Pride in Surrey move out of Woking hub
It's as long-term building work disrupts access and lowers footfall
Pride in Surrey have moved out of their Woking hub after disruption caused by long-term building work.
The hub, which has been in use since December 2021, closed on 12 May due to issues with access and reduced footfall caused by the work.
Pride in Surrey said the start of further building work that is not expected to finish until Spring 2025 led to the decision to terminate the lease.
The charity's Volunteer Manager, Sam Powell, told Greatest Hits Radio said the work was causing "frequent disruption."
"We've been able to work around that, but it has put strain on the services we can provide."
The location of a new hub is set to be announced in the next few weeks, ahead of it opening in late June.
Searching for more 'dedicated spaces'
It comes as Pride in Surrey are running an online survey asking people about the provision of LGBTQ+ safe spaces countywide.
The survey is focusing on available resources, events that are run, and how safe spaces should look.
Sam Powell said Surrey being "spread out" as a county often makes LGBTQ+ provision tricky to run.
"It's difficult as a result to have a dedicated space to reach everyone because you can drive half an hour in any direction from Surrey and still be in Surrey."
He also praised Councils and Councillors across the county who ha helped with events, adding local authorities can play more of a role in establishing spaces countywide.
"I think the interest within councils to fund these kind of things is there, it's just really getting people in the same room and working out ways that support can actually take place."