LGBTQ+ Support
We want to make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives.
Everyone is welcome in Gateshead, regardless of their age, sex, gender identity, sexuality, disability, ethnicity, religion or background. We work hard to make our area a place where people from all walks of life feel safe, supported and proud of who they are.
Supporting our LGBTQ+ residents and service users
At Gateshead Council we recognise and value a society that consists of many diverse groups and individuals, and consider that this diversity is a strength of the borough.
We aim to ensure that all groups and individuals within our community and our workforce have equal opportunity to benefit from the services and opportunities that we provide. We are committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusion for all in our Corporate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. You can read more about our approach to delivering equality and diversity in our latest Equality and diversity report.
We strive to make all of our services as inclusive as possible. For example:
Housing
Our housing service employees work with residents who share their lived experiences to help us provide the right support. The Equality Diversity and Inclusion Group includes people who identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority groups, who work together to tackle stigma and make sure the services we provide remain fair and accessible for all.
The housing service provides the Gateshead community with practical support as well as advice and guidance on finances and employment. We also support private sector tenants with debt advice, landlord disputes and more.
Public Health and Wellbeing
Our main priority is to support the health and wellbeing of all of our residents, which includes non-judgemental support around:
Gateshead Sexual Health Services (opens new window) also provides free and confidential support, including HIV treatment, testing, PrEP and PEPSE for those at higher risk.
We have a dedicated Community Safety team that works closely with the police and other partners to keep Gateshead a safe place to live and work - for everyone. We take allegations of hate crime very seriously, with our Family Hub sites set up as safe reporting centres.
Our domestic abuse helpline is available 24 hours a day and we understand that partner abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of who their partner is. Everyone who contacts the Domestic Abuse Team will be treated with respect, understanding and patience.
Adult Social Care
Within Gateshead's Adult Social Care (ASC) service, you will find colleagues committed to developing strategies with our residents and service users to build an understanding of their life experience, strengths and aspirations. There is a commitment to understanding the diversity in our local area and how these impact on the life experiences of the people living here, including LGBTQ+ service users.
We would welcome more diversity in our ASC workforce to be able to provide a supportive, inclusive service to older people in Gateshead, recognising that some of our residents with care and support needs will also be LGBTQ+.
Fostering
The Council's Fostering team believe that different backgrounds and life experiences are essential for Gateshead's fostering community to thrive.
Many people within the North East region's LGBTQ+ community still believe it will be difficult to become a foster carer, but that's not the case in Gateshead.
Whether you're single or in a relationship, the Gateshead Council fostering community offers support and training for all levels of experience to support you through your fostering journey.
Foster carers Lesley and Bernadette, who foster with Gateshead, said: "Being part of the LGBTQ+ community means that you already understand the sense of feeling different, which is how these children and young people feel about being in foster care.
"You already have an understanding and just because you are in a same sex relationship does not make any difference to showing love, empathy and understanding. These children need to be given a chance in life and it is up to everyone to help."
Find out more about the training and support on offer, including Equality and Diversity for Foster Carers.
Registration service (marriage and civil partnerships)
Our Registration Service works with Gateshead residents to register the important events that take place during a lifetime, such as births and deaths.
We have the pleasure of conducting ceremonies to celebrate marriages and civil partnerships which are not only a perfect way to declare your love and commitment to each other, but will also help to protect you financially, should anything change. Co-habiting (also known as common-law husband / wife) does not give you the same rights as being married or in a civil partnership.
As marriages and civil partnerships are available to all, a good way to look after each other and give security to your relationship is to get married or to contract a civil partnership.
Naming ceremonies (not just for little ones!) and re-affirmation of vows are also available for those who wish to celebrate other milestones in their lives.
We try to make all that we do inclusive and will guide you through any of the processes to make it as easy as possible for you.
Gateshead ceremonies - celebrate your special day your way!
Supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues
We're proud to be an inclusive employer and understand the importance of having a diverse workforce.
Our Workforce Equality Statement
Gateshead Council is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within our workforce. We respect individuality and embrace a culture which is supportive, where everyone is treated equally and fairly and where our people are empowered to be the best version of themselves and truly respected.
We continue to build an inclusive environment where opportunities are open to all, diversity is valued, and where everybody can reach their full potential without fear of harassment, prejudice, or discrimination. Every person in our organisation has a responsibility for making it a safe and inclusive environment where our people feel welcome and are able and supported to be who they want to be.
We want to help all our employees to not just thrive, but to flourish, prosper and succeed by putting people at the heart of everything we do. We'll recognise great behaviours and challenge poor ones to ensure that we continually build a culture which we're proud of and others want to be like.
We support and engage with our LGBTQ+ colleagues through our active employee equality network and offer all of our workforce a wide range of training opportunities to improve their awareness of LGBTQ+ issues including gender identity awareness, trans awareness and equality and diversity in the workplace.
We are developing our Workforce EDI Strategy to help us improve our support to all our colleagues, whoever they might be.
Come and join our team! Find out more about our current vacancies and view the reasons why you should work for Gateshead Council
OurGateshead
OurGateshead is a directory designed by residents and community groups to help you discover things to do, ways to volunteer and learn about the organisations that support the community across the borough.
Find specific LGBTQ+ information here.