ABOUT THE SOBER BAR LONDON

Explore our story

Start at the beginning or jump straight to the part you want to know more about.

01 • WHO WE ARE

The Sober Bar London, in a nutshell.

An LGBTQI+-centred social enterprise creating more ways to enjoy life without alcohol at the centre of it.

The Sober Bar London is a grassroots Community Interest Company and social enterprise creating alcohol-free social experiences in London.

LGBTQI+ people are at the heart of what we do. We want sober social life to feel welcoming, culturally relevant and genuinely enjoyable — not like a lesser version of going out.

We are not anti-pub, anti-nightlife or anti-alcohol. We are pro-choice: more ways to go out, more ways to meet people and more ways to take part in London life.

The organisation was founded by Foyez Jitu and is shaped by lived experience of LGBTQI+ identity, homelessness, isolation, substance use, recovery and rebuilding.

That experience matters because TSBL did not begin as an abstract idea about what people might need. It grew from understanding what it can feel like when the places where you once found social life no longer work for you.

But TSBL is bigger than one person's story. Lived experience gives us a starting point; listening to the people around us helps determine what comes next.

The space is alcohol-free.
The people are wonderfully human.

02 • WHY THIS MATTERS

When alcohol leaves the room, social life shouldn't leave with it.

Choosing not to drink can change where — and how — you feel able to belong.

For many LGBTQI+ people, pubs, bars and nightlife have been much more than places to buy a drink. They have been places to find one another, express identity, experience queer culture and feel less alone.

But alcohol is often woven tightly into those environments.

If somebody becomes sober, enters recovery, questions their drinking or simply decides alcohol is not for them, the challenge is not always just what is in their glass.

Where do I go now?

London is full of people, yet it is still possible to feel profoundly alone. Losing familiar social environments can make that harder.

Meeting new people as an adult can already be awkward. Doing it while changing a major part of your life can make the first step feel even bigger.

We think people deserve more choices.

A night out can still be spontaneous. Queer culture can still be loud, funny, creative and joyful. Friendship does not need alcohol as an entry requirement.

That is the gap The Sober Bar London is responding to: social experiences where not drinking is completely normal.

Connection shouldn't disappear when alcohol does.

03 • WHO IT'S FOR

There isn't one right reason to be here.

You don't need a label, a perfect story or a particular kind of sobriety.

The Sober Bar London is LGBTQI+-centred, but our idea of belonging is broad.

You might be sober. Sober-curious. In recovery. Newly alcohol-free. Rebuilding after a difficult period. Taking a break from drinking. Changing your relationship with alcohol. Or you may simply prefer social spaces where drinking is not expected.

You might never have drunk at all.

Your reasons might involve health, wellbeing, medication, faith, culture, fitness or personal preference. Or perhaps you still drink elsewhere and simply want more alcohol-free choices.

All of those experiences can sit alongside one another without pretending they are the same.

Recovery is not the same experience as being sober-curious. Choosing not to drink for faith is not the same as addiction. Someone taking a break from alcohol has a different story from someone protecting long-term recovery.

We do not need to flatten those differences to share a room.

LGBTQI+ people remain at the heart of TSBL. Allies and people from the wider sober and alcohol-free community are welcome when they respect the people, values and boundaries of the space.

You can just turn up as yourself.NO SOBRIETY CV REQUIRED.

04 • RIGHT NOW

Start with people. Start with what we can do now.

TSBL already exists beyond the idea of a future bar.

First, an important distinction.

There is no permanent Sober Bar London venue yet. Our regular Friday events are also currently paused while we strengthen funding, volunteer capacity, partnerships and future programming.

Online

Our online community, including Discord, gives people a way to stay in touch, talk and discover what is happening without needing to walk into a room alone for the first time.

In person

TSBL has brought people together through alcohol-free pop-ups, meet-ups, creative activities and walks across London.

As new activity develops, we want those experiences to retain the things that make social life worth showing up for: conversation, laughter, culture, creativity and the possibility of meeting somebody new.

Taking part

There are also ways to participate behind the scenes. Volunteer roles can support areas such as events, outreach, marketing and administration.

Our Bar Host idea creates another route: informal local alcohol-free coffee meet-ups using existing cafés and shared spaces rather than waiting for our own premises.

This stage gives us room to learn what people actually enjoy, where interest exists and what makes participation feel welcoming before making bigger commitments.

No permanent venue yet.
Real people, real participation, right now.

05 • FIND YOUR WAY IN

Reset.Connect.Learn.Thrive.

Four ways of thinking about what somebody might need next — not four boxes everyone has to tick.

People arrive at different moments in their lives. Our four pathways give TSBL a simple framework for responding to that without assuming everybody needs the same thing.

RESET

Make space for a new chapter.

Reset is for moments of change. That might mean rebuilding after recovery, returning after a difficult period, changing old patterns or simply wanting a healthier rhythm around social life.

It is not treatment. TSBL is non-clinical and non-therapeutic. Reset is about having positive ways to re-enter everyday life alongside any specialist support somebody may need.

CONNECT

Find your people.

Connect is the social heart of TSBL.

It is for the person who wants to get out more, meet others, rediscover queer social life or have somewhere they can arrive without already knowing everybody in the room.

No forced networking. No expectation that strangers become best friends overnight. Sometimes it starts with recognising the same face twice.

LEARN

Try something. Develop something.

Learn is about participation with a purpose.

As TSBL develops its learning offer, this pathway is intended to create ways to gain practical experience and develop useful abilities through areas such as hospitality, events and other parts of running a social enterprise.

This work is still developing. The Skills Academy is a future programme, not something we want to present as already established.

THRIVE

Keep going, on your terms.

Thrive is about what life can look like when things are moving in a positive direction.

That might be work, education, creativity, stronger relationships, greater independence — or simply having a fuller life and people to share it with.

Thriving does not mean you have to leave TSBL behind.

These pathways are not a staircase. Someone might come straight to Learn, spend most of their time in Connect, move backwards and forwards, or never use the framework at all.

06 • SOCIAL IMPACT

Small steps can change what comes next.

Our ambition is not simply to count attendance, but to understand what participation makes possible.

The social change TSBL wants to contribute to can be understood as a journey:

CONNECTION → CONFIDENCE → ROUTINE → SKILLS → OPPORTUNITY

Connection

It starts here because moving forward is harder when you feel completely alone.

Confidence

Being welcomed back can make the next interaction easier: speaking to someone new, taking part, offering an idea or feeling comfortable enough to return.

Routine

Returning can create something steady — an activity in the diary, somewhere to go and familiar faces rather than starting from zero every time.

Skills

For people who want another step, participation can become a place to practise or develop abilities through volunteering, events, hospitality, creative activity or future programmes.

Opportunity

Over time, those experiences could contribute to further learning, responsibility, references, training, education or routes towards work.

Not everybody will want or need that whole journey. Social participation is worthwhile in its own right.

For one person, progress might be attending alone for the first time. For another, it could be taking responsibility as a volunteer. For somebody else, it may eventually mean moving towards training or employment.

This is the difference we want to make — not a claim that every outcome has already been achieved. As an early-stage CIC, our responsibility is to listen, gather feedback, learn what works and become better at demonstrating impact over time.

07 • THE LONG-TERM VISION

One day, a permanent front door.

There is no permanent Sober Bar London premises yet. This is where we want the journey to lead.

Future vision — not current premises.

Our long-term ambition is a permanent alcohol-free café and bar in London.

Not a clinic. Not a meeting room pretending to be a night out. And not a traditional bar with the alcohol simply removed.

We imagine somewhere with the familiarity and energy people value in cafés, pubs and queer venues: food, great alcohol-free drinks, conversation, music, games, performance, creativity and nights worth getting dressed up for.

A physical home matters because temporary events can only do certain things.

Permanence can create consistency. You can know where to go without checking whether this month's activity is in a different postcode. Staff and regulars can become familiar. Daytime and evening uses can live alongside one another.

A café by day.
An alcohol-free bar by night.
A social home throughout.

A permanent space could also create practical places to learn: hospitality, coffee, alcohol-free drinks, customer service, events and the everyday work involved in running a venue.

That is the ambition — not the current reality.

For now, the work is about learning from temporary activity, strengthening the organisation and understanding what a permanent home would need to become useful, welcoming and sustainable.

The walls come later.

What happens inside them should be informed by everything we learn first.

08 • COME WITH US

Don't just watch the story. Be part of it.

The next chapter should be shaped by more voices than ours.

The Sober Bar London is still young. That means there is still room to influence what it becomes, what we try, what works and what we learn along the way.

We want to hear from people discovering their first alcohol-free night out, people who have been sober for years, queer creatives and performers, volunteers, organisations, local communities and people with ideas we haven't thought of yet.

You might join us online. You might come along when activities are running. You might volunteer, help host something, collaborate with us, share feedback, support the CIC or simply follow the journey and tell somebody else that we exist.

THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BE PART OF IT

💬 JOIN

🙌 PARTICIPATE

🌱 VOLUNTEER

🤝 PARTNER

💙 SUPPORT

📣 SHARE

Being community-led doesn't mean every decision becomes a public vote. It means creating meaningful ways for people to be heard, paying attention to what people actually need and being willing to change when something isn't working.

Some ideas will become permanent. Some will evolve. Some experiments might teach us that there is a better way to do something. That's part of growing something alongside the people it is intended to serve.

You don't need to arrive with a big commitment. Follow the journey. Join a conversation. Come to something. Volunteer when you can. Share an idea. Introduce us to somebody. Small participation still counts.

BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT

Come shape what happens next.

Whether you want to take part, volunteer, collaborate, support the organisation or simply stay connected, there's room to start somewhere.

JOIN

PARTICIPATE

VOLUNTEER

PARTNER

SUPPORT

THE STORY ISN'T FINISHED.

The next chapter starts with people.

The permanent space is part of the future.

What happens next starts now.

🍏 🍊 🍓 🫐

The Sober Bar London

Got questions?

Everything you need to know about joining our community, becoming verified through Discord, your free Digital Community Access Card, our events, pathways and The Sober Bar London CIC.

Type a word or topic to find the right answer.

What is The Sober Bar London?

The Sober Bar London is an alcohol-free social community and Community Interest Company (CIC).

We create inclusive alcohol-free spaces for the LGBTQI+ community, allies and the wider sober community.

We create opportunities for people to connect, socialise and enjoy great experiences without alcohol being at the centre of them.

You don't have to call yourself sober. Whether you're sober, sober-curious, in recovery, taking a break from drinking or simply looking for something different, you're welcome.

We are a non-clinical and non-therapeutic organisation running online and in-person events, sober socials, community meet-ups and peer-led activities.

Through Reset, Connect, Learn and Thrive, we work to reduce loneliness, build connection and create opportunities into learning, training, volunteering and employment.

How do I become a verified member?

The only way to become a verified member of The Sober Bar London community is through our Discord.

Step 1 — Join our Discord Join The Sober Bar London's official Discord server.

Step 2 — Go to “Register Here” Find the Register Here section when you enter the server.

Step 3 — Press the green button Press “Register for Community Access”.

Step 4 — Complete the short registration form Fill in the requested Community Access information.

Step 5 — Receive your Digital Community Access Card Your free card should be emailed to you as a PDF.

Step 6 — Unlock the verified community You'll then gain access to the verified areas of the Discord server.

Discord and Community Access registration together form our official verified membership process.

Do I have to join Discord?

Yes — if you want to become a verified member.

Discord is the online home of The Sober Bar London and is where Community Access registration and membership verification take place.

It's also where you'll find announcements, events, conversations and opportunities across Reset, Connect, Learn and Thrive.

How do I get my FREE Community Access Card?

Your Digital Community Access Card is completely free.

Join our Discord, go to Register Here, press the green “Register for Community Access” button and complete the short registration form.

Your Digital Community Access Card should then be emailed to you as a PDF.

Your card is also used for access/check-in at our community events.

I'm new here — what should I do first?

If you've joined Discord but can't see all of the community spaces, that's normal.

Go to Register Here, press the green “Register for Community Access” button and complete the short form.

Once registered, your Digital Community Access Card should be emailed to you as a PDF and you'll gain access to the verified areas.

How does The Sober Bar London Discord work?

Discord is the online home of The Sober Bar London community.

The server is organised into different channels for announcements, events, conversations, opportunities and pathway activities.

Some spaces are visible when you first join. Verified areas become available after Community Access registration.

What are Discord channels?

Think of Discord channels as different rooms within our online community.

Different channels are used for announcements, events, conversations, opportunities and activities.

You don't need to use every channel. Explore at your own pace.

Why can't I see all of the Discord channels?

Some areas of our Discord are reserved for verified community members.

Go to Register Here, press “Register for Community Access” and complete your registration.

What is my Community Access Card used for?

Your card confirms that you've completed Community Access registration.

It is sent as a PDF and is also used as part of our event access and check-in process.

Do I need to be sober to join or attend?

No.

We welcome people who are sober, sober-curious, in recovery, taking a break from drinking or simply interested in alcohol-free socialising.

We ask everyone to respect our alcohol-free community spaces.

Who is The Sober Bar London for?

We create inclusive alcohol-free spaces for the LGBTQI+ community, allies and the wider sober community.

You do not need a particular label or have to explain why you're not drinking.

Are you a clinical or therapeutic service?

No. The Sober Bar London is non-clinical and non-therapeutic.

Our focus is community, peer connection, social inclusion, reducing loneliness and creating positive alcohol-free opportunities.

Our activities do not replace professional healthcare, therapy or specialist recovery services where needed.

What does Community Interest Company (CIC) mean?

A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a UK company created to operate for community benefit rather than primarily for private financial gain.

The Sober Bar London has a clear community and social purpose.

CICs also have an asset lock, helping ensure assets and resources continue to be used for community benefit.

What are Reset, Connect, Learn and Thrive?

These are our four community pathways.

They create opportunities around peer connection, alcohol-free socialising, learning, training, volunteering, skills development and routes towards employment.

Is The Sober Bar London online or in person?

Both.

Discord is the online home of our community.

We also run in-person sober socials, community meet-ups and other alcohol-free experiences.

How do I attend an event?

Check the individual event information and follow the booking or registration instructions.

Your Community Access Card may also be used during event check-in.

Can I come to an event on my own?

Absolutely.

Many people attend without already knowing anyone. Our aim is to create welcoming spaces where you can connect at your own pace.

I'm nervous about attending for the first time. What should I expect?

You are not expected to arrive feeling completely confident or immediately talk to everyone.

You can take your time, observe, meet people gradually and join in at a pace that feels comfortable.

Can I bring friends who aren't sober?

Yes.

Your friends do not need to identify as sober. Everyone just needs to respect our alcohol-free environment.

Is alcohol allowed at your events?

No.

Our community spaces and experiences are alcohol-free.

What drinks are available at events?

Options vary by event and venue but may include mocktails, alcohol-free alternatives, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic options.

Do I need to book events in advance?

It depends on the event. Some require advance booking or registration.

Always check the individual event information before travelling.

What if I have accessibility requirements?

We want our experiences to be as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Accessibility varies between venues, so check the event information or contact us before attending with specific requirements.

Can I support The Sober Bar London by donating?

Yes.

Donations help us develop inclusive alcohol-free spaces, community activities and opportunities.

They can also help reduce barriers to participation and grow our Reset, Connect, Learn and Thrive pathways.

Are there other ways I can support the community?

Yes — support isn't limited to donations.

Opportunities may include volunteering, partnerships, attending events, sharing our work or providing opportunities to community members.

What if I can't find my Community Access Card?

Check the email address you registered with, including your spam or junk folder.

If you still cannot locate the PDF, contact The Sober Bar London team.

I still have a question. How do I get help?

Use The Sober Bar London's official contact options.

Verified members can also use the appropriate community channels within Discord.

No matching FAQ found.
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2026 © The Sober Bar London CIC ┃ Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales ┃ Company number: 17012083

Questions? Chat with us

THE SOBER BAR LONDON • SUPPORT DIRECTORY

Sometimes you need more than community.

The Sober Bar London is about connection, belonging and creating opportunities to move forward. But life does not exist in neat categories. Mental health, substance use, housing, money, relationships, identity and employment can all affect one another. This guide brings together organisations that may be able to help when you need something more specialised.

Finding support should not feel like another problem to solve.

Knowing that something needs to change does not necessarily mean knowing where to begin. You might be struggling with your mental health, thinking about your relationship with drugs or alcohol, trying to rebuild after a difficult period, looking for work, worried about housing or simply trying to get your life into a more stable place.

Sometimes several of those things are happening at the same time. That can make navigating support confusing, particularly when different organisations use different language to describe what they do.

This directory brings the main areas together in one place: mental health, recovery, drugs and alcohol, employment, housing, money, essential needs, LGBTQ+ wellbeing and safety.

The Sober Bar London is a non-clinical, non-therapeutic community. Our role is about connection, belonging, confidence, routine, skills and opportunity. Specialist organisations have a different role and can provide professional, clinical or practical support where that is needed.

01 • YOU DON'T NEED ALL THE ANSWERS

You do not need to know exactly what kind of help you need before asking for it. Finding one useful starting point is enough.

02 • DIFFERENT SUPPORT CAN WORK TOGETHER

Community, professional services, peer support and practical help can all play different roles in somebody's life.

03 • START WHERE YOU ARE

Recovery and rebuilding are rarely linear. What you need today may be different from what you need several months from now.

Need urgent help?

If you or somebody else is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency in the UK, call 999 or 112. For urgent mental health help in England that is not a life-threatening emergency, contact NHS 111. Samaritans provides emotional support and Shout provides text-based crisis support.

CALL 999 CALL 112 NHS 111 SAMARITANS 116 123 TEXT SHOUT 85258

01 • MENTAL HEALTH

Someone to talk to. Somewhere to start.

Mental health support can take many forms. You might want professional treatment, somebody to listen without judgement, information about what you are experiencing or simply help understanding where to go next.

NHS Talking Therapies

NHS Talking Therapies provides psychological treatment for common mental health difficulties including anxiety and depression in England.

It can be a useful starting point if anxiety, low mood or related difficulties are affecting everyday life and you would like to explore professional psychological support.

FIND NHS TALKING THERAPIES ↗

Samaritans

Samaritans provides confidential emotional support for people who are struggling, overwhelmed or simply need somebody to listen. You do not have to be suicidal to contact them.

It can be valuable when you do not necessarily want advice or treatment but need a confidential space to talk about what is happening.

116 123 • CONTACT SAMARITANS ↗

Shout

Shout provides confidential mental health support through text. It can be useful when speaking on the telephone feels difficult or when communicating by message feels more manageable.

It is designed to support people who are struggling to cope and need somebody to help them through an immediate difficult period.

TEXT SHOUT TO 85258 ↗

Mind

Mind provides information about mental health problems, treatment, medication, rights and different forms of mental health support.

It can be particularly useful if you know something is affecting your mental health but are unsure what it means, what kind of help to ask for or where to begin.

EXPLORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT ↗

The Listening Place

The Listening Place provides face-to-face listening support in London for people who feel that life is no longer worth living.

Its focus is creating a confidential environment where somebody experiencing suicidal feelings can speak openly and be listened to without judgement.

LEARN ABOUT THE LISTENING PLACE ↗

Rethink Mental Illness

Rethink Mental Illness provides information and support around mental illness, including resources for people experiencing mental health difficulties and for family members and carers.

Its information can help people understand services, rights and some of the practical ways mental illness can affect everyday life.

VISIT RETHINK MENTAL ILLNESS ↗

02 • RECOVERY • DRUGS • ALCOHOL

There is no single route through recovery.

Some people want to stop completely. Some are questioning their relationship with drugs or alcohol. Others are looking for harm reduction, professional treatment, peer support or a healthier way to live. Different approaches can be useful at different points.

UK SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a peer-support approach for people who want to change addictive behaviours. Its programme uses practical tools around motivation, urges, thoughts, behaviours and creating a more balanced life.

It may suit people looking for structured peer support or an alternative to traditional 12-step fellowships. SMART Recovery provides access to online and face-to-face meetings.

EXPLORE SMART RECOVERY ↗

Build on Belief

Build on Belief focuses on the community side of recovery, creating peer-led spaces and activities for people affected by substance use.

It can be especially relevant when treatment is only one part of the picture and you are also looking for connection, meaningful activity and opportunities to spend time around people who understand recovery.

VISIT BUILD ON BELIEF ↗

Change Grow Live

Change Grow Live provides drug and alcohol services in different parts of the country, including support for people concerned about substance use and people looking at treatment or recovery.

It may be a useful starting point when you feel that you need more structured professional support around drugs or alcohol. Available services vary by location.

EXPLORE DRUG & ALCOHOL SUPPORT ↗

Turning Point

Turning Point provides health and social care services in areas including substance use and mental health. The exact services available depend on location.

It may be useful where substance use is connected with other areas of wellbeing and you want to explore professional support alongside community or peer-led recovery.

FIND TURNING POINT SUPPORT ↗

FRANK

FRANK provides accessible information about drugs, their effects, risks and issues surrounding substance use.

It can be a useful starting point if you are worried about your own drug use, concerned about somebody else or want straightforward information before deciding what you want to do next.

FIND DRUG SUPPORT NEAR YOU ↗

LGBT Foundation – Chemsex

LGBT Foundation provides information and support around chemsex and sexualised drug use, including issues affecting gay, bisexual and other LGBTQ+ people.

It can be relevant when substances have become connected with sex, relationships, sexual health, wellbeing or your ability to feel in control.

EXPLORE CHEMSEX SUPPORT ↗

London Friend / Antidote

London Friend is an LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing charity supporting people in and around London. Its wider work includes wellbeing, counselling and social support.

London Friend also runs Antidote, its specialist LGBTQ+ drug and alcohol service. It can be particularly relevant where drugs, alcohol, chemsex, sexualised drug use and LGBTQ+ life overlap.

EXPLORE LONDON FRIEND & ANTIDOTE ↗

NHS Alcohol Support

The NHS provides information about alcohol misuse, dependence, treatment and where people can look for professional support.

It is a useful starting point if you are concerned about your drinking and want to understand when professional help may be appropriate or what treatment options can look like.

READ NHS ALCOHOL GUIDANCE ↗

Alcoholics Anonymous GB

Alcoholics Anonymous is a peer fellowship for people who want to stop drinking. Meetings bring together people with personal experience of alcohol problems and recovery.

AA may be relevant if you are looking for a widely available, peer-led and abstinence-focused recovery community with regular meetings.

FIND ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS ↗

Alcohol Change UK

Alcohol Change UK works to reduce alcohol harm and provides information and resources that can help people think more clearly about their relationship with drinking.

Its resources may be useful whether you are considering cutting down, taking a break from alcohol or simply trying to understand your drinking habits.

EXPLORE ALCOHOL CHANGE UK ↗

03 • EMPLOYMENT • SKILLS • OPPORTUNITY

Moving towards work can be part of rebuilding.

Employment does not always begin with sending applications. Sometimes the first steps are rebuilding confidence, understanding your strengths, developing skills, finding training or getting support with barriers that make work more difficult.

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service provides careers information and guidance in England. Its resources cover careers, skills, training, courses, CVs, interviews and preparing for employment.

It can be useful if you want to work but are unsure what direction to take, have been away from employment for some time or want to understand what skills could help you move forward.

EXPLORE CAREERS & SKILLS ↗

GOV.UK Find a Job

Find a Job is the government's online vacancy service and allows people to search advertised jobs by role, location and other criteria.

It becomes particularly useful once you feel ready to look at actual vacancies and want a straightforward place to begin exploring employment opportunities.

SEARCH FOR JOBS ↗

Access to Work

Access to Work can provide eligible people with additional support where a disability or physical or mental health condition creates barriers to getting into or remaining in employment.

It is worth exploring if you want to work but your health or disability means you may need practical assistance or additional support in the workplace.

CHECK ACCESS TO WORK ↗

Jobcentre Plus / Moving into Work

Government employment support can help some people receiving benefits move towards employment.

Depending on your circumstances, this can include support through a work coach, training, employment programmes or other help aimed at moving towards work.

EXPLORE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ↗

04 • HOUSING • HOMELESSNESS

A safe and stable place to live matters.

Housing insecurity can make every other part of life harder. Whether you are already homeless, sleeping rough, worried about losing your home or living somewhere unsafe, specialist housing organisations can help you understand what options may be available.

Shelter England

Shelter provides information and advice about housing rights, homelessness, eviction, renting, tenancy problems and situations where somebody is at risk of losing their home.

It can be a useful starting point when your housing situation feels unstable and you need to understand your rights and what steps may be available next.

GET HOUSING ADVICE ↗

StreetLink

StreetLink provides a way for people to alert local services about somebody who is sleeping rough in England and Wales.

The information supplied can help relevant outreach services try to connect a person sleeping outside with local support.

VISIT STREETLINK ↗

The Passage

The Passage is a London homelessness charity supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Its work includes practical assistance and support designed to help people move away from homelessness and towards greater stability.

GET HELP FROM THE PASSAGE ↗

Centrepoint

Centrepoint specialises in supporting young people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

For a young person facing an unstable housing situation, it can be a starting point for finding information and support designed around the experiences of young people.

EXPLORE CENTREPOINT SUPPORT ↗

akt

akt specialises in supporting LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity or hostile living environments.

It can be particularly relevant when housing difficulties are connected with sexuality, gender identity, family rejection or feeling unsafe at home.

EXPLORE AKT SUPPORT ↗

Ace of Clubs

Ace of Clubs is a London-based service supporting people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

Its work focuses on practical assistance and helping people connect with further support when immediate needs are part of a wider experience of homelessness or instability.

VISIT ACE OF CLUBS ↗

05 • MONEY • BENEFITS • ESSENTIAL NEEDS

Sometimes the problem is practical.

Debt, low income, uncertainty about benefits and difficulty affording essentials can affect housing, mental health and your ability to move forward. Clear information and practical help can create some breathing room.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice provides information across a wide range of everyday problems including benefits, debt, housing, employment and consumer issues.

It can be particularly useful when several things are happening at once and you are unsure which organisation, system or problem you need to deal with first.

GET CITIZENS ADVICE ↗

Turn2us

Turn2us helps people experiencing financial difficulty explore what financial support may be available to them.

Its tools include a benefits calculator and grants search, which can be useful if you want to check whether there may be additional benefits or charitable financial assistance available.

CHECK FINANCIAL SUPPORT ↗

StepChange

StepChange is a debt charity providing free debt advice and information about possible debt solutions.

It may be useful if repayments, arrears, credit cards, loans or other debts have become difficult to manage and you need help understanding your options.

GET DEBT ADVICE ↗

MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper provides guidance on financial topics including bills, budgeting, debt, benefits, pensions and other money decisions.

It can be useful for getting a clearer picture of your finances and understanding what type of specialist help might be useful next.

VISIT MONEYHELPER ↗

Universal Credit

The official GOV.UK Universal Credit pages explain eligibility, how to make a claim and how an existing claim is managed.

If your income is low or you are out of work, this is the official starting point for understanding whether Universal Credit may be relevant to your circumstances.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT INFORMATION ↗

NHS Low Income Scheme

The NHS Low Income Scheme can help eligible people on a low income with certain healthcare costs.

Depending on circumstances, this can include help with costs connected with prescriptions, dental treatment, eyecare and some healthcare travel.

CHECK NHS HELP WITH HEALTH COSTS ↗

Trussell Food Bank Finder

Trussell supports a network of food banks and provides an online tool for finding food-bank support.

If you are struggling to afford enough food, the finder can help identify a nearby service so you can check directly how that particular food bank can be accessed.

FIND A FOOD BANK ↗

Your Local Council

Local councils are responsible for or connected with many forms of local support, including housing and homelessness services.

Depending on where you live and your circumstances, your council may also provide or signpost local welfare and hardship support. The GOV.UK finder can identify your council.

FIND YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL ↗

06 • LGBTQ+ WELLBEING • SAFETY

Support that understands the wider context.

Sexuality, gender identity, discrimination, family relationships, community experiences and safety can all affect wellbeing. Sometimes it matters to speak with an organisation that understands that context.

Galop

Galop is a specialist organisation supporting LGBT+ people affected by abuse and violence.

It can be particularly relevant when somebody wants support from an organisation that understands how sexuality, gender identity, LGBTQ+ relationships and discrimination can affect experiences of abuse and safety.

GET SUPPORT FROM GALOP ↗

Stonewall Support Services

Stonewall provides information and resources relating to LGBTQ+ life and signposting towards organisations working across the wider LGBTQ+ sector.

This can be useful if you know you would prefer LGBTQ+-specific support but are unsure which specialist organisation may be most relevant to what you are experiencing.

EXPLORE LGBTQ+ SUPPORT ↗

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is run by Refuge and provides confidential specialist support for women experiencing domestic abuse.

The service can help somebody talk through what is happening and consider their options. If somebody is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency, call 999.

0808 2000 247 • GET HELP ↗

You do not have to solve everything at once.

Moving forward can begin with one conversation, one appointment, one meeting or one practical problem becoming a little easier. You do not need to contact every organisation on this page. Start with what feels most relevant to what is happening in your life right now.

Specialist services can deal with the things that require specialist knowledge. Community can play a different role: helping people reconnect socially, rebuild confidence, create routine, develop skills and find opportunities to participate in life again.

About this directory:

The Sober Bar London is not an emergency, crisis, medical, treatment or clinical service. This directory is provided for signposting purposes.

The organisations listed are independent from The Sober Bar London. Their services, eligibility criteria, locations, opening hours and contact information can change. Always check directly with the organisation for its latest information and decide whether the service is appropriate for your circumstances.