Switchboard is the oldest volunteer-led LGBTQ+ charity in the UK. The milestones of the LGBTQ+ communities can be traced in the calls made to the helpline through the decades. The course will focus on the Switchboard's log books – a functional written record of the calls taken by volunteers – and LGBTQ+ history, experiences, and attitudes from inside and outside of the communities throughout the years.

It's time to share the previously untold story of this seminal organisation.

Read our interview with tutor Tash Walker about Switchboard's archives.

Who is this course for?

Anyone interested in Britain’s LGBTQ+ history, Switchboard, and the charity sector.

Will I need any equipment or materials?

This course will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.

If you would like to take notes, you will need pen and paper, or a digital equivalent.

Image: Gordon Rainsford Archive