Welcome to BLAGS, The Bristol Lesbian and Gay Switchboard.

BLAGS, Bristol's long-running Lesbian and Gay switchboard, is closing at the end of February. One of the first L&G switchboards to set up in the country, and currently the second-longest running, the volunteers have decided, after many months of discussions, to hand over the service to another group to ensure that calls coming from the region will still be answered.

"It seemed like the obvious solution," says Switchboard volunteer Darryl Bullock. "We're getting fewer calls than ever, it's become harder and harder to find volunteers locally who were able to offer time to answer phones and we're currently only able to take calls twice a week. Transferring to LLGS means that people in the Bath and Bristol region will have access to a helpline seven days a week, from 10 in the morning until 11 at night; keeping the same phone line means that there's no extra cost to callers."

The group are marking their passing with a party for volunteers past and present, to be held on Sunday February 26. They are also organising an exhibition to tie in with LGBT History Month, to be held on the same day at Hydra Books, Old Market Bristol (4pm-8pm), and have been discussing how best to preserve the Switchboard's almost 40-year archive with OutStories Bristol, the region's LGBT history project. Former volunteers and supporters who would like to attend the party should email gayvenue@sky.com for an invitation. The exhibition at Hydra Books is free and open to everyone.

"It's very sad that, after almost 40 years, we feel that the time has come to close the Bristol L&G Switchboard down, but we're all absolutely adamant that local LGBT people, their friends and families, should still have access to help if they need it," Darryl added. "We want to turn the passing of BLAGS into a celebration of everything we have achieved over the last four decades and invite everyone who has had a part in the Switchboard over the years to help us do that."