Horizon LGBTQ+ at Renaissance
The Rainbow Quarter's LGBTQ+ health centre, offering sexual health clinics, rapid testing, HIV support, counselling and harm reduction on Dickson Road.
Horizon LGBTQ+ is the LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing service of Renaissance UK, a North West charity that has provided drug, alcohol and sexual health services since 1986. Its base, The Lighthouse at 102 Dickson Road, sits right in the Rainbow Quarter.
What they offer
- Sexual health clinics for gay, bi and trans people and men who have sex with men, including STI screening.
- Rapid testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C.
- Free condoms and safer-sex packs, and free home testing kits.
- HIV support: free, confidential help for people living with or affected by HIV.
- Counselling and one-to-one support around sexuality and gender identity.
- Chemsex and harm reduction support for people whose drug or alcohol use is causing concern.
- Peer and social groups. Blackpool Allies, Lancashire Lads and TransInclusion all meet here or use this contact line.
When and where
The M2M clinic for men who have sex with men runs on Tuesday evenings from 5.30pm to 8pm. The Lighthouse is generally open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, but clinic times can differ, so ring ahead before you go.
How to get in touch
Call 01253 311431 or email enquiries@ren-uk.com. The centre is a few minutes' walk from Blackpool North station.
Good to know
- Renaissance's dedicated services are for residents of Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire. Visitors should still call for advice.
- Don't confuse this with Horizon Blackpool, the town's adult drug and alcohol service, which shares the Lighthouse building and is run by a different provider.
- Renaissance is also completely separate from Blackpool Renaissance, the trans support group that meets on Dickson Road.
- Renaissance helped develop and runs the Be You Business Quality Mark, so venues wanting to join the scheme can contact the same team.