Out North East event 2025

On the Road to Gilead and back to Section 28? Why we need #SaferToBeMe

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 15:21:08 GMT

From the Road to Gilead and back to Section 28? Why we need #SaferToBeMe

The North East has always been a region with a strong sense of community, solidarity and identity. However, in recent months, we have also seen growing political and public debate and vision around LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion, and our place within public life.

Earlier this year, before we began our Summer of Pride programme of celebrations and activities, decisions were taken locally to restrict the flying of Pride flags and withdraw council funding from Pride activities. While views on such decisions will inevitably differ, for many LGBTQ+ people they raised wider concerns about visibility, belonging, and whether our communities continue to feel represented within the places we call home.

These debates have also been reflected on social media and within wider political discussion. LGBTQ+ people and organisations are increasingly finding themselves at the centre of conversations about community values, education, literature, and public spaces. Proposals have included calls to restrict LGBTQ+ materials within libraries, despite little evidence of local concern about their availability.

Political disagreement is part of a healthy democracy. However, it is important that these discussions do not result in LGBTQ+ people being presented as separate from the communities in which we live. LGBTQ+ people are neighbours, colleagues, family members, volunteers, business owners, students, and community leaders. We are part of the North East, and our region is strongest when people from different backgrounds are able to participate fully in its civic and community life.

This was particularly evident over the weekend, when OUT North East partnered with Amnesty Feminist to bring the award-winning podcast The Guilty Feminist to Newcastle alongside the Road to Gilead Open Space event. Both events were held at Live Theatre and demonstrated something that can sometimes be overlooked, that the North East has an active, passionate, and diverse community that is committed to positive social change.

Both events were close to capacity or sold out. They brought together people from different backgrounds and communities to discuss the challenges facing our region and, importantly, what we can do collectively to respond to them. Some attended as representatives of organisations, while others came simply as individuals wanting to listen, contribute, and connect.

For OUT North East, this was an important reminder that community is not simply an abstract idea. Community is created when people come together, share experiences, listen to one another, and consider how we can make our region more welcoming and inclusive.

The Road to Gilead Open Space particularly demonstrated the breadth of knowledge, experience, and commitment that exists across the North East. Our region is home to charities, voluntary organisations, activists, community groups, businesses and individuals who are working every day to support others and create positive change. While there are undoubtedly challenges ahead, there is also a significant network of people prepared to meet them.

That spirit is something we hope to continue through #SaferToBeMe2026. With this in mind, OUT North East is partnering with ReportOUT to bring back the #SaferToBeMe2026 conference to the region, and to hold it at the ONE Centre. At a time when many LGBTQ+ people, particularly LGBTQ+ younger people, may feel uncertain about the social and political conversations taking place around them, we believe that creating opportunities for meaningful discussion is increasingly important. With a theme of younger LGBTQ+ people amid uncertain times, this day-long conference is needed more than ever.

The conference will bring together both younger LGBTQ+ people with those who remember and who experienced the challenges of previous decades, including the period of Section 28. Alongside them will be organisations, businesses, community leaders, allies, and others committed to creating a safer and more inclusive future.

This is not simply about looking backwards. Understanding previous generations' experiences can help us think more carefully about our present and the future. #SaferToBeMe2026 will create space for conversations that cannot always be captured through a news headline or social media post, which includes conversations about belonging, resilience, community, safety, and what practical action can be taken to support younger LGBTQ+ people.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the weekend at Live Theatre was seeing how many people were willing to give their time, ideas, and energy to those conversations. It demonstrated that, even during uncertain times, there remains a strong appetite across the North East to bring people together rather than allow differences to push communities further apart.

We hope to recreate some of that spirit at the ONE Centre for #SaferToBeMe2026. If somebody leaves the conference feeling more connected, better informed, more confident in supporting LGBTQ+ young people, or simply reassured that there is a community around them, then that is what matters.

The North East faces challenges, but it also has considerable strengths. Our communities, organisations, and people, are among them. By continuing to create spaces where people can meet, learn from one another, and work together, we can help ensure that LGBTQ+ people remain a visible, valued and integral part of the region we are all proud to call home.

