Members of the first Open Table community celebrate LGBT History Month.
Our history
We’ve been working for more than thirteen years, helping create safe spaces and communities, in authentically welcoming churches, where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, & Asexual (LGBTQIA) people + their families and friends can belong happily and in peace.
We’ve seen phenomenal growth, from six people at our first gathering in 2008 to 21 communities across England and Wales supporting hundreds of people today, and more to come, with your help. Read more.
Bishop of Liverpool walked with Open Table members at Pride in Liverpool.
Our work
We've worked harder than ever during lockdown!
- We became a registered charity.
- We supported more lonely, hurting LGBTQIA+ people than ever.
- We heard from more churches wanting to join our Network than ever.
- We researched our impact on our members’ mental well-being. Our project title comes from that research:
'Open Table means everything to me. It has truly saved me.'
Gail's quote is one of the many on our website about the difference we make.
Read more about the impact we've seen in the past year.
Post-Pride Chill-Out Service at Liverpool Cathedral, July 2018
Our problem
It’s make or break time - We’re running out of money.
We only have seven weeks left to keep going. We grew so much at the height of the pandemic that we’re now over-run with requests, questions and cries for help. And we try very, very hard never to turn anyone away.
But we’re a brand new charity. That means that many big funders won’t fund us to a large extent straight away.
A British Sign Language interpreter helps to make a service more accessible.
We need to raise £10,000 in the next six weeks - This will keep us going for the next four months while we work hard on other funding bids to secure support for our communities for the long-term.
'Appreciating Open Table' vision day, July 2016 as we began to form the network.
This crowdfunder runs until midday on Monday 22nd November 2021.
If you value the Open Table Network please share, and give if you are able. Any pledges made won't be charged until on or after 22nd November.
Kieran & Warren, founding members of the first Open Table community at Pride.