Mindful Rainbow is a NEW peer social support group for LGBTQ+ individuals (run by volunteers) aimed at people who live with low-level mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness. This service aims to enable adults with lived experience of mental health and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community to develop a safe space to be freely themselves and feel a sense of community and/ or belonging.

Peer support is when people use their own experiences to help each other. There are several types of peer support, but they all aim to:

• Bring together people with shared experiences to support each other
• Provide a space where people feel accepted and understood for who they are and what they have been through
• Treat everyone’s experiences as being equally important
• Involve both giving and receiving support through showing empathy

The group meets for 2 hours per fortnight (between 6pm-8pm) to connect with others within the community through a variety of activities (e.g., board games, crafting, movie nights, and much more). Each session requires a £3 donation to take part. Most sessions are held at St Aldhelm’s Church, Branksome, unless stated by the group facilitators.

Refreshments are provided during sessions hosted at St Aldhelm’s.