The legendary LGBTQIA organisation is commemorating five decades of supporting the community
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE BY SWITCHBOARD
Today marked a historic moment for Switchboard, the UK’s national LGBTQIA listening service, as it celebrated 50 years of supporting the queer community. To commemorate such a momentous achievement, Switchboard launched a refreshed brand and an all-new website.
Switchboard was founded in 1974, and since then has offered the LGBTQIA community a lifeline. For the last 50 years, its amazing group have manned the phones to provide support, advice, and comfort to the queer community.
Transforming into Switchboard, the LGBTQIA+ Support Line, the organisation has reiterated its commitment to inclusivity, ensuring support for every identity within the community while steadfastly maintaining its mission of offering non-directive and non-judgmental assistance across the UK.
CEO of Switchboard, Stephanie Fuller, said: “Switchboard’s 50th Birthday year provided us the perfect opportunity to refresh our brand. Creating a new visual identity that celebrates our past, continues to establish our relevance in the present and will carry us into Switchboard’s future.”
In collaboration with creative agency Nice And Serious, Switchboard embarked on a journey to craft a brand that honours its 50-year legacy while embracing contemporary needs. The team delved into Switchboard’s archives at Bishopsgate Institute, paying homage to the past whilst also looking to the future.
Allison Montgomery, Communications Manager, said: “The Switchboard branding is now as diverse and adaptable as our community is.”
Accompanying the rebrand is a user-friendly website developed in partnership with GRM Digital. The site, unveiled in an abbreviated version, emphasises accessibility and ease of use, offering information on utilising the service, donating, or becoming a volunteer. Additional features, including a resource section for valuable information and signposting, are set to be introduced in the coming weeks.
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