The first event takes place this Sunday (26 October)
BY KATE CANNING, IMAGE BY IBRAR HUSSAIN
LGBTQIA+ mental health charity Queerwell are launching a new event. Beginning Sunday 26 October, Queerwell’s initiative is the first weekly LGBTQIA+ mental wellness hub, offering a warm, welcoming space for rest, creativity and connection.
Sunday Sanctuary will run every Sunday from 12–5 pm, and includes workshops led by therapists and coaches, creative “playshops”, peer support groups, and quiet corners for rest and community connection.
Queerwell’s co-founder Tim Spoor says that “Sunday Sanctuary is about prevention, not crisis, it’s about joy, belonging, and building each other up.”
The initiative is designed to offer an affirming sober space on what can often be the loneliest day of the week for LGBTQIA+ people who lack family networks. Most mental health services and LGBTQIA+ venues are closed on a Sunday, and Sunday Sanctuary is in place to offer a reminder that you are not alone.
The space is open to any LGBTQIA+ person who feels like they may need community and connection, especially those who feel isolated and disconnected, those who are seeking alternatives to mainstream services and those who value a community-led environment.
Most activities at Sunday Sanctuary are free or low cost, but Queerwell asks for a donation from all who participate. Their therapy and coaching services use a sliding scale payment model depending on income in order to keep access open for anyone struggling with resources.
You can support this initiative by attending, volunteering to host, donating to Queerwell, and spreading the word by sharing posts, inviting friends and bolstering the community.
Queerwell was founded in 2024 in memory of Maari Nastari, a trans woman of colour who supported LGBTQIA+ youth for over 20 years. The charity’s mission is to make mental health support inclusive, accessible, and radically kind, inspired by Nastari’s spirit of compassion.
You can donate to Queerwell here: queerwell.org.uk/donations
Find Queerwell @wearequeerwell on social media.
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