Visit the Cara-Friend website for full information about us! 

Cara-Friend was established in 1974 as a voluntary counselling, befriending, information, and social space organisation for the LGBT community. Since then, we have established as one of the most encompassing organisations in Northern Ireland, encompassing LGBT men, women, and also the youth. We participate in as many community activities as we can possibly have time for, as well as lobbying on behalf of the LGBT community with government and other organisations, both as ourselves, and also as a member of the CoSO (Coalition on Sexual Orientation) organisation.

In a more personal way, Cara-Friend provides information on the social facilities available in Northern Ireland and is able to help people integrate into the gay community, if they so wish. We realise that there is a wide assortment of people out there, we don't brand you as one thing or another. There are many reasons why someone might contact us, but whatever the reason, our volunteers are trained to be receptive and understanding and will offer friendship and support to anyone concerned about sexuality, including parents of gay and lesbian children. We offer social support in helping people come to terms with their sexuality - including information on health issues, coming out, the gay community and scene, what you can do to help if you are interested. An additional part of our work is to educate and inform the public, and we are pleased to provide speakers at meetings of other organisations.

If you think we can help you, your family, your organisation, or anything else, we welcome you to contact us!

All of the services we provide are completely confidential.

We consist of 3 subsidiary groups, known as Gay Helpline, Lesbian Line, and GLYNI. We are also involved in two projects, Family Ties Project and What's In Your Closet?. These organisations and projects cater for the different demographics within the community; men, women, young people, parents, and those coming out.

If you think you would be interested in arranging a befriending, simply contact us through one of the three websites, and talk with one of our volunteers. They will be happy to provide you with more information and to talk to you about what to do from here.

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WELCOME!

If you feel you have some time on your hands, and you would like to do something constructive and rewarding, why not become a Cara-Friend Volunteer? We are currently looking for helpline volunteers, administration volunteers, and fund-raising volunteers.

If you’d like to offer your time as a volunteer within any part of Cara-Friend, please ring Steve on 02890 278636, or email steve@cara-friend.org.uk

Visit the Family Ties website for full information about the project!

Welcome to the Family Ties Project, a joint undertaking by Cara-Friend and The Rainbow Project.

The aim of the Family Ties Project is to provide practical advice, guidance and support to parents who are perhaps coming to terms with a child who has revealed themselves to be LGB, or for parents who perhaps suspect themselves that their child is LGB and do not know what to do.

Research carried out for the shOUT Report (published by YouthNet) has shown that 77% of the young gay, lesbian or bisexual people interviewed realised their own sexual orientation before the age of 17. Sadly the research also showed that 63% of the young people did not feel they could tell their parents when they first came out, and 29% had attempted suicide.

This is a shocking and alarming statistic! To face up to the fact that almost a third of young lesbian, gay or bisexual people have attempted suicide truely is a wake up call.

What is family?

Who do you think of as your family? Is it only your relatives? Most people have a lot of friends and colleagues, and would consider these as important to them as their immediate relatives!

Family is important! We all need our families, large and small. We rely on each other, care for each other, love one another. Family is precious to everyone, even to LGB people. Unfortunately, many LGB people feel that they cannot share an important part of their identity with their families.

Clearly, the feeling that your child, friend, relative or colleague is not who you thought is distressing, for all concerned. No-one can be fully prepared for such an event, however, the aim of the Family Ties Project is to try to prepare parents, children, relatives, friends, colleagues and just about anyone for what might happen, or to help you come to terms with it if it already has.

The Family Ties Project has produced a variety of literature, available on the website in both PDF and Microsoft Word format. The link is at the top of every page on the website. Inside, you will find a thought-provoking document, discussing the issues of family, particularly of parents, when someone tells you they are LGB. Personal testimony from the families of LGB people is included.

Visit the Gay Helpline website for full information about us! 

Gay Helpline operates each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:30pm - 10:00pm on (028) 9032 2023, or you can email us on helpline@gayhelplinebelfast.org.uk and one of our trained volunteers will respond as soon as possible.

Gay Helpline is as the name suggests - a helpline for gay people! Have you ever had something you need to talk about, perhaps something you need to get off your chest? Maybe you need advice relating to your sexuality, feel isolated, or maybe just want to know that there ARE other gay and bisexual men in the world. Perhaps you are a parent, and you have a gay son, and would like some advice.
We can help you! We are a listening ear service, and can allow you to air your worries and ask for information. We provide information on a wide range of issues, from health information so that you stay safe, to legal information on your rights as an LGBT person, or even just a simple request for information on the gay clubs, bars, social and support groups in your area.We can also provide a befriending service if you have no gay contacts. However, you do not have to ring for a specific reason  - very often we receive calls from gay or bisexual men who are socially isolated for various reasons, and simply want to talk with another gay man.
Our volunteers are trained to be receptive and understanding and will offer friendship and support to anyone concerned about sexuality, including parents of gay and lesbian children.

Visit the GLYNI website for full information about us!

Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland, or as we are more casually known, GLYNI, is a relaxed youth setting, specifically for the LGBT community. We are a group that caters for 14-25 year olds, the youth arm of the Cara-Friend network.

