The Ledward Centre (TLC), the south of England’s only LGBTQ+ centre, has announced that the first phase of the fit out is complete, on time and in budget.
The ground floor has now been transformed into a cafe-lounge, and reception area, and TLC will now be open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm, and later when they are hosting events (there are 90 events booked in over the next three months already)
The Cafe-Lounge provides a safe, comfortable and useful social space for the LGBTQ+ communities and allies, with a relaxed, friendly and welcoming ambience.
Further phases of the fit out will include a public meeting room/cinema, classrooms, community radio studio, exhibition foyer, smaller group meeting rooms, a club room for young LGBTQ+, a dressing room for trans and non-binary members and gender neutral and accessible toilets.
The rate at which these further resources are created depends on the rate at which income, grants, and donations come in. TLC has just completed the first part of its fundraising campaign, Make Your Mark, a crowdfunder campaign which raised £10,000.
Donors each donated a minimum of £20, and will each be creating a 5cm x 5cm tile with their thumbmark and signature, which will be one of 6,000 tiles forming a huge mosaic of the progress Pride rainbow flag in the reception area. Their donations were match funded by the Power to Change Trust. You can donate to create your own tile HERE.
For the Brighton Festival month of May, TLC is also host to the Brighton Festival Fringe’s Participants´Services.