For the past 21 years the Metro Centre has offered invaluable help and advice to gay and lesbian people. As it prepares to come of age, reporter GLENN EBREY finds out why the centre's boss feels the service is as vital as ever.

THE Metro Centre started life as the Greenwich Lesbian and Gay Centre when it opened in 1985.

Over the years it has expanded and is now backed by a host of healthcare groups, including the Greenwich Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Oxleas NHS Trust.

The centre, in Greenwich High Road, offers a range of services to young gay, lesbian and bisexual people, including counselling and sexual health advice.

Metro Centre director Marguerite McLaughlin says helping younger people through the early stages of coming out' is vital.

She said: "Parents often find it very difficult when they find out their son or daughter is gay and because of that many young people feel very isolated.

"Suddenly you stop being a person and just get attached with this label. You start to think how can I be one of them?' "We are here to help them through that difficult period."

New York-born Ms McLaughlin says staff and volunteers at the centre draw on their own experiences to help the younger visitors.

She said: "There are 15 of us here who are gay, lesbian or bisexual and we can identify with what they are going through.

"We can show younger people there is a productive future for them."

Ms McLaughlin, who has run the centre for two-and-a-half-years, says it is not just there to help the young.

The centre also runs a group for older people and holds regular family discussion sessions.

A recent Government study estimated around eight per cent of people in the UK are homosexual.

Despite the introduction of civil partnerships which give same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples Ms McLaughlin says gay people still face many barriers.

She said: "There is still a massive stigma attached to being gay.

"Homophobic bullying is a far bigger problem than it was 20 years ago.

"Kids are being hounded at school and people are still being bullied in their workplaces.

"That is why organisations such as ours are still vital."

FACTS ABOUT THE METRO CENTRE

  • The Metro Centre is run by 16 full-time staff and around 60 volunteers.
  • It estimates it has around 150 people a week passing through its doors.
  • It is funded by health groups including the Greenwich Primary Care Trust and the council's Single Regeneration Budget.
  • The centre costs around £350,000 a year to run.
  • Call the centre on 020 8265 3311.