The charity London Friend has six months to raise £200,000 to buy its premises in Islington.

In February last year the rent at the property on Caledonian Road rose by 21% after a three-year rent review by Islington Council. At the time chief executive, Matthew Halliday, warned that the charity hadn’t budgeted for such a large increase in the rent. Aside from one position funded by a Department of Health donation, London Friend relies solely on private donations, legacies and fundraising.

In November the charity was told that the property would be auctioned in three weeks. This decision prompted fears that a private landlord would raise rents even higher but the sale was halted and London Friend has been given the opportunity to purchase the building.

Halliday said, “Although we are extremely disappointed that Islington council have decided to progress with this sale, we are pleased to be given the opportunity to try and purchase the property as an asset for London’s LGBT community.

“We have been providing counselling and other support to LGBT people for 40 years and we hope to be here for another 40. We are a volunteer run service and operate on minimal costs.”

The charity was founded in 1972 and has been based at the Caledonian Road premises since 1987. They offer services such as group workshops and bereavement counselling along with providing a safe environment for meeting and socialising.

[Via Pink News]