In the second instalment of our ‘Pride Profiles’ series, we’re highlighting Opening Doors London, a lovely charity that supports older LGBT+ people.
With Pride in London 2019 well under way, it’s important to remember that Pride isn’t just a young man’s/woman’s/non-binary person’s game. Those who marched in the inaugural 1972 UK Gay Pride Rally, or stood in defiance of the raid on the Stonewall Inn, are well into their golden years now, and aren’t always given the same support and recognition afforded to younger members of the LGBT+ community. Aiming to change that is a wonderful London-based charity named Opening Doors London, who we’re putting in the spotlight today.
See also: The famed London bookshop at the heart of the LGBT+ rights movement.
London-based, but offering guidance to anyone in the UK, Opening Doors London is dedicated solely to LGBT+ people over the age of 50, and is completely free to get involved with. By hosting social events across the capital, the charity gives older people – including those who may not often get the chance to leave the house – a chance to meet and have fun with like-minded individuals.
Film nights, community gardening, creative writing workshops, and Sunday lunch clubs (which I totally think should be more of A Thing, just FYI), are just some of the events Opening Doors London run. They’re also hosting a Summer Masquerade Party that looks like an absolute hoot! Aiming to include every part of the LGBTQIAP+ community, more specific events include a Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic social group, breakfast events for those who identify as women, and an excellent social group named ‘Bi The Way’.
Of course, Opening Doors London is a two-for-the-price-of-one charity, as they also provide services for the inevitability of ageing. With a large swathe of their audience reaching pension age, they also run support groups such as the Rainbow Memory Cafe, which provides aid to those suffering from dementia and their loved ones. Even when they’re not directly working with LGBT+ people, they’re still helping; for instance, running training sessions for care homes, hospitals, and housing associations to better help them understand the needs of their community.
But perhaps the loveliest, most vital service Opening Doors London offer is their befriending service. With many elderly people feeling increasingly isolated in retirement, and oftentimes less able to leave the house, this crucial service matches older people with volunteers, who pay visits to their buddy – whether it’s to take them out to an exhibition, or simply for a cup of tea and a chat.
You really can’t overstate the importance of a service like this, especially for those who may have been fearful of revealing their sexuality to friends and families. It can be a lonely world for LGBT+ people, as it can for the elderly – so a charity who can aid both groups is a vital one indeed.
You can find out more about Opening Doors London from their website, and there are options to donate money or volunteer to help too.