LonGBoaT Wakefield, with support from Wakefield Council’s Neighbourhood Investment Fund, is launching a new initiative to help make Wakefield a safer, more welcoming place for LGBT+ people – and we’d love your organisation to be part of it.
The LGBT+ Safe Space Scheme is open to all businesses and organisations across the district, from sole traders and community groups to large employers and public institutions. By joining, you’ll be showing a visible commitment to inclusion and support for LGBT+ customers, staff, service users and visitors.
Accreditation is awarded against the set of values outlined below, ensuring all Safe Spaces meet a clear and consistent standard of inclusion.
The scheme is free to join, but we do ask organisations to consider making a small voluntary donation where possible. Donations help us deliver site visits, maintain the scheme, and expand LGBT+ safe spaces across Wakefield.
What you’ll receive
-
A window sticker to display at your premises
-
A digital badge for your website, social media and email signatures
-
A listing on this page, helping the community find supportive spaces
How to sign up
You can choose the option that works best for you:
Option 1: Apply to Join
Submit a short application and we’ll be in touch to arrange a site visit. We’ll guide you through the process and support you every step of the way.
Option 2: Full Self-Assessment
Complete the full self-assessment form online. We’ll still arrange a site visit, but this gives us most of the information we need to make a decision more quickly.
Together, we can help make Wakefield a place where LGBT+ people feel safe, respected and welcome.
Accredited Organisations
The Carleton
Dining, Pub
Hardwick Rd, Pontefract WF8 3PQ, UK
The Hepworth Wakefield
Charity, Creative, Dining, Coffee Shop
Gallery Walk, Wakefield WF1 5AW, UK
Spectrum People
Charity, Health
Hebble Wharf, 1 Navigation Walk, Wakefield WF1 5RH, UK
BHA for Equality
Health, Charity
15 Margaret St, Wakefield WF1 2DQ, UK
LonGBoaT Wakefield CIO
Creative, Charity
Monk St, Wakefield WF1 4EL, UK
The Art Exchange CIC
Creative
55 Westgate, Wakefield WF1 1BW, UK
CoffeeWrite
Coffee Shop, Independent
4 Marygate, Wakefield WF1 1NX, UK
Darling Reads
Book Shop, Independent
17 High St, Horbury, Wakefield WF4 5AB, UK
Opal Hair
Beauty, Independent
Wellgate Centre, 4 Wellgate, Ossett WF5 8NS, UK
Spectrum Community Health
Health, Charity
Hebble Wharf, 1 Navigation Walk, Wakefield WF1 5RH, UK
The Prince of Wales Hospice
Health, Charity
Halfpenny Ln, Pontefract WF8 4BG, UK
Second Chance Headway
Charity
Almshouse Ln, Wakefield WF1 1DS, UK
The New Union
Pub, Dining
2 Almsgate, Wakefield, UK
Learn More about Safe Spaces
Why Should Businesses and Organisations Sign Up to an LGBT+ Safe Space in the UK in 2025?
In 2025, being a visibly inclusive and welcoming organisation isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also smart, sustainable, and forward-thinking. Here’s why signing up to an LGBT+ Safe Space scheme matters now more than ever:
1. Show Your Values in Action
Consumers and communities expect more than just lip service. Signing up signals that your business or organisation truly supports equality, inclusion, and respect for all. It’s a public commitment; not just a rainbow during Pride season.
2. Build Trust with LGBT+ Customers and Staff
LGBT+ people still face daily discrimination and barriers; in work, in public, and in accessing services. A Safe Space badge tells people: “You’re welcome here. You’ll be respected.” That reassurance goes a long way in building customer loyalty and attracting diverse talent.
3. It’s Simple and Scalable
You don’t need to be a large company with an HR department to take part. The scheme is designed to work for any size, from independent shops and freelancers to national organisations. The values you sign up to are practical and easy to adopt.
4. Free to Join and Community-Focused
The scheme is free to join, and you’ll receive physical and digital materials to display your support. If you're in a position to, you can also make a donation to help grow the scheme and reach more spaces across the region. It's support with real impact.
5. You’ll Be Part of a Bigger Movement
Wakefield (and the UK more broadly) is home to a vibrant, resilient LGBT+ community. By joining the Safe Space scheme, you're helping build a network of places where people feel safe, respected, and seen. That’s powerful.
6. Get Support to Do It Well
No one gets everything right all the time, and that’s okay. LonGBoaT Wakefield and other organisations offer guidance and training to help you grow in confidence when it comes to inclusive practices, language, and policy.
Free to join, with an option to support
There’s no cost to sign up to the Safe Space Scheme. However, we do ask that businesses and organisations able to do so consider making a donation to support the scheme’s growth and allow us to reach more spaces across Wakefield.
Additional printed materials may carry a small charge, but we aim to keep this as low as possible.
Help us build a Wakefield where everyone feels seen, safe, and supported.
What You're Signing Up To
Everyone who joins agrees to a set of practical, scalable values that support LGBT+ inclusion, written by our LGBT+ service users:
-
Inclusive dress codes – Allow staff and visitors to dress in a way that reflects their gender identity, appropriate for your setting
-
Zero tolerance for discrimination – Actively challenge LGBT+ discrimination and foster a culture of respect
-
Respect for names and pronouns – Use the correct names and pronouns, and be open to updates and changes
-
Visible support – Show your support through Pride participation, charity donations, inclusive events, or any other meaningful action
-
Inclusive language – Use gender-neutral terms in your communications, both online and offline
-
Welcoming feedback – Be open to learning and improving, and seek support from LGBT+ organisations if needed
-
Supportive formal or informal policies – Have or work towards policies that reflect LGBT+ inclusion, including:
-
Anti-discrimination policies
-
Inclusive hiring and parental leave policies
-
Trans and non-binary inclusive policies
-
Gender-neutral facilities and signage
-
-
Staff training and support – Access training through LonGBoaT Wakefield or other organisations and other providers to build knowledge and confidence
These principles are designed to work for all kinds of settings — whether you're running a small shop, a large employer, a local charity, or a public service.
Check out the Values Tracker to see how your organisation currently stands against our Safe Space Values.
We want the Safe Space scheme to stay accurate, fair and trusted. If you’ve spotted an error in a business listing, or you’d like to raise a concern about how a listed organisation is operating, we want to hear from you. You can contact LonGBoaT Wakefield directly using the details on our co form below or by emailing contact@longboatwakefield.org. Please include as much detail as you can.