Quest Linkline
The Helpline for Lesbian and Gay Catholics
Freephone 0808 808 0234
Sundays, Wednesdays & Fridays
7 - 10 pm, plus answerphone
Quest Linkline is a national, confidential, telephone helpline service, available to all, and intended particularly for lesbian, gay and bisexual Catholics, their families, friends and partners. We provide callers with listening, support, information or referrals, as appropriate, in a non-discriminatory and non-judgemental way.
People call us for many reasons. Often, callers are experiencing conflict in trying to reconcile being both Catholic and homosexual. Some are trying to cope with the revelation that their son, daughter or spouse is homosexual. Many callers wish to meet others and find friends who are similar to themselves. Others just need to know that they are not alone in their situation.
Usually, callers want to talk to someone who understands what they may be going through and the problems that may arise from this. Someone who has already begun to deal successfully with these issues in his or her own life, and so can help others to understand their situation better. We can't solve callers difficulties for them, but we can guide them towards finding their own solutions.
We are often asked for information about Quest and its activities, and can refer people to local Quest groups and contacts. We also provide information about other groups, helplines and helping organisations, and provide referrals to sympathetic clergy.
We can send out information about Quest - nationally and locally - plus membership application forms, booklists, poster cards, wallet cards, and information on other organisations, as appropriate and as available.
Calls to Linkline may be monitored for staff training or quality control.
Organisation
Quest Linkline is run by Quest, a group for lesbian, gay and bisexual Catholics in the UK, and is the responsibility of Quest’s Committee. It is staffed by volunteers (‘Linkliners’), who are members of Quest, and who receive regular training, support and supervision.
Linkline has clearly defined policies and procedures, available on request, including policies on Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Complaints, and a Callers and Volunteers Charter.
Branches of Linkline are established, and their Managers and a National Co-ordinator appointed, by the Committee, in cooperation with the relevant local Quest Steering Group.
Currently, Linkline operates from one branch, in London, provided by the Quest London Group. We always need more Linkliners, to answer calls, and welcome enquiries from anyone interested in becoming a Linkliner.
How You Can Help
- Please pray for Quest Linkline and its callers.
- Please consider making a donation to help us with the costs of running Quest Linkline and the costs of training volunteers.
- If you are interested in becoming a Linkline volunteer, ask for further information.
Further Information
For further information, call Quest Linkline, on 0808 808 0234, any Sunday, Wednesday or Friday evening, 7 - 10 pm (or at any time: leave a message on the answerphone), or send an e-mail to linkline@questgaycatholic.org.uk, or write to the National Co-ordinator, Quest Linkline, BM Box 2585, London WC1N 3XX.
Complaints
Quest Linkline aims to provide a non-discriminatory, non-judgemental, confidential telephone helpline service, which offers listening, support and information to callers, as advertised. All our Linkline helpliners are volunteers who receive training and support, and they do their best to give a satisfactory service to our callers.
However, we accept that callers, and volunteers, may be unhappy with some aspect of the Linkline service, and that both have the right to complain about anything they regard as unsatisfactory. So the following procedure for responding to complaints has been agreed by the Committee.
If you wish to complain informally, you can speak to a Linkliner about your concern. He or she may be able to resolve the matter straight away, or may offer to refer your complaint to the local Manager to resolve.
If you wish to complain formally, you can tell a Linkliner that you wish to make a formal complaint, and ask to be sent a copy of Quest Linkline’s Complaints Procedure. The details of your complaint will then be reported to the local manager for attention. Or you can write to the Secretary, BM Box 2585, London WC1N 3XX.
Links
The Helplines Association: www.helplines.org.uk