit for more information.Ìý
• London Friend: developed to improve the health and mental well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex or Queer people and we work to be there when people need us most. Visit Ìýfor more information and advice.ÌýÌý
• London LGBTQ+ Community Centre: offering a holistic programme of services, events, talks and workshops, combined with a cafe space that invites visitors to simply just be. Visit for more information Ìý
• Queer Spirit London: is a Radical Faerie group running events on LGBT+ spirituality, visit

Visit a range of national services listed below for further support, advice and guidance:Ìý

• Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: Connecting you to LGBQT support, helpline 01273 204050 Mon, Wed and Thurs, 7:00pm-9:30pm or visit Ìýfor more information
• Stonewall: Visit Ìýfor information including upcoming events to join and gain information and signposting in a variety of areas.
• FFLAG: FFLAG provides empathy and own experience as parents in helping with the emotions that can arise when a family member comes out as LGBT or you need support coming out yourself. Access to confidential helpline 0300 688 0368 or visit Ìýfor more information.
• The Terence Higgins Trust: HIV and sexual health services, advice services, group/workshops, access to counselling and much more, visit . Freephone: 0800 802 1221
• The Mix Helpline: Essential support for under 25 year olds, telephone: 0808 808 4994 or visit Ìýfor further information.
• Mermaids: speak to a trained member of the Mermaids team 080 88010400 or visit the website Ìýto find out the right information and support for you.
• Mind: LGBTQIA+ mental health, Information about mental health support for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+). Visit for more information.Ìý
• Mindline Trans+ Helpline: a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline and signposting service for people who identify as Trans, A Gender, Gender Fluid and Non-binary. Call 0300 330 5468 or 01823 276892 for Mindline.Ìý
• Gendered Intelligence: a registered charity that exists to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve trans people's quality of life. It also runs a peer-led support group in London for people aged 18 to 30, visit Ìýfor more information.Ìý
• : visit to find a list of services and support for children and young people from the LGBTQI+ community.
• IMAAN: The UK's leading LGBTQ Muslim charity, to find out more, including information for parents, visit Ìý

Find out information on a variety of faith groups and resources below:

• Diverse Church: is a supportive community of over 600 LGBT+ Christians in the UK and Ireland, visitÌý Ìýfor information.
• Hidayah: provides support for LGBTQI+ Muslims. Visit Ìýfor information.
• Muslim network: visit Ìýfor more information of Instagram: @muslimlgbtnetwork
• House of Rainbow (HOR): fosters relationships among Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals, people of faith and allies, visit Ìýfor more information.
• Humanists UK: promotes humanism as a rational, naturalistic worldview and encourages a moral and ethical life based on logic, reason and compassion, visit Ìýfor more information.
• Imaan: is a national LGBTQ+ Muslim charity, visit Ìýto find out more.
• KeshetUK: is a national LGBTQ+ Jewish charity, visit Ìýto find out more.
• Open Table Network: is a growing partnership of Christian worship communities which welcome LGBTQIA people, our families, friends, and all our allies, visit Ìýfor more information.
• Queer Spirit London: is a Radical Faerie group running events on LGBT+ spirituality, visitÌý
• Quest: exists to provide pastoral support to lesbian, gay, bi and transgender Catholics, visitÌý Ìýfor more information.
• Sarbat: is a London-based international organisation for LGBT Sikhs, visit Ìýfor more information.

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