To book your place or find out more about #SaferToBeMe2026, including our programme of speakers, discussions and activities, please follow the link below.

https://www.reportout.org/safertobeme2026

By Ethan Henderson

Digital Outreach Officer

Who Gets Our Vote? Exploring LGBTQ+ Voting Behaviours in the North East

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:05:21 GMT

Who Gets Our Vote? Exploring LGBTQ+ Voting Behaviours in the North East

How do LGBTQ+ people decide who gets their vote? It is a question that becomes increasingly important as political debates around LGBTQ+ lives, equality and rights continue to develop across the UK. OUT North East is beginning a new research project exploring LGBTQ+ voting behaviours, political participation and attitudes towards politics, with a particular focus on the experiences and voices of LGBTQ+ people in the North East.

The project is not about supporting or opposing any political party or encouraging people to vote in a particular way. Instead, we want to understand how LGBTQ+ people engage with politics, what influences their decisions at the ballot box, whether they feel represented by the political system and how their voting behaviours may be changing.

LGBTQ+ people are not one voting bloc:

There can sometimes be an assumption that LGBTQ+ people share broadly similar political views, but the reality is much more complicated. Our communities include people of different ages, social classes, religions, genders and sexual orientations, as well as people living in cities, towns, villages and rural communities. LGBTQ+ people have different occupations, incomes, families, experiences and priorities, and our political opinions can therefore be just as diverse.

Our research starts from a simple principle: we should not assume how LGBTQ+ people vote; we should ask them. We want the project to provide space for a wide range of political opinions and experiences, including perspectives that may challenge assumptions about LGBTQ+ communities and politics.

What do we want to understand?

The project will explore much more than simply which political parties people support, looking instead at people's wider relationships with politics and political participation. We want to know whether LGBTQ+ people consider themselves political, whether they feel comfortable discussing how they vote with friends, family or other LGBTQ+ people, whether their political views have changed over time and whether they have ever decided not to vote at all.

We will also explore voting behaviour across different types of elections, including general elections, local elections and mayoral elections, as people's choices may differ depending on the election taking place. Importantly, we want to understand not only how people vote, but why they make those choices and what issues ultimately influence their decisions.

For some people, LGBTQ+ rights may be an important consideration when deciding how to vote. For others, issues such as the cost of living, housing, employment, immigration, the NHS, public services, education, crime, taxation or the environment may be more influential. People may also balance several competing priorities when making their decision, and understanding this complexity will be central to our research.

When politics becomes personal:

Political debate can have a very direct relationship with people's everyday lives, particularly when questions about LGBTQ+ equality, transgender rights, education, hate crime, healthcare and discrimination become subjects of national and local political debate. We want to understand how LGBTQ+ people experience these debates and whether they believe politicians and political institutions understand the issues affecting their lives and communities.

The research will explore whether LGBTQ+ people feel listened to by politicians, whether they feel represented by political parties and how important LGBTQ+ issues are when they decide how to vote. At the same time, we recognise that someone's political priorities are rarely determined by a single part of their identity, so we want participants to tell us what actually matters to them rather than beginning with assumptions about what should matter.

We are also interested in what happens when someone's political beliefs differ from those of their LGBTQ+ friends, family members or wider community. LGBTQ+ communities are politically diverse, and we want to understand whether people feel comfortable being open about their voting behaviours and political beliefs, or whether there are views they feel unable to discuss openly.

Understanding changing voting behaviours:

Voting behaviour is not necessarily fixed, and people's political choices can change considerably throughout their lives. Someone might vote for one political party in a general election and another in a local or mayoral election, while someone who supported one party for many years might decide to change their vote, vote tactically, support an independent candidate or abstain altogether.

Our research will therefore explore people's previous voting behaviours alongside their current voting intentions, with a particular interest in understanding why changes take place. Rather than making assumptions about why someone has changed their vote, we want LGBTQ+ people themselves to explain the experiences, events, policies and priorities that have influenced their decisions.

How will the research work?

The first stage of the project will involve a survey exploring LGBTQ+ people's experiences of politics, elections and voting. Alongside questions about voting and political participation, we will collect demographic information so that we can explore whether experiences and behaviours differ across age groups, genders, sexual orientations, religions and social backgrounds.

People completing the survey will also have the opportunity to express an interest in taking part in a more detailed interview. These interviews will allow us to go beyond the statistics and explore some of the stories, experiences and motivations behind people's political choices in greater depth.

