Welcome to Hastings & Rother Gay Helpline
(The Helpline was founded in 1987 as Hastings Befrienders)
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"The fact that not everyone can have the confidence to say for whatever reason I am what I am, accept me for the person that I am, don’t expect or force me to be someone I am not is surely a condemnation of  a society that regards itself as civilised."
The above quote is from Paul Broadhurst's, our chairman's, highly-praised welcome speech made at the 25th Anniversary Celebration on  28th September 2012, and can be read in full on  the 25th Anniversary page.
 The Helpline is completely independent and the only one in East Sussex.

Ways in which we can be contacted

 Please contact us by one of the following means -
 
By phone: We are unable to answer all calls in person, so please a message if requested to do so and we will call you back as soon as possible 

By email: [email protected] 
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By using this link for  our Contact form Contact form

How we deal with enquiries

 Phone calls and emails  are answered by our trained, empathetic, non-judgemental volunteers. We provide information services and 'a listening ear' for LGBT people of all ages, their families and friends. When necessary, we can direct callers or enquirers by other means to the appropriate agency.  

Victims of homophobic hate incidents can contact us in confidence, and we can assist with the reporting process. Please see the          Hate Incident Reporting page. 

 A New Service provided by the Department for Work & Pensions

From 11th April 2022 there is a Single Bereavement Service phone line number - 0800 151 2012. Customers calling the number can be supported with all of the following:  

•         Reporting a death          
•         Provide further information regarding a death that has already been reported
•         Find out what help is available following a bereavement
•         Enquire about, make, or maintain a claim to Bereavement Benefit, Bereavement Support Payments and Funeral Expense Payments
 

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