We’re excited to announce that we’ve received funding to rebuild our toilet facilities!
Ensuring the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre is as welcoming as possible to LGBTQ+ people in London is core to our mission. These funds will allow us to revamp our toilet facilities and welcome more people to the Centre, a change that’s been a long time coming and one we’ve been working towards for years.
When we took on our space at Hopton Street in December 2021, we decided to go for it despite the space not offering an accessible toilet as we had planned to be open for six months. It was meant to be a pilot to prove our concept and the need for an LGBTQ+ community centre.
Shortly after we opened, the community’s response made it evident that the Centre was extremely needed. We negotiated a five-year lease with Southwark Council, which officially started on 1 December 2023. As soon as we learnt we could stay for longer, we committed to raising enough funds to redo the toilet, which has been our current space’s main drawback.
The lack of an accessible toilet has hindered our mission since day one. Visitors’ experience of the toilet facilities affects their health, safety, sense of belonging, equity, comfort, dignity and ability to participate. We are thrilled to be able to improve our space and continue our aim of being a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people in London.
In 2024, we held two consultations with disabled community members and architects to explore different options. It was agreed that if we were going to rebuild the toilet facilities, it had to be done well – so we’re aiming to have a Changing Places toilet. This will not only improve the Centre, but also contribute to making Southwark (and London) more accessible. As of writing, there are only around 10 Changing Places toilets in the borough.
We’re working with the architectural practice Andre Kong Studio to design toilet facilities that is both accessible and beautiful. We know that the new toilet will considerably change our space, so we are working hard to not compromise the homely, flexible layout we currently have which the community loves.
The toilet facilities at the Centre will always be gender-neutral and welcoming to all.
We’re aiming for the rebuild to take place during August, starting on Monday 4 August. This means the Centre will be closed while the work happens. On Friday 1 August, SAMA Bankside is hosting a summer party to say a (temporary) farewell before we reopen in September.
It’s been a huge collective effort to make this a reality. We want to thank all the wonderful people who have been involved in this process – from everyone who took part in the initial consultations, to support with securing funding and beyond. The funders that will make these works possible are Southwark Council, B&Q and Screwfix.
On top of this, we want to thank folks who have shared their feedback over the years. We recognise how the Centre’s lack of accessible toilet facilities impacts many people from visiting us or participating in events.
The toilet works will be part of a wider project on accessibility at the Centre, which also includes online offerings like a new website (we’ll announce more on this soon!).
With support from partner organisation ParaPride, and in consultation with the community, we’ll continue exploring how to improve our space, while also acknowledging the challenges that arise when people’s requirements conflict with others.
During Small Charity Week (Monday 23 to Monday 30 June), we will run a fundraising campaign to raise additional funds to cover other exciting changes at the Centre during the August closure. Keep an eye on our socials and newsletter for more. If you can support us, we’d greatly appreciate it!
Photo by Meg Teo from Queer Women and Non-Binary Day in 2025.