A counselling charity has received a major funding boost.

The Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard has been awarded lottery funding to develop its telephone helpline service.

The charity, based at Community Base in Queens Road, Brighton, hopes the funding will help it reach more people and support them in new ways, using new technologies.

The helpline has been informing and supporting LGBT people since 1975.

Director Natalie Woods said: “We recognise that the time has come to expand what we do, providing the same service to more people but in different ways.

“Increasingly people use the internet, smart phones and social media to connect with people and services and we want to enable people to connect with us in this way too.

“This is an exciting time for us. We have just taken on new volunteers who together with our existing team of committed volunteers and a freelance project coordinator will be piloting different ways of working.”

The charity is currently recruiting a freelance helpline technical development project coordinator to lead its new work.

If you are interested in this opportunity you can contact Switchboard’s administrator Mandy Gibson on 01273 234009 or email mandy.gibson@switchboard.org.uk.

Entries must be received before 5pm on Friday, September 27, with interviews planned for October 14.