Nofela LGBTQ+ Bookshop & Community Space

Aim

Establishing an inclusive, cosy space for Swansea’s LGBTQ+ community through books, brews and community connection.

The Story of Nofela: Building Swansea’s first LGBTQ+ Bookshop & Community Space

Shwmae Pawb

Our Vision: Books, Brews, and Community
Swansea is a city full of pride, but for many in the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent community, finding a place to simply exist without fear of judgment is a challenge.

We are dreaming of a sober, and inclusive hub & LGBTQ+ bookshop in the heart of Swansea. 

The Voices Behind the Vision
We aren't just the three founders; we are a movement fuelled by 140 local voices. Our ongoing community survey (https://forms.gle/twehrak216yeMEP7A ) reveals a heartbreaking but powerful truth: our community is isolated and searching for inclusion.

• 90% of survey respondees said Swansea needs this space now.
• One respondent shared: "My girlfriend was hate crimed... having somewhere we can go where she can be safe would mean everything."
• Others spoke of the exhaustion of "masking" in public spaces and the desperate need for a quiet, low-sensory environment.

From Dream to Reality: The Elysium Soft Launch
We held our first pop-up event at Elysium Gallery, Swansea, and the response was overwhelming. Over 50 of you joined us to browse books, share ideas, and start building our Community Panel. You proved that the demand isn't just on paper. We have further pop-ups arranged over the coming months, see: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584802491494  

The Team
We are three queer, neurodiverse women with deep roots in Swansea:

• Karen: Advocate for social justice and member of Swansea's Poverty Truth Commission;
• Sarah: Founder of Queer Book Club Swansea and experienced community educator;
• Mair: Historian, writer and Welsh speaker dedicated to our local heritage and the Welsh language.

How Your Support Will Be Used
We are applying for grants to cover things like our staffing and rent, but we need you to help us build the "engine" of Nofela. We need to raise £5,000 to secure our physical home and buy the start up equipment we need to be sustainable.

Your donations will fund:

• £2,500 for Initial Book Stock: This funds our first 250+ book titles, from LGBTQIA+ classics to neurodivergent-authored new releases;
• £1,500 for Commercial café Infrastructure: To stay sustainable, we need to trade. This funds a professional-grade espresso machine and grinder to power our café;
• £1,000 for the Premises Deposit: Grants often won't cover refundable deposits. This money secures our 12-month pop-up home in Swansea city centre, giving us a physical home.

Join the Story
As a Community Interest Company, Nofela belongs to the community. We are legally bound to ensure all assets and profits benefit the LGBTQ+ people of Swansea and South Wales.

By donating today, you aren't just buying a book or a coffee machine; you are helping to fund  an LGBTQ+ community space. You are telling every LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent person in Swansea that they deserve a safe place to belong.

Let’s turn the page together.

Diolch yn fawr!

Karen
Mair
Sarah

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th July 2026 at 10:54pm