Age UK Camden

Opening Doors in Central London

"These days, young gay people are encouraged to be open about their sexuality. Older ones, particularly those who don’t have a partner, can find it difficult to share in the new freedom. They are no longer criminalised, but this doesn’t mean that they are free from discrimination in public places. Some are understandably still fearful of verbal and physical abuse. This is what makes Opening Doors older LGBT project so vital for those it reaches. It’s an initiative which needs to be spread across London, and then the rest of the country, wherever older gay people feel isolated”                       

 Sir Ian McKellan, January 2010

Did you know that LGBT older people are twice as likely to live alone as their straight peers and are 3 times more likely to have suffered mental health problems? Feelings of isolation and discrimination are commonly felt by older LGBT people, particularly those receiving care, be it residential or in the community. Care providers rarely acknowledge the existence of non heterosexual service users and most do not train their staff appropriately to deal with these issues. This is where Opening Doors is trying to fill the void in support for LGBT people in the community.

Opening Doors not only provides an opportunity for isolated older LGBT members to attend social groups it also provides a range of support services and events encompassing all aspects of life from counselling and home visits, to community safety and a dedicated newsletter; all of these form an important lifeline which Opening Doors users have come to rely on. Our aim is to expand the services offered to the users and also the geographical area in which these services are available.   

To donate to the Opening Doors Central London project (part of Age Concern Camden), please click on the button below. Any money donated here will be allocated to Opening Doors Central London.