We also plan to invite people to contribute short video responses or 'vox pops', providing another way for LGBTQ+ people to tell us what matters to them politically and why. Participation in the research will be voluntary, and our focus will always be on understanding people's experiences rather than judging their political choices.

Turning research into evidence:

Once the research is complete, OUT North East will analyse the findings and produce an accessible research report examining LGBTQ+ voting behaviours, political attitudes and political participation. We want this research to provide useful evidence about a part of LGBTQ+ life that is often discussed but not always properly understood.

We intend for the findings to be useful beyond our own organisation and will seek to share the research with relevant decision-makers and organisations, including MPs, local authorities, elected mayors, Police and Crime Commissioners, researchers and organisations working with LGBTQ+ communities. By doing this, we hope to provide decision-makers with stronger evidence about the political priorities, concerns and experiences of LGBTQ+ people.

We also want to develop a methodology that can be repeated in the future, allowing us to examine whether LGBTQ+ political attitudes and voting behaviours change over time. There is also potential for the approach to be replicated elsewhere, providing opportunities to compare experiences in the North East with LGBTQ+ communities in other parts of the country.

We want to hear from our communities:

For this research to be meaningful, we need to hear from people with a wide range of political perspectives. That includes people who vote regularly, people who occasionally vote and people who never vote, as well as those who strongly support a political party and those who feel that none of the available political choices represent them.

We equally want to hear from people whose LGBTQ+ identity strongly influences their political choices and those who do not consider it particularly important when deciding how to vote. There are no 'correct' political opinions that we are looking for, and hearing different, competing and sometimes conflicting perspectives will make the research stronger.

Ultimately, this project asks a bigger question than simply "Who do LGBTQ+ people vote for?" We want to understand why we vote the way we do, what influences our decisions, whether we feel politically represented, and what changing voting behaviours can tell us about LGBTQ+ life in the North East today.

Over the coming months, OUT North East will be sharing more information about the research and how LGBTQ+ people can take part. Whatever your politics and whatever your relationship with voting, we want to hear your perspective.

Mapping Our Queer Past: The Pink Triangle Project

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:21:30 GMT

Mapping Our Queer Past: The Pink Triangle Project

Newcastle has a rich LGBTQ+ history, but much of it lives not in official records or museum collections, but in people’s memories.

Memories of first nights out. Meeting a partner for the first time. Dancing until closing time. Finding somewhere you could finally be yourself. Protests, friendships, chosen families and community organising. There are also memories of discrimination, police attitudes, changing laws, the HIV and AIDS crisis, violence, lost friends and the struggle to create spaces where LGBTQ+ people could feel safe.

OUT North East, working closely with Curious Arts, is launching a new research project to capture and preserve these stories through our Pink Triangle LGBTQ+ History Project.

What was Newcastle’s Pink Triangle?

For generations of LGBTQ+ people across the North East, Newcastle’s Pink Triangle became an important centre of queer social and community life.

Centred around the area close to Times Square, Scotswood Road and the surrounding streets, its bars, pubs, clubs and community spaces became places where LGBTQ+ people could meet, socialise and find community. But the Pink Triangle was never simply a collection of bars.

These spaces existed within a much bigger story of LGBTQ+ life in Newcastle and the wider North East. They witnessed enormous social and political change: from a time when sex between men was criminalised, through gay liberation and changing attitudes towards sexuality, the HIV and AIDS crisis, Section 28, campaigns for equality and the eventual introduction of same-sex marriage.

The venues changed too. Some disappeared, others changed names, and new spaces emerged. Today, walking through Newcastle, it can be difficult to know that some seemingly ordinary buildings and streets were once hugely important places in the lives of LGBTQ+ people. We want to make those histories visible again.

Recording the memories behind the buildings:

At the heart of the project will be the voices of LGBTQ+ people themselves. OUT North East will be speaking to people who remember Newcastle's LGBTQ+ venues and communities from the 1960s onwards, including the Pink Triangle and the queer spaces that existed before, alongside and around it. We want to hear the personal stories that traditional histories can sometimes overlook.

What was your first LGBTQ+ night out like? Where did you go? Where did you meet friends or partners? Which venues made you feel that you belonged? Which places disappeared? What happened there that you still remember decades later?

We are equally interested in the more difficult parts of this history. LGBTQ+ spaces developed against a backdrop of criminalisation, discrimination, hostility and rapidly changing attitudes towards sexuality and gender.

