Further LGBT heritage research
Support U is awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research prosecutions of Same-Sex Desire in Victorian England
October 2019
January 2019
Family Network Relaunch
The Family Network - a group established for Parents of LGBT+ Kids Group is founded and meets monthly
Gay 2 Grey Launch
Gay 2 Grey is a monthly meet up for gay people over the age of 50+
31 December 2018
September 2018
NHS and LGBT+
"Health Watch Reading" Report comes out in partnership with Support U. Advising the NHS on LGBT+ experiences within the NHS.
Business Partnership with Zendesk
Business Partnership with Zendesk giving us the ability to integrate our services all in 1 place and establish a live chat feature for clients
August 2018
July 2018
Living the Wolfenden Legacy
Living the Wolfenden Legacy is completed by the Heritage team and is available as an educational resource for schools..."the Wolfenden Report"
Counselling Supervisor
Talking Therapies (NHS) sponsored a Lead Supervisor to join the team who oversees the service and support provided to further develop our free counselling service
February 2018
June 2017
Reading's LGBT History Month
Support U collaborated to help create Reading's LGBT History Month and secure it is an important date in the calendar locally.
Making history...again!
With the success of our first Hidden Voices heritage project, the charity was successful in attaining funding from the Heritage Lottery to discover the links between the University of Reading and "the Wolfenden Report"
June 2017
August 2016
BBC Children in Need Funding
Support U was successful in being awarded funding for 3 years for our LGBT schools programme to provide outreach support
3 more years of Youth Group!
The charity was awarded Big Lottery funding to launch our long-term LGBT youth group. This group still sees many of its original members attend frequently to socialise, and munch biscuits!
July 2016
April 2016
LGBT+ Health
SU sponsored the Reading Vitality Half Marathon to raise awareness of LGBT+ health
Come As You Are!
With the growing needs of clients, the Charity established the CD/TV group for crossdressers to provide a safe space to discuss with others.
March 2016
February 2016
LGBT+ Parents
We launched the LGBT+ Family Network Group aimed at supporting parents of LGBT+ children!
5000 Queries!
So, we received our 5000th query since opening, and the first time to top 3000 queries in a year. The service continues to grow and the needs of our users also. The centre is supported by over 30 dedicated volunteers!
December 2015
September 2015
Onboard for Diversity
For the first time, LGBT+ marketing was displayed on Reading Buses through our exclusive Onboard with Diversity campaign
Youth Group Pilot
We launched a pilot youth group to understand better the needs of young persons in our area for LGBT+ services in association with NCS.
August 2015
July 2015
1st Corporate Partnership
Selected as Sainsbury's charity of the year and raised over £2,500 through collaborative fundraising efforts!
Not bi yourself!
Launched our very first Bisexual support group call Bi:scuit! Offering a safe space to meet and network with other Bisexual people.
May 2015
April 2015
Stonewall accreditation
Became the Stonewall Training partner for school teacher training for the South West region.
#UseLessHate
Launched our #UseLessHate Powerful, strong and hardhitting marketing campaign raising awareness on reporting Hate Crime.
April 2015
September 2014
Moving on up!
Moved in to our new centre at 15 Castle Street with over 3000sq ft of dedicated LGBT+ space. As part of the move, we removed all our paper and become completely electronic data storage - what a task!
The rest is history...
Received Heritage Lottery Funding to deliver our very first history project entitled "Hidden Voices"
June 2014
November 2013
All weekender!
Our first weekend fundraiser raises us over £1,000 to help the service on-going.
Who says? Su Says!
Launch of our first campaign, SU Says, to raise awareness of LGBT+ identities and challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic behaviour.
August 2013
December 2012
1000th Query
After just over 6 months, Support U has responded to over 1000 queries. It quickly becomes apparent that the need for the service far out-weighs our anticipated uptake and so a review of the services we deliver is conducted.
Our first fundraiser
Our very first fundraiser supported by local organisation 3Munkees raises £500 to help us to continue into 2013
November 2012
July 2012
Starting Families
Launch of our Chicken and Egg group, for those looking to start a family.
Trans Group Launch
Reading’s first Trans* group launches in our space at South Street Arts Centre. With only 3-5 people in attendance each week, led by our first Trans Ambassador Didi Brown.
June 2012
June 2012
Open for business
And we are off… the charity opens it doors to the public to begin delivery of basic support signposting for the LGBT+ community. First year target… support 100 people. Little did we know this target would quickly be surpassed!
Unanimous Support
The founders, Lorna and Andrew take the fight for the service to Reading Borough Council. During the full council meeting, they demonstrate the need, desire and ambition for an LGBT+ inclusive environment in the town.
After very little debate, the service receives unanimous support backed with a vote for financial support from all parties.
March 2012
January 2012
And so it begins
Armed with the drive to succeed and a few fancy business plan booklets kindly donated by the local printing company, Lorna and Andrew set out to secure charity status and funding to launch the service. Charity Status is granted in January 2012.
Support U is born!
On this day, in an unusually tidy living room in Lorna’s apartment, Support U was born. Many months had been spent developing business plans, surveys, information gathering and above all passion to deliver help to 100 people a year!
July 2011