Guest blog: Building strength and belonging through LGBT+ connection
2nd November 2025
Rainbow Communities supports and empowers vulnerable members of the LGBT+ community. In this blog, they explore the power of connection and how collaboration and partnership helps them reach new people, gain new insights and give their service users a sense of ownership.
At Rainbow Communities, we believe that no one should feel alone especially when facing life’s toughest challenges. Our work is built on a simple but powerful idea “connection has the power to transform lives.” This year’s Befriending Week theme of Collaboration and Partnerships speaks directly to the heart of what we do. Whether it’s through our LGBT+ befriending scheme, or our wider work supporting people affected by dementia in LGBT+ community, or LGBT+ domestic abuse, collaboration is what makes everything possible. When we come together, as individuals, volunteers, and partners we create spaces where everyone can belong.
The Power of Connection
Our befriending scheme lies at the core of Rainbow Communities. It’s where we see, every day, the quiet magic that happens when two people come together in trust and friendship. For many of our LGBTQ+ service users, isolation can be a lifelong shadow, shaped by discrimination, estrangement from family, or a lack of safe spaces. For others, living with dementia or recovering from domestic abuse can leave them feeling cut off from the world.
One of our volunteers recently said, “You don’t realise how much difference a simple chat can make, to them, and to you.” It’s true. A phone call, a coffee, or a walk in the park can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and not alone.
Our volunteers aren’t counsellors or therapists, they’re companions. But in that companionship, something powerful happens. Confidence grows. Loneliness eases. People begin to reconnect, not just with others, but with themselves.
Collaboration at Every Level
Behind every successful match in our befriending scheme is a network of collaboration. We work with local councils and community partners to identify those at risk of isolation in the LGBT+ community and ensure that the support we offer is right for them!
Our partnerships have been particularly vital in developing our three specialist areas of work: LGBTQ+ inclusion, dementia support, and domestic abuse recovery. Each area brings its own challenges and insights, and through collaboration, we’ve learned to adapt our approach to meet diverse needs.
For example, our dementia scheme benefits enormously from sharing expertise with healthcare partners who understand the medical side of the condition, while we bring the community connection that helps people stay engaged and independent. In our domestic abuse programme, partnerships with specialist agencies ensure that survivors can access befriending in a way that feels safe and empowering.
Empowerment Through Partnership
Partnerships don’t just help us reach more people, they help us grow. Our volunteers, play a key role in shaping our programmes. Their feedback helps us refine training, develop inclusive practices, and stay responsive to the realities people face.
One of the most valuable lessons we’ve learned is that collaboration starts with listening. When we invite our service users and volunteers to share their experiences, we create a shared sense of ownership. It’s not “us helping them”, it’s “us working together.”
That shift has changed the way we operate. It’s made our services stronger, our community more connected, and our message clearer, we are all part of this.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, Rainbow Communities remains committed to building partnerships that make a difference. Whether we’re working with regional organisations like RISE, or local grassroots groups, the goal is always the same — to create a world where no one feels left behind.
The people we support remind us daily that connection is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. Together, we’re never alone — and together, we can build communities where every person, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance, feels safe, valued, and heard.
At Rainbow Communities, collaboration isn’t just part of our work, it is our work. And it’s through these partnerships, both big and small, that we continue to grow stronger, side by side.
This blog is part of Befriending Week (1 – 7 November), the annual campaign to raise awareness about befriending and celebrate social connection. Find out more on our Befriending Week microsite.