By bringing these individual memories together, we hope to create a much richer picture of how LGBTQ+ life in Newcastle has changed across generations.

Creating Newcastle's LGBTQ+ Pink Triangle walking tour:

One of the major outcomes of the research will be a new LGBTQ+ Pink Triangle walking tour and map of Newcastle. The walking route will take people through significant locations connected to the city's LGBTQ+ history, revealing the stories behind buildings, streets, bars, clubs and community spaces.

Rather than simply telling people that a venue once stood somewhere, we want the tour to introduce the people who actually experienced these places.

A location on the map might therefore lead to a story about meeting a first love, discovering an LGBTQ+ community for the first time, working behind the bar, performing in a venue, organising for LGBTQ+ rights, experiencing discrimination or simply having an unforgettable night out. Where possible, photographs, flyers, posters and other materials will help us reconstruct these histories.

We also hope to develop Pink Plaques with QR codes at key locations, allowing people to discover the stories connected to those places while walking through the city.

More than a map:

The walking tour is only one part of the project. We plan to use the research to create a series of short podcasts exploring different memories and themes from Newcastle's LGBTQ+ past. Individual episodes could focus on particular venues, experiences or moments, allowing people to hear the history directly from those who lived it.

We also want the material collected through the project to contribute to reports, exhibitions, archives, museums and future LGBTQ+ history projects.

Our longer-term ambition is to make sure these memories are preserved rather than disappearing as venues close, neighbourhoods change and generations grow older. This is community history created with the community, rather than simply written about it.

Do you remember the Pink Triangle? We now want to hear from you:

If you visited LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, pubs or community spaces in Newcastle from the 1960s onwards, we would love to hear your memories.

You do not need to consider yourself an LGBTQ+ historian. You do not need to remember exact dates. Your personal experiences are the history we are trying to preserve.

You might have photographs, flyers, membership cards, tickets or other objects connected to Newcastle's LGBTQ+ past. These can help us piece together a history that was not always formally documented.

Most importantly, you may have a story. Perhaps you met your first boyfriend or girlfriend in one of Newcastle's gay bars. Perhaps the Pink Triangle was where you first felt comfortable being openly LGBTQ+. Maybe you worked or performed there. Maybe you remember a venue that has almost disappeared from collective memory. Those stories matter.

Over the coming months, OUT North East will be inviting people to take part in interviews and contribute their memories and materials to the project.

Together, we can create a living map of Newcastle's LGBTQ+ past and ensure that the people, places and stories that built our community are remembered by the generations that come next.

Our buildings may disappear. Our venues may close. But our stories do not have to be lost.

Want to get involved? Email us at contactus@outnortheast.org.uk and one of our team will be in touch.

Goodby to our digital interns!

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:23:42 GMT

William joined us from Newcastle University for a six month digital marketing internship in the OUT North East ONE Centre's Communications Team.

“I decided to join the ONE Centre because I have a strong passion for digital

marketing, having gained extensive theoretical knowledge throughout my degree

alongside valuable practical experience through previous internships and

consultancy projects. I wanted to put this knowledge into practice by helping

small businesses and charities strengthen their digital outreach and flourish

online. I was therefore thrilled to have the opportunity to work with an

organisation like Out North East, which champions LGBTQ+ rights, a cause I am

deeply passionate about, while also giving me the opportunity to help build the

ONE Centre’s digital presence from the ground up!”

Q) What was your experience as one of the first interns at the ONE Centre?

“I have really enjoyed my time at Out North East. The team have been extremely

welcoming and supportive, while also giving me the flexibility and creative

freedom needed to complete my digital outreach work effectively. Working

alongside my co-intern, Mehek, I have created email newsletters, social media

templates and video content to promote the charity’s groups and activities, I

also briefly worked for Pride Radio where I set up a content strategy before it was

being handed over to someone else. We have also analysed social media

metrics to identify what is working well and where there are opportunities for

improvement. In addition, I have helped develop a 12-month social media

strategy that future social media officers can build upon, allowing the charity to

continue strengthening and expanding its online presence.”

Q) Was there a particular moment that stood out for you?

