Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), who took over the management of the BeYou LGBTQIA+ service in 2015, are bringing BeYou back to the town where it all began.
BeYou in Reading will offer a range of LGBTQ+ services including inclusive one to one and group peer support, regular group social sessions in a safe space and counselling. They will also provide practical and emotional support, helping people to build confidence, reduce isolation, and address challenges around finances, housing, work and overall wellbeing.
BeYou Service Manager, Zoe Coates, said “Our aim is simple, to create a safe space where people feel seen, supported, and able to be themselves without fear of stigma. BeYou is about connection, confidence, and knowing you’re not alone.”
BeYou has a long and proud history in Reading. It began life in 1979 as the Reading Gay Switchboard, offering confidential listening and information at a time when support was scarce and stigma was high. Through the 1980s and 1990s, including the AIDS crisis and Section 28, the service continued to challenge misinformation, reduce isolation, and support the local LGBTQ+ community. Over time, the service evolved into BeYou, reflecting a more inclusive and identity-led approach.
TVPS took over the management of BeYou in 2015, continuing to run the service in Reading until the Covid pandemic. During the pandemic, many new LGBTQ+ groups emerged in Reading, while BeYou expanded to Slough, an area with no existing LGBTQ+ support, where the service has since thrived. As Reading now faces the loss of several key services, TVPS is proud to be bringing beYOU back home.
Sarah Macadam TVPS CEO said, “Bringing BeYou back to Reading feels incredibly special. This is where the service began over 40 years ago, and returning now means we can build on that history while responding to the very real needs the LGBTQIA+ community are facing today.”
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from LGBTQIA+ support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Further information
- Visit www.tvps.org.uk/beyou
- Follow @beyoulgbtqia on social media.
- You can also call 07727 289712 or email beyou@tvps.org.uk