DIVA speaks to Tiana about how this North London organisation is helping to build bridges
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY DIVERSIFYLENS
Outcome is a welcoming LGBTQIA+ drop-in space for mental health support for anyone in London. If you would like to find out more you can email outcome@islingtonmind.org.uk or visit their website https://www.islingtonmind.org.uk/our-services/outcome/
It’s safe to say that Tiana is a regular at Islington Mind’s drop-in space Outcome. Having attended the group for nearly 16 years, she understands the importance of having a space open like this. She’s also a Service User Volunteer at another one of Mind’s locations, giving a unique perspective on the necessity to have these places for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Based in North London, Outcome provides a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people to get support with their mental health, make friends, and live authentically. For Tiana, it has become a place to generate powerful friendships.
“It’s much harder for LGBTQIA+ people to get the social interaction that they probably need or want,” she explains. “It’s really nice to be able to socialise in London in a safe and affordable way.”
Tiana starts telling me about all the incredible events she has been able to go to as part of a service user at Outcome. Everything from seeing Celine Dion live to trips to Southend-on-Sea have peppered her calendar. “For a lot of people, the theatre or cinema might not be an experience that is part of their normal world.”
For many, the LGBTQIA+ scene in London can move at a very fast pace, often involving drinking, drugs, clubbing, or expensive hobbies. Outcome provides a place for LGBTQIA+ people to meet friends without the added costs. With a number of activities such as art, creative writing, singing, and walking on offer, Outcome is helping to not only support but nurture the people who attend.
While it can be nerve-wracking to walk into a room full of strangers, Tiana reassures that it is not nearly as scary as you may think. With a group of dedicated, warm staff and volunteers, Outcome is a place to relax. “It’s not like a nightclub where you need to fear breaking the ice,” she says. “The volunteers and staff make it easier for you to build friendships.”
You can find out more about Outcome now: https://www.islingtonmind.org.uk/our-services/outcome/
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