GLYNI was set up in Belfast in 1999 after an increased number of calls to Cara-Friend's Lesbian and Gay Helplines. The project was funded by Comic Relief, which paid for a worker to get the group up and running. This funding only lasted three years, during which time the members set up a hugely popular website. During the three years, a small volunteering team was established to fulfill the aim of a peer-led ethos, and this still remains through to the present day. We provide services to LGBT youth across the North, and enjoy good working relationships with many community, voluntary and statutory agencies.

We can be emailed using our contact page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

Our ethos

We believe that every LGBT young person has a right to exist, but more importantly, has a right, legal and otherwise, to enjoy full citizenship without fear, prejudice, discrimination and bigotry. To this end, GLYNI will endeavour to support you, your families and friends, to advocate on your behalf by highlighting your needs and interests, and involving YOU in decisions and policy-making that affects your life where your sexual identity is used as a barrier against you. Every young person who has come through our doors has been in a similar situation to you, and some still are. We will do what we can to help you, even if you simply want a friendly face.

What we do

GLYNI runs on Monday from 7:30pm - 9:30pm (doors open from 6pm) and Friday nights from 5:30pm - 7:30pm (14-16 year olds inclusive) and 7.30pm - 9.30pm (for 16 and over), and involves self-development sessions, arts and crafts, Pride workshops, residentials, guest speakers and other various events. It's for young people who identify as non-heterosexual, eg lesbian, gay, bisexual. We also provide befriending and e-mail support service to young people aged 25 years and under throughout Northern Ireland.

Our usual routine would be that Monday nights are devoted to 'session work', which generally takes the form of some sort of structured activity, discussion, planning or training. In the past, we have used these nights for things such as training and education on 'Drugs and Alcohol Awareness', the development of our 'What's in your Closet?' coming out resource, and organisation and planning of GLYNI itself. There is always something happening on these nights!

Our Friday nights are known as our 'drop-in' nights, and these nights are usually more casual, with activities such as computer or board games, arts and crafts, outings to cinema, swimming, or simply just relaxing and having social chat with a cup of tea, coffee or juice for a few hours. We encourage our members to help with the organisation of these nights, so if you have an idea or something you want to do, this is the perfect chance to do it! Recently, we held a 'GLYNI Gameshow' night, with teams, a quiz, minigames, and prizes! Nothing is impossible at our drop-in!

Besides our normal activities, GLYNI offers email support and befriending to anyone who requires it. We also get involved in the community where we can, linking with other groups and raising awareness, or fighting on behalf of the community for rights and equality. We have trips and residentials, both educational and fun. Recently, we organised and hosted the first, annual heyNIgh! residential weekend, where LGBT groups from all over Ireland joined us for a weekend in Enniskillen for lots of fun activities, games, discussion, and just making a whole bunch of new friends!

With GLYNI, there really isn't much we can't do!

GLYNI exists to provide information and support to any and all young people who are questioning their sexuality. If you feel attracted to other boys or girls, or both, and aren't sure what to do, have no-one to talk to and just need a listening ear, then we are here to help you. Please email help@glyni.org.uk  and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are interested in joining us, please email befriending@glyni.org.uk or call Steve at Cara-Friend on 028 90278636. We will arrange to meet up with you, have a chat, find out a little about you and help ease any concerns you have about coming to the group for the first time. We understand it is a nerve-wracking first step, especially for those who aren't out to anyone. We would like to make it as easy as possible for you. And when you get here, one of our expert tea/coffee makers will make a cuppa especially for you... just because it's you!

Visit the Lesbian Line website for full information about us!

Lesbian Line operates each Thursday from 7:30pm - 10:00pm on (028) 9023 8668, or you can email your query to helpline@lesbianlinebelfast.org.uk and one of our trained volunteers will respond as soon as possible.

We aim to provide support, promote equality and improve the status and dignity of Lesbian & Bisexual women in all walks of life. We do this through the provision of a confidential Helpline and Befriending service, and through various events. 

Sunday Scene - an opportunity to meet others in a relaxed social women only context. 3rd Sunday of each month 3 - 6 pm. 

Counselling Service - Relationship difficulties? Bereavement? Addiction? Family problems? Coming out? Counselling may help.
Call in confidence on 0779 4965 275 or email counselling@lesbianlinebelfast.org.uk

Visit the What's In Your Closet? website for full information about the project!

'What's In Your Closet?' was a project borne from GLYNI, our youth group. It's purpose is to offer advice to anyone who is considering coming out, in particular young people. Besides this, it offers advice to parents and families, and also teachers and youth workers, who have had a young person come out to them recently, or who they are supporting through the process.

The project was designed and created by the young people of GLYNI; they drew on their experiences, concerns, fears, likes, dislikes, all the things that they know from going through the process themselves. They have contributed in the form of interviews, advice, commentary, direction, and support, all of which make the resource pack not only relevant, but extremely beneficial to all of its target audience.

The resource pack hosts video interviews, audio commentaries, first hand 'coming out experiences' from our members in both audio and written form, advice documents and leaflets for parents, family, teachers and youth workers. It really is a comprehensive, helpful document.

We offer the full resource pack on the website, and also offer to send a DVD hard-copy to anyone who wants a copy. So far, demand for the DVD is outstripping supply! We have a continual stream of requests from all sorts of people for the pack, showing its sucess at reaching those who need it.

Please take a look at the website, enjoy the resource. Remember, we will reply to any email or call, and if you need further information or support, contact us thorugh any of our websites, and we will offer any assistance we can.