AN LGBTQ+ charity has announced it has secured a lease for a new community and cultural centre in the city.

The Brighton Rainbow Fund, which raises money and distributes it to Brighton and Hove's LGBTQ+ projects, acquired a ten year renewable lease for The Ledward Centre (TLC) at a premises in Jubilee Street, giving the green light to its development and full operation.

Once open, it will become a community and cultural centre for the city's sizeable LGBTQ+ population, including a cafe lounge, a 70-seat meeting room/performance space, an exhibition foyer, studio for TLC Community Radio, and an LGBTQ+ library and bookshop.

Chris Gull, who chairs the charity, said: "We are thrilled that we have secured a venue for The Ledward Centre, following many years of work which was started by the late James Ledward, who died in 2019.

"I worked with James to source a venue, and then to create the structure of a team including centre director Duncan Lustig-Prean, to make our dream come true.

"This marks a new beginning for our team, which is now enhanced with many volunteers, to make a start on the fit out, apply for funding that relies on having a lease in place, opening membership, which will be free, and to launch fundraising campaigns.

"It is fitting that we can name the centre after James, who was so central to LGBTQ+ life in Brighton for over 30 years, as founder and editor of Gscene magazine, and of The Brighton Rainbow Fund itself."

Spaces at the new venue aim to provide a safe social space and an alternative to the commercial scene to find support and friendship.

Director of The Ledward Centre Duncan Lustig-Prean said: "The Ledward Centre has a lovely abbreviation - TLC - which encompasses what we're all about: caring for the LGBTQ+ community and reaching those who are isolated within it.

"From the light, modern and accessible building itself to the services and cultural activities for which it will be home, The Ledward Centre will live and breathe the values that make the full spectrum of Brighton's LGBTQ+ communities so confident, vibrant and proud."

The news comes just days before the start of LGBT History Month, which runs throughout February to highlight the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, provide education and highlight the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the UK and around the world.

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