“One of the biggest highlights of my time at Out North East has been the

opportunity to come up with creative ideas to help increase the visibility and

engagement of different community groups. I have particularly enjoyed attending

groups, interviewing members and group leaders, and using my video editing

skills to create engaging and professional content that showcases the work they

do. It is also incredibly rewarding to see the impact of this content on social

media. For example, one of my volunteer recruitment posts received thousands

of impressions and over 60 likes, which helped significantly increase the number

of volunteer applications. Seeing a tangible impact from the content I create has

been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.”

Q) What’s it like being part of the team at the ONE Centre?

“I have also really appreciated the welcoming, casual atmosphere within the office. It has made the working environment feels much less intimidating while also helping me develop my interpersonal and social skills. Working alongside people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences has allowed me to meet and

interact with people I may not otherwise have had the opportunity to engage with.”

Drew Dalton, Outreach and Volunteer Manager stated “ I’m going to miss William and Mehek. They’ve been invaluable these past 6 months, showcasing our social clubs in the centre and the many events we hosted during the Summer of Pride festivities. They’re always welcome back!”

Road to Gilead hits Newcastle

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:31:48 GMT

Road to Gilead hits Newcastle

Are you worried about the rise of the far right? Do you want to form a joyful resistance and create a better existence?

OUT North East is excited to be partnering with The Guilty Feminist, Amnesty Feminists and Live Theatre. Bringing the Road to Gilead Open Space to Newcastle, providing the region that often has been overlooked when it comes to voices regarding politics the opportunity to be heard, with many local people being worried about the changes happening around them and wanting positive change.

Named after the dystopian future of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’,The Road to Gilead focuses on countering extremist ideology through community driven action. Organised by The Guilty Feminist Podcast will be coming to Live Theatre, Newcastle on the 5th September, 2026. The Open Space day provides people who share a common goal to come together, and ask the questions that come to mind when they think of tackling the far right. Struggling to know where to begin? You might find the person who shares your passion here.

What will it cost?

This is a non-profit day. The £15 covers LUNCH & RUNNING COSTS. If you can afford to pay more towards places for those who would struggle to afford a ticket, please do! They will appreciate it. If you can’t afford the fee, sign up for a FREE PLACE and we will make it happen. Any shortfall in expenses will be covered by The Guilty Feminist Podcast but we hope to break even.

Meet your host- Deborah Frances-White

Deborah Frances-White is an award-winning writer and comedian, best known for her hit podcast THE GUILTY FEMINIST. Her book, THE GUILTY FEMINIST (Virago Press) was a Sunday Times Best Seller. Her brand new book SIX CONVERSATIONS WE’RE SCARED TO HAVE was described by Gillian Anderson as “an essential guide in today's polarized society.” Deborah is the screenwriter for BAD FAIRIES starring Cynthia Erivo for Warner Brothers and Locksmith Animation – out in cinemas in May 2027. She is an official ambassador for Amnesty International. The Guilty Feminist Podcast, with over 10 years has had over 200 million downloads and actively works with activism campaigns. The Road to Gilead Project actively tries to tackle and find early interventions to build resilience from far-right narratives.

Not familiar with Deborah or the Guilty Feminist? On the 4th September, the Guilty Feminist Podcast will be doing a live broadcast the night before the Road to Gilead! Expect politics, insight, laughs and guest speakers from the North East! To book your ticket click here.

If you have access requirements or questions, or childcare is an issue for you, please email claire.gibson@amnesty.org.uk

In session with The Velvet Vanguard at the ONE Centre

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:10:56 GMT

You asked and we delivered!

“Been ages since I played the game. It helped me get out of the house and make new friends and visit the ONE Centre for the first time.” -Matthew, 22, he/him

The ONE Centre’s very first, beginner friendly Dungeons and Dragons campaign, The Velvet Vanguard, started last week. The Dungeon Master is Brooke who has been playing for over a decade. They will be guiding our fellowship of 6 players through the realm of the iconic tabletop game, bringing some old and new faces together for some fantasy fun. Players will campaign through 10 weeks of ‘one shot’, clear objective campaigns that are perfect for introducing beginners to the game. Before that, they must design their character- race, skills, personality traits, everything to make the game as immersive as possible.

“My character’s name is Nettle, who is a little goblin who’s only goal is to sell their terrible watercolours made by your everyday mess found in the swamp.” - EJ, 18, She/they

The ONE Centre is perfect for immersing yourself in a new challenge as we provide a safe space that encourages people to be their true self, free from discrimination. In the first session, our Stonewall room was filled with laughter, characterisation, music and the roll of dice!

