'Lives could be lost' if LGBT+ charity Four Pillars is forced to close its doors due to funding crisis

The North East’s only LGBT+ frontline charity is warning lives could be lost if the organisation is forced to close its doors.

Four Pillars says its facing unprecedented financial challenges and could close on Monday if urgent support isn’t provided

A decline in donations and funding has led to mounting financial pressures, with a fundraiser now launched as a last resort.

Deejay Whittingham, chief executive of Four Pillars, said: “Beyond the drop in, we offer one-to-one support at crisis moments for people. We talk about people coming out to their struggles, telling people, telling family.

“We also deal with the other end of that, the bullying and discrimination, the mental health issues.

“As hard as it is to say, yes, lives will be lost if we are not here.”

Deejay Whittingham, chief executive of Four Pillars STV News

The organisation was forced to cancel its Pride Parade this year due to financial constraints, and fears discrimination against the LGBT+ community is on the rise

Figures earlier this year found there were more than 8,500 hate crimes recorded by Police Scotland in 2024-25.

Of those, nearly a quarter involved an offender targeting someone because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation, while around 2% involved an offender targeting someone because of their transgender identity.

Now, there’s calls on the Scottish Government to provide crisis funding.

Maggie Chapman, Greens MSP, has called on the Scottish Government to step in STV News

Maggie Chapman, Scottish Greens MSP, said: “Given the number of people that they have supported, nearly 10,000 people in their last reporting year, nearly 10,000 community engagements, I think the government has to recognise the lifesaving service that Four Pillars has provided.”

It’s understood the Scottish Government will look at engaging with the organisation.

If the finances aren’t found, the charity could see its doors closed for good.