LGBTQ+ Community Groups and Sport in Manchester: Clubs, Choirs and Support

Why a club can beat another first date

A weekly session gives you the same faces every week and something to do together, and nobody expects you to perform. Friendships come first, and some people meet partners that way too. This guide only includes groups whose details could be checked on their own pages, or on LGBT Foundation's and The Proud Trust's listings, on 14 October 2026. Those pages are where to confirm times before you turn up.

Several groups say plainly what newcomers should expect: a free first session, a form to fill in, or a waiting list. Those details are included below, so you know what will happen when you walk in.

Football: Village Manchester FC

Village Manchester FC describes itself as gay and inclusive and says it has been going for 30 years. It trains weekly on floodlit 3G pitches at Trinity Sports Centre, near the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. Its join page did not give the training day or time when checked. Anyone aged 18 or over who loves football can join, whatever their sexuality, identity or ability.

The club runs five teams, which play in local FA leagues, national LGBTQ+ leagues and cups, and friendlies. Your welcome session and first training session are free, but the join page did not state fees after that. Straight allies are welcome, but the club operates a waiting list and prioritises LGBTQ+ applicants. Apply through the join page rather than just turning up.

• Village Manchester FCfootball club

  Trinity Sports Centre, near Oxford Road

  Gay and inclusive club, 18+, five teams; welcome session and first training session free; LGBTQ+ applicants prioritised from a waiting list.

Running: Manchester Frontrunners

Manchester Frontrunners says it was founded in 2005 as the second LGBTQ+ running club in the UK. It describes itself as a club for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, open to everyone whatever their age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or running ability.

The club lists three weekly runs. The Thursday run is an urban social run: arrive at Manchester Aquatics Centre at 6.50pm for a 7pm start. The Saturday run is a mixed-terrain social run: arrive at Longford Park in Stretford at 9.50am for a 10am start. The Tuesday track session starts at 6.45pm at Manchester Regional Arena and is mainly for paid members. The club says that on your first run it will make sure you have a buddy or group to run with at a pace and distance that suits you. The runs page did not list prices. A social run is a good first visit, because conversation is part of it.

• Manchester Frontrunnersrunning club

  Manchester Aquatics Centre (Thursday) and Longford Park, Stretford (Saturday)

  Founded in 2005; Thursday 7pm and Saturday 10am social runs, and a Tuesday 6.45pm track session mainly for members.

Swimming: Northern Wave and Marlin

Northern Wave says on Instagram, as quoted on its own site, that it has been swimming in Manchester since 1998. It is an LGBT+ club whose members are mostly LGBT+, but friends of the community are welcome. Swimmers must be competent and aged 18 or over, because the club does not teach people to swim. It focuses on technique, fitness and masters competition.

It lists four weekly sessions. On Mondays, 7pm to 8pm, it swims at Abraham Moss Library & Leisure Centre, M8 5UF. On Tuesdays, 8pm to 9pm, it swims at Moss Side Leisure Centre, M15 5NN, usually its busiest session. On Wednesdays, 7.55pm to 8.55pm, Hough End Leisure Centre, M20 1NA, hosts a session for cis women, trans women and non-binary people. On Saturdays, 3pm to 4pm, it swims in the 50m pool at Manchester Aquatics Centre, M13 9SS.

Your first session is free. After that, sessions cost £6 on Mondays to Wednesdays and £7 on Saturdays, or £3.50 if you earn less than the Living Wage. Payment is by card at the door, and members must register with Swim England