Cambridge has a diverse and thriving LGBT community. There are over 13 different LGBT community groups based in the city, many of which draw membership from the whole of Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas.

The LGBT Network successfully completed a consultation with the LGBT community in Cambridge in January 2007. Over 200 people took part in the consultation which asked individuals about their experiences of being LGBT and living in Cambridge and the surrounding areas. The consultation found that LGBT people in Cambridge still experience abuse and violence because of their sexual and/or gender identity, and that there is still a gap between the needs of the community and provision in terms of health and public services particularly in the areas of Mental Health, services for older LGBT people and Gender Identity. There is a need for culture change across all services to understand and respect the differing needs of LGBT individuals. Participants also said that positive representations of LGBT lifestyles are rarely seen in the media. They identified a need to strengtheb the LGBT community in Cambridge, and to better support community groups by increasing the visibility of those organisations, 77% of them said that they wanted an LGBT Network in Cambridge.

In response to the consultation findings, the LGBT Network is currently establishing itself as an independent organisation, that will support, empower and represent LGBT organisations in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas.

The LGBT Network Community Fair will be the first of regular, quarterly networking meetings for LGBT community groups and individuals.

The LGBT Network grew from research led by DHIVERSE, the HIV and sexual health charity, and the Cambridge Volunteer Centre three years ago, and has been meeting informally since then. Cambridge City Council has funded a Development Worker to draw together the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and lead the project forward.