February Leaders Blog: Reflections on Our Strategy and the Road Ahead in 2026

February Leaders Blog: Reflections on Our Strategy and the Road Ahead in 2026

Welcome to the first in our new monthly series of reflections from Consortium’s Senior Leadership Team. Each month, a different member of the team will share updates, insights and sector-wide reflections, helping to connect our strategy to the realities of our work and the experiences of our members.

Launching Our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan

As we begin 2026, I’ve been reflecting on the journey we’ve taken together at Consortium – and the path ahead. Last month’s Annual Conference and AGM was a real high point. It brought together our members, partners and team (albeit virtually) to reaffirm our purpose. We officially launched Consortium’s new Strategic Plan 2026–30, “Strengthening the Foundations Towards Brighter LGBT+ Futures” – a five-year roadmap shaped by nearly a year of collaboration with our members, grantees, trustees and partners.

This strategy isn’t just a document for the shelf; it’s a shared vision for how our sector can thrive in challenging times. One thing we emphasised at the AGM is that this plan is an evolution, not a reinvention. It builds on what we’ve learned and achieved, while facing the realities our communities are living through. We remain rooted in hope, but we’re also clear-eyed about the work ahead.

Our key priorities for 2026–2030 include:

• Strengthening Consortium as a resilient, member-led infrastructure body that can better support all of you.

  
  

• Building capacity across our sector – from developing new leaders and improving governance, to helping groups become more sustainable for the long term.

  
  

• Coordinating community advocacy, with Consortium acting as a connector and amplifier for clear, collective voices on the issues that matter to LGBT+ people.

  
  

• Growing investment in our communities, continuing to develop the LGBT+ Fund so that grassroots groups can access the resources they need.

  
  

• Improving access to data and research to fuel evidence-led advocacy and services, ensuring our work is informed by lived experience and real-world insight.

Underpinning all of these priorities is a commitment to partnership and collaboration. As our CEO Paul Roberts said during the strategy launch: this is about movement-building, not individual organisational gain. In other words, we rise and progress together as an interconnected ecosystem of LGBT+ organisations. I believe that by focusing on our collective vision, we can help shift the national narrative back towards inclusion, human rights and the celebration of our communities’ contributions.

Responding to a Changing Landscape

We are implementing this strategy in a fast-moving and often challenging landscape. The past year has brought significant shifts in the external environment for LGBT+ rights in the UK.

There is ongoing concern around the EHRC’s forthcoming guidance on single-sex services. A leaked draft late last year suggested changes that could enable trans people to be excluded from certain spaces based on appearance, which understandably caused alarm. The final guidance is still pending Government approval, and until then, there is considerable uncertainty. What’s clear is that this is an evolving situation. Consortium will continue working with our members and partners to defend the rights of trans and non-binary people. We will hold the EHRC and policymakers to account on their commitments, and we’ll be ready to respond robustly to any proposals that undermine the dignity and safety of our communities. Our message remains firm: trans rights are human rights, and any regression in protections is unacceptable.

Despite the hostile rhetoric in many political and media spaces, I take heart in the resilience I see across our sector every day. From local community centres to national charities, we are still here, providing vital support and advocating for change. Our strategy’s focus on coordinated advocacy means standing together with a unified voice when basic rights come under threat. Consortium will continue to facilitate that unity – whether by convening emergency calls with member groups, sharing intelligence, or amplifying campaigns. When we speak as one, we are much harder to ignore.

Celebrating LGBT+ History Month

Among the challenges, February brings a welcome opportunity to celebrate our community’s resilience and richness. LGBT+ History Month is here, and this year’s theme is “Science and Innovation”. I find this particularly fitting. It resonates with one of our key strategic priorities: improving access to data to inform our work. We’re not just sharing stories (though that matters deeply), we’re also analysing data and finding new ways to innovate in science, technology and beyond.

Of course, LGBT+ History Month is also a time to reflect on those who came before us. Our rights and freedoms were hard-won by previous generations. In the UK, we think of icons like Marsha P. Johnson, Mark Ashton, Lisa Power, and countless unnamed community heroes. This is a time to educate others (and ourselves) about the struggles and victories that brought us here – from the decriminalisation of homosexuality, to the repeal of Section 28, to equal marriage, to more recent fights for trans equality. As we celebrate these milestones, we’re reminded that history is still being written – and that each of us, in our daily work, contributes to the next chapters.

Throughout February, Consortium will be amplifying our members’ History Month events and campaigns. At a time when a vocal minority is trying to pull us backwards, showcasing our history and contributions is a powerful form of resistance. It tells a different story – one of community, achievement and belonging. I’m looking forward to attending as many events as I can (even if virtually) and celebrating with you all. Let’s use this History Month to recharge our spirits, honour how far we’ve come, and remind ourselves why we must keep pushing forward.

Moving Forward Together

As we begin this new year, I feel a mix of determination and cautious optimism. The hurdles facing our LGBT+ voluntary sector are real – funding is tight, needs are growing, and the political climate can be tough. But I also see so much strength and ingenuity in our communities. Our new strategic plan gives us a clear, ambitious framework for action: partnering more effectively, advocating more boldly, investing in those doing the work on the ground, and harnessing data to drive change. These are not just buzzwords; they’re principles that will guide Consortium’s work in the years ahead.

As Head of Partnerships and Development, my personal resolution this year is to deepen collaboration across the sector. That means listening closely to what our member organisations need, and finding creative ways to meet those needs together. It also means breaking out of silos – connecting LGBT+ groups with each other and building bridges to allies in health, education, human rights and beyond. We know that social change is a collective effort. Consortium’s role is to be a facilitator and connector. If there are ways we can support your work or bring people together around a common goal, I invite you to reach out to us.

In the coming months and years, we’ll implementing this strategic vision – from capacity-building workshops, to shared advocacy efforts, to better ways of gathering and using data. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. We’ll also keep you updated on national developments and where your voice is needed. We won’t be passive in the face of uncertainty – we will be proactive, speak up, and centre the needs of our communities in everything we do.

Finally, I want to say thank you. To our members: thank you for the tireless work you do every day to support LGBT+ people across the UK. You are the heart of Consortium and the reason we exist. To our partners and funders: thank you for believing in the importance of our sector and for investing in brighter futures. And to everyone reading: thank you for being part of this movement, whether you’re a volunteer, staff member, activist or ally.

There’s no doubt that 2026 will bring its tests. But I believe it can also be a year of opportunity and solidarity. We have a strategy that lights a path forward, and a community rich with talent, passion and resilience. By working together – pooling our knowledge, standing up for each other, and sharing what we have – we can rise to meet whatever lies ahead.

Let’s make 2026 a year where our partnerships grow stronger, our voices carry further, and our foundations become even more solid.

Here’s to our shared success – and to brighter futures for every part of our LGBT+ community.

Heather Paterson

Head of Partnerships and Development