This free social group is happening for 11 weeks, allowing players to get to grips with the game mechanics and character design while making new friends and connecting with the community which matches the ethos of the ONE Centre. Continuing on after will be a fortnightly long-term campaign starting on the 21st October from 5-8PM. Spaces are limited to 6 people, so if you missed out on joining the Velvet Vanguard make sure you register your space here.

Hate Crime Consultation Event

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:55:47 GMT

Hate Crime Consultation Event

Have you ever reported a hate crime — or supported someone who has?

OUT North East is hosting a community consultation event as part of an ongoing research project exploring LGBTphobia and hate crime reporting in Gateshead. We want to hear from people who live, work, volunteer or study in the borough about their experiences and perspectives.

This is your opportunity to help shape understanding, improve reporting processes and influence how services respond to hate crime locally.

You don't need to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community to attend. We are keen to hear from allies, professionals and members of the wider public. Whether you have direct experience of reporting hate crime or thoughts about how the system works, your voice matters.

The event will take place at the new ONE Centre — Gateshead’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ community hub. After the session, there will be an opportunity to look around the space and find out more about how it supports communities across the region.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

Please note: photographs will be taken during the event, but you are welcome to opt out if you prefer not to be included.

Facilitated by Drew Dalton

Join us for an open, respectful and constructive conversation — and help make a difference in how hate crime is understood and addressed in Gateshead.

If you'd like to attend email drew@outnortheast.org.uk or call 0191 695 1969 selecting option 2

ONE Centre Launches Drop-In Events

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:15:44 GMT

New Free Drop-In Sessions at the ONE Centre

We’re excited to launch a brand-new programme of free drop-in sessions at the ONE Centre — open to LGBTQ+ people of all ages across the North East.

Sometimes you just need somewhere to go. A place to grab a coffee, have a conversation, take part in an activity — or simply sit quietly and be yourself.

Our new drop-ins are designed to be exactly that.

The ONE Centre offers a safe, warm and welcoming space away from the noise of everyday life. Whether you’d like to play table tennis, darts or pool, read a book, watch TV, join in with an activity or just chat with someone who understands, the door is open.

There’s no pressure and no expectations — just a relaxed environment where you can connect, unwind and feel comfortable being you.

The drop-ins are currently running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am to 3pm, and our aim is to expand them to run every day in the future.

We know that connection matters. These sessions are about reducing isolation, building friendships and creating a sense of belonging for anyone who needs it.

For the latest updates, including any changes or additional sessions, please check our website and social media channels.

The kettle’s on. The games are ready. The space is yours.

Everyone is welcome.

Broadcasting OUT, Proud and Loud

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:56:46 GMT

OUT North East to Deliver Pride Radio

We are delighted to announce that OUT North East is now delivering Pride Radio — the region’s dedicated LGBTQ+ community radio station.

This is an exciting new chapter for us and for LGBTQ+ communities across the North East. Pride Radio gives us a powerful platform to amplify voices, share stories and reach people far beyond physical spaces.

For many LGBTQ+ people — particularly those who are isolated, living in rural areas or not yet connected to community networks — radio can be a lifeline. It offers connection, representation and reassurance that they are not alone.

Through Pride Radio, we will celebrate identity, showcase local talent, host important conversations and provide information that supports health, wellbeing and inclusion. It will be a space where lived experience is heard, creativity is encouraged and community voices take centre stage.

Connection sits at the heart of everything we do at OUT North East. Pride Radio allows us to extend that connection across the region — into homes, workplaces and communities — creating a shared space that is inclusive, affirming and accessible.

We are incredibly proud to take this forward and look forward to working with volunteers, partners and contributors to grow Pride Radio into a vibrant, community-powered station.

Whether you want to listen, contribute, volunteer or collaborate — tune in and be part of it.

Because everyone deserves to hear a voice that sounds like their own.

You can listen to Pride Radio on FM, DAB, through your Smart Speaker of by downloading the FREE Pride Radio app.

National Lottery Community Fund Supports The ONE Centre

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:41:55 GMT

OUT North East Celebrates Major National Lottery Community Fund Support

We are delighted to share some fantastic news for LGBTQ+ communities across the North East.

