LGBTQIA+ people face a mental health crisis of a scale that mainstream, and charity services cannot meet. They are three times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidality. Among LGBTQIA+ young people, 58% have seriously considered suicide in the past year and nearly 20% have attempted it. Long waiting lists, discrimination, and unaffordable private options leave thousands without support.
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Queerwell was established to fill this critical gap and in just its first 12 months has become a nationally recognised, trusted LGBTQIA+ mental health voice, with its research adopted by the Department of Health and NHS England to inform their national review of LGBTQIA+ health inequalities.

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OUR STORY

In December 2024 we lost our co-founder and Trustee Maari. Maari Nastari, a trans woman of colour, activist, charity leader and friend was a driving force from day one of Queerwell, and we would never have launched our charity without her strong support and insistence that we did so.
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      Maari’s legacy is something we will always be proud of and will celebrate. In her lifetime she helped thousands of LGBTQIA+ people facing homelessness, abuse and mental health challenges; she worked hard for four LGBTQ+ charities and founded two more through her passion, skills and creativity. Queerwell will move forward with our work in 2025 in memory of and driven by Maari’s passion to support LGBTQ+ people to overcome the challenges they face.
During our first 12 months, it took over 250 people to create Queerwell. We will be forever grateful to all the people listed here and many more, who believed in us and supported our mission to ensure LGBTQIA+ people in most need with the least resources have early access to mental health support. We continue our work in memory of our Co-Founder Maari Nastari - Charity Leader and Activist.
Founding Donors and Funders
  • Pinto Hervia Foundation (Richard Duncalf & Oscar Pinto        
  • Edward Carpenter Foundation
  • Harry Glasstone
  • 100+ Anonymous Donors
  • Strategic Comms and Culture
  • Belinda Evans
  • London Gay Symphony Wind
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
             Founders (Board)
  • Femi Otitoju - Chair                   
  • Debbie Toksvig
  • Edward Carpenter Foundation
  • Dr Henry Ashcroft
  • Andrew Richards - Treasurer
  • Grainne Carrol
  • Mario Muttenhaler
  • Sean Pettit-Scheepers
  • Sharmila Kar
CHARITY FOUNDERS
  • Tim Spoor MBE
  • Maari Nastari
  • Debbie Toksvig
Corporate
Founder Partners
  • Remarkably + Rich Pemberton CEO (Brand, Design, Marketing)
  • Debbie Taffler & Friends (Brand Development)
  • Lloyds Bank - Rainbow Network
  • Baker McKenzie (Legal, Advisory)
  • Paul McKay (Baker McKenzie)
  • Emma Rehal-WIlde (Baker McKenzie)
PATRONS
  • Sandi Toksvig
  • Dan Gillespie Sells
ADVISORS
  • Addi Haran
  • Abbé Land
  • Dr Alessandro de Arcangelis
  • Daniel Winterfeldt
  • Dr Alaster Douglas
  • David Shaked
  • Annie Southerst
  • Lord Cashman
  • Rachel Crabtree
  • Steven Forrest
Charity and Community Founder Partners