The Swansea Rainbow Counselling Centre is a project of the LGBT Cymru Helpline. The charity is not exclusive to LGBT+ clients, it is inclusive for our Allies to access. As long as clients are not transphobic, biphobic or homophobic they are welcome to access our services. Debbie believes that without our allies we would never be where we are today with LGBT+ legal rights and by being able to open up the Swansea Rainbow Counselling Centre is a unique way, of not just wanting to support the local communities with their mental health who cannot afford private access to counselling and support, but also a way of repaying and respecting our allies.

Debbie is a qualified Family/Relationship Mediator as well as an Employment Law Advisor and has been a PCS Union Representative for nearly 20 years. Debbie has been nominated for many awards for her relentless commitment and energy of campaigning for LGBT+ rights including the Wainwright Trust Equality Breakthrough Award 2004 for her representation of LGBT+ people in the UK, Wales Mardi Gras Community Spirit Award 2007 for the Counselling Service and the Civil Service Inspiration Award 2008 for the UK & Northern Ireland for encouraging and influencing employers to promote LGBT+ good practise. Debbie’s spirit, drive and passion for equality and fairness for LGBT+ people is immediately contagious when you are in her company and was celebrated in the Pinc List 2020 Wales’ most influential LGBT+ people reaching position 35. Debbie is an inspirational speaker and has recently been celebrated as a ‘Change Maker’ in 2021 at the Swansea Elysium Gallery!

Now Debbie sees ‘difference’ as a positive and quotes “Everyone working together, especially with our allies, we can, and do, make a difference.”