More than 150 people gathered at Brighton i360 as Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations with a special community event honouring five decades of support for LGBTQ+ people.
Among those joining the celebrations was Amanda Collier from BBC hit series The Traitors, who presented the charity's inaugural 50th Anniversary Community Awards and was described by Switchboard as one of its newest and most enthusiastic supporters.
The event brought together former volunteers, current staff, trustees, service users, partners, funders and supporters to celebrate the organisation's remarkable journey from a pioneering LGBTQ+ telephone helpline to one of Sussex's leading LGBTQ+ charities.
Founded in 1975 as the Lavender Line, Switchboard began at a time when LGBTQ+ people often struggled to access information, support and community. The first call was received on 25 April 1975, with volunteers providing a lifeline for people seeking advice about local LGBTQ+ groups, venues and services.
Fifty years later, the charity's work has expanded dramatically. Today, Switchboard supports thousands of LGBTQ+ people through services including its BOLD programme for older LGBTQ+ people experiencing bereavement, loneliness and dementia, social prescribing for trans, non-binary and intersex communities, specialist domestic abuse support, Rainbow Neighbours befriending services and gambling harms recovery support.
Guests at the anniversary event heard reflections from people who have shaped the charity's history, including Chief Executive Rob Sainsbury, former chair Brian Warren, former volunteer Jenny, and LGBTQ+ community historian Alf Le Flohic, who shared memories from Switchboard's earliest years and the evolution of Brighton's LGBTQ+ community.
The evening also featured a performance from Brighton cabaret favourite Ophelia Payne, exclusive anniversary merchandise designed by trans artist and activist Fox Fisher, a fundraising raffle and food provided by community organisation Lunch Positive.
A highlight of the celebrations was the presentation of the inaugural Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard 50th Anniversary Community Awards, recognising individuals and organisations making a difference to LGBTQ+ lives across Sussex.
Award winners included Richard Johnson, who received the Volunteer Award for decades of service, and Tanya Levene, who was recognised as an Unsung Hero for her long-standing support of Switchboard's domestic abuse services. The Breakfast Club received the Community Partner Award for creating a welcoming space for older LGBTQ+ people, while Jodie Cruttenden and the team at Cove Reformer Pilates Studio were honoured for their allyship and commitment to inclusion.
Reflecting on the event afterwards, Switchboard said it had been "wonderful" to see generations of volunteers, staff, supporters and service users come together to celebrate "five decades of standing alongside LGBTQ+ people across Brighton & Hove, Sussex and beyond."
The charity stressed that the anniversary celebrations are only just beginning, with further events planned throughout the year, including a major gala later in 2026.
As Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard enters its sixth decade, the anniversary serves as both a celebration of the progress made by LGBTQ+ communities and a reminder of the continuing importance of dedicated community support services. From a volunteer-run telephone line in the 1970s to a modern organisation delivering life-changing support across Sussex, Switchboard remains at the heart of LGBTQ+ life in Brighton and beyond.
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