About us
METRO is an equality, diversity and inclusion services charity, working in London, Kent, Medway and Hertfordshire. We work across five domains:
Our vision
METRO’s vision is that health and wellbeing is universal; everyone can access high-quality empowering health and wellbeing services; oppression is eliminated, and identities are celebrated.
Our mission
We provide health and wellbeing services. We empower people and communities to develop personally and collectively, with a focus on marginalised communities. Key to our mission is partnership working and advocating for equity inside or outside of METRO.
Our values
- Collaboration
- Compassion
- Empowerment
- Equity
- Transparency
- Trust
Our goal
We will to harness the power of difference and diversity to inspire and support people and communities to realise their assets and potentials and aspirations.
Our history
METRO was established 1984 in response to the development of the Greater London Council's Lesbian & Gay Charter, Changing the World.
Originally operating under the name The Greenwich Lesbian and Gay Centre and providing telephone advice and support groups, the charity broadened its remit in 1994, working in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations serving lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people and those questioning their sexuality.
Over the next decade and beyond, METRO has extended its services beyond Greenwich, and across South East London, until eventually it began working not only across the whole of London, but nationally and internationally.
In early 2008, the membership of METRO agreed to amend its Constitution to provide services to all people experiencing issues related to sexuality, identity, gender and diversity.
From its inception, METRO has taken a holistic approach to lesbian, gay bisexual and trans health and well-being and continues to acknowledge that our ability to create supportive environments for LGBT people depends not only on our strengths as an organisation, but also on our capacity to build alliances and partnerships that empower all people who confront discrimination because of their sexuality, gender, identity or HIV status.
In recent years we have developed a range of services and that support African people and communities affected by HIV consolidated and expanded since our merger with Harbour Trust in December 2010.