Christmas Closure 2025: Festive Dates, Final Events & a Warm Thank You

As we head towards the end of another busy year, we wanted to share our Christmas and New Year opening arrangements, along with a big thank you to everyone who has been part of the LonGBoaT Wakefield journey in 2025.

Creating safe, welcoming and visible spaces for the LGBT+ community takes care and energy. Our volunteers have given both in abundance this year. As such, we’ll be taking a short festive pause to rest, recharge and get ready for an exciting 2026.

Our final LonGBoaT events of 2025

If you’d like to join us before the Christmas break, here are your last chances this year:

• Saturday Coffee Morning - Saturday 13 December 2025

  • At our Hub at Wakefield Kirkgate relaxed, friendly space to catch up

• Parents Group - Wednesday 10th December 2025

  • At our hub at Wakefield Kirkgate, reflect on the year, and enjoy a cuppa together.

• Trivia Quiz Night at The New Union - Thursday 11 December 2025

  • Always full of laughs, community spirit and chosen-family vibes.

Christmas closure dates

LonGBoaT Wakefield CIO will be closed from Thursday 18 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026.

During this time, our regular sessions and activities will pause while our volunteers take a well-deserved break. This rest is vital to sustaining the welcoming, inclusive support spaces that LGBT+ people rely on throughout the year.

Arts & horticulture return in the New Year

We’ll be easing back in gently after the festive period:

• Horticulture & Art Events Return on Tuesday 6 January 2026, from 10am

  • Starting the year with a Propagation class, perfect for learning, connecting and growing together (Sorry)

Looking ahead to 2026

We’re straight back into our regular rhythm soon after:

• First Parents Group of 2026 – Wednesday 14 January 2026

• First Trivia Quiz of 2026 – Thursday 15 January 2026

• First Coffee Morning of 2026 – Saturday 17 January 2026

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back into our spaces, continuing to build visibility, belonging and community for LGBT+ people and our allies across Wakefield.

A festive message from all of us

From everyone at LonGBoaT Wakefield CIO – trustees, volunteers and supporters – we’d like to wish you a safe, joyful and inclusive Christmas and New Year. Whether you’re celebrating loudly, quietly, with chosen family or taking time for yourself, you matter, you belong, and you are valued.

Thank you for standing with us in 2025. Rest well, take care of each other, and we’ll see you in the New Year, refreshed, re-energised, and ready for what’s next.

With warmth and solidarity,The LonGBoaT Team