Consortium

for stronger lgbt+ communities

Who Are We

We are a national specialist infrastructure and membership organisation. We work to strengthen and support LGBT+ groups, organisations and projects so that they can deliver direct services and campaign for individual rights.
Chris

Chris French

Chair of Trustees
Paul

Paul Roberts OBE

Chief Executive
Here's how we work to build a stronger LGBT+ third sector:

Membership and Engagement

We support our 480+ Members to thrive, so that they can deliver their vital services 

Collaboration and Networks

We connect the sector and lead it in innovative and sustainable ways of working

Voice and Communication

We consult and listen to our Members and make sure their voices are heard and amplified 

Check out our Strategic Plan which outlines our focus until 2020

Membership Values and Principles

We welcome new members all year round and there is an option to renew all memberships on an annual basis. When assessing applications for new membership, or during annual renewal, Consortium considers a range of factors. We welcome members who are positively supportive of the aims and objectives of Consortium. We expect members to share our values of positive and collaborative communication and engagement, as well as our ambition for a flourishing and diverse LGBT+ Third sector.

Download the Membership Values and Principles Document

Where we started...

Little specialist infrastructure exists to support LGBT+ groups and organisations, and existing voluntary sector infrastructure organisations have often failed to acknowledge or provide the right support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans plus projects.

Consortium was set up in 1998 to address these gaps and to nurture the development of an LGB sector. In 2003, the desire for greater diversity from Members saw Consortium expand its brief to include trans voluntary and community organisations. In 2018, in recognition of the ever-increasing diversity of LGBT+ organisations, we included the plus (+) to proactively highlight our support for those LGBT+ organisations serving diverse parts of our sector. 

We currently host the largest network of LGBT+ groups, projects and organisations in the UK.

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans plus voluntary and community organisations have developed in response to poor mainstream services and support. LGBT+ initiatives vary from housing and health to helplines and self-help groups.

Community forums provide a voice for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and trans plus individuals at the local level; and national campaigning groups challenge discrimination within the structures and laws of society.

Although diverse, innovative and passionate, the LGBT+ sector has historically been marginalised, underfunded, and thus isolated and disparate. Many groups operate exclusively through the use of volunteers; and income for the sector remains incredibly low (at 0.06% of national charitable income).

Consortium is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.