Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Lesbian and Gay Switchboard developed out of Nottingham CHE (Campaign for Homosexual Equality) and started as a face-to face information and support service in 1974.

In 1975, we began work as a telephone helpline. Throughout the 1970s we were subject to sustained opposition from several local councillors and clergymen. Some newspapers refused to take our advertisements.

For the whole period of our existence we have had the complete support of Nottingham Council for Voluntary Service, to which we are affiliated.

In 1975 we had 6 volunteers and operated one night per week, using a brief typed folder for our information and taking 200 calls over the year. By 1987 we had moved to 5 nights per week and had installed a second phone line.

Since 1987 years we have: -

• Had two sets of Public Service Announcements on Central TV
• Built up a substantial Resource Library
• Developed liaison with a large number of other groups and organisations
• Gained funding from Councils, from Health Authorities, from grant-giving bodies and from many local establishments and individuals
• Become a registered charity

At present we have: -

• 22 trained volunteers
• A computerised database
• An office in the Nottingham Voluntary Action Centre (opened in 1999)
• Nearly 2000 contacts per year by phone, e-amil or letter (nearly 60,000 calls since 1975)
• Around 5000 visits to our websites/year
• A system for monitoring the gender, age, ethnic origin, marital status and geographical location of our callers

We are affiliated to Nottingham CVS,Bassetlaw CVS, Rushcliffe CVS, Gedling CVS and Newark & Sherwood CVS.

In 2000 we received a grant under Nottinghamshire Living History Archives Millennium Awards to produce a detailed history of Switchboard set in the context of developments since the 1967 Sexual Offences Act. Materials developed from this included a book, an interactive CD-ROM and a set of 20 recordings of personal histories of lesbians and gay men of ages ranging from 25 to 85. The project is on-going and now includes a large amount of material for displays and exhibitions e.g. pictures showing a timeline of local and national events since 1967;  pictures + potted biographies of LGB people from BME communities; a powerpoint presentation of 600 famous LGBT people.  Many of the items are available for loan or, in some cases, for purchase.  Go to www.nlgshistory.ik.com for fuller details.