OUT North East has been awarded £330,754 from The National Lottery Community Fund , a significant investment that will help us expand our support and reach more people who need it most.

This funding will enable us to employ dedicated Out Reach Workers , strengthening our ability to connect with LGBTQ+ people across the region, reduce isolation and ensure more individuals can access timely, compassionate support.

Our Out Reach Workers will play a vital role in meeting people where they are — providing guidance, building trusted relationships and helping individuals feel safer, more connected and more supported in their everyday lives.

This support comes at a crucial time, as many LGBTQ+ people continue to face barriers to services, rising inequality and increasing pressures on community organisations. With this funding, OUT North East will be able to grow our presence, respond to emerging needs and ensure no one is left behind.

Peter Darrant, Chief Executive Officer of OUT North East, said:

“This is amazing support from The National Lottery Community Fund, and we are incredibly grateful. Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help us employ Out Reach Workers who can provide life-changing support to LGBTQ+ people across the North East. It means we can reach further, respond faster, and continue building communities where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive.”

We are proud of what this investment will make possible, and we look forward to sharing more about the impact of this work as the project develops.

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund — and to everyone who continues to stand with us as we build a stronger, more connected North East.

ONE Centre Officially Opens

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:08:21 GMT

LGBTQ+ History made in the North East

LGBTQ+ history was made this month with the opening of the ONE Centre, the region's dedicated LGBTQ+ community centre.

The ONE Centre, based at the Stonehills Complex, Gateshead welcomed business leaders, regional dignitaries, community leaders and a whole host of invited guests to get a first glimpse of the centre, which was officially opened by Kate Osborne MP.

And the launch – which coincided with the beginning of LGBTQ+ History Month – was also used to reveal funding of £330,754 which has been awarded to OUT North East by the National Lottery Community Fund.

The opening also provided the opportunity to unveil a unique piece of artwork, created by North East artist, Chris Felming, aka Ida4, which comprises three panels which feature influential figures linked with the LGBTQ+ community. A fourth panel will eventually be added, created using suggestions from the community on who they would like to see added.

Peter Darrant, CEO of Out North East, whose vision it was to create the facility, said the work now begins to ensure that the ONE Centre offers a diverse programme of events and opportunities.

“There has been a huge amount of work which has gone in to creating this building and providing what we believe is a much-needed facility for the region,” he said.

“We are so grateful to the many individuals and organisations that have helped us on this journey, including Gateshead Council which have played a huge role in bringing the centre to fruition.

“To also have had this massive boost from the National Lottery Community Fund on our opening day is incredible and is money which will help us to achieve our ambitions.”

Extensive renovations were carried out at the building – formerly the home of Vision and Hearing Support, The Bradbury Centre for Sight – which has created a range of spaces which will be used for counselling, workshops, community drop-ins and for training, along with hot desking areas which will be available to both charities and start-up businesses.

A large function room – as well as a community kitchen – can be booked by anyone wanting to host everything from a business meeting to a small conference.

A state-of-the-art podcast studio and broadcast studios which will be the new home of Pride Radio will complete the re-purposed building.

This project is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which aims to improve pride in place, increase life chances and invest in local communities.

Out North East event 2025

On the Road to Gilead and back to Section 28? Why we need #SaferToBeMe

From the Road to Gilead and back to Section 28? Why we need #SaferToBeMe

Who Gets Our Vote? Exploring LGBTQ+ Voting Behaviours in the North East

Who Gets Our Vote? Exploring LGBTQ+ Voting Behaviours in the North East

Mapping Our Queer Past: The Pink Triangle Project

Mapping Our Queer Past: The Pink Triangle Project

Goodby to our digital interns!

Road to Gilead hits Newcastle

Road to Gilead hits Newcastle

In session with The Velvet Vanguard at the ONE Centre

You asked and we delivered!

Hate Crime Consultation Event

Hate Crime Consultation Event

ONE Centre Launches Drop-In Events

New Free Drop-In Sessions at the ONE Centre ﻿

Broadcasting OUT, Proud and Loud

OUT North East to Deliver Pride Radio

National Lottery Community Fund Supports The ONE Centre

OUT North East Celebrates Major National Lottery Community Fund Support

ONE Centre Officially Opens

LGBTQ+ History made in the North East

New Free Drop-In Sessions at the ONE Centre