The telefriending service, which Out Together are running with Opening Doors, aims to bring joy, laughter and togetherness to the lives of older LGBTQ+ people across West Yorkshire.

Having a regular chat and a laugh with a friendly voice over the phone can be a real tonic, and it is also a great way to spend time speaking with somebody else who identifies as LGBTQ+.

Referrals are open into the service, and we’re also looking for volunteers. Information can be found at www.friendsofdorothy.org.uk

The LGBTQ+ community have a propensity to find one another. For decades, those ‘in the know’ discerned where to meet, what to say and how to behave to send signals to members of the community, saying I’m here, you are not alone. Today, in a country that has seen positive strides toward greater acceptance, we’re seizing the opportunity to continue this tradition.

There are many older LGBTQ+ people in our region who are isolated, be it due to living outside of urban areas, be they widowed, without children or family networks, or simply lost in a community that doesn’t understand them. Friends of Dorothy are making it our mission to reconnect.

Our community is as varied and diverse as any other, but that which unites us is a desire not to feel alone in a world which has historically forced us to hide. A world which is moving towards greater acceptance, but risks leaving behind those who fought to help make it happen.

For more information, or to refer into the telefriending service, please email outtogether@friendsofdorothy.org.uk