Newly opened LGBT+ centre in North East receives Lottery funding

The ONE Centre in Gateshead opened on February 2 and was awarded a £330,754 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to help fund staff and core operating costs.

The ONE Centre, a state-of-the-art LGBTQ+ hub at the Stonehills Complex in Gateshead, officially opened on February 2 with a launch attended by business leaders, regional dignitaries and invited guests. The opening coincided with the start of LGBTQ+ History Month and included the unveiling of a new artwork by North East artist Chris Fleming, known as Ida4. On the day of the opening the National Lottery Community Fund announced a grant of £330,754 to the centre. The hub is intended to support the LGBTQ+ community across the North East and offers a range of spaces and services. Key details: - The National Lottery Community Fund announced a grant of £330,754 on the centre's opening day. - The funding will support the creation of four permanent staff roles and help cover core operating costs. - Facilities include rooms for counselling, workshops, community drop-ins, training, hot-desking, a large function room, a community kitchen, and a podcast/broadcast studio. - The building was renovated from the former Bradbury Centre for Sight, which previously housed Vision and Hearing Support. - The launch featured a new three-panel artwork by Chris Fleming (Ida4); a fourth panel will be added in the future based on community suggestions. Summary: The grant provides immediate operating support and staffing capacity for the newly opened ONE Centre, which will host a range of services and become the new home of Pride Radio. Plans noted at opening include adding a fourth panel to the unveiled artwork and establishing the funded staff roles, with further developments to be announced by Out North East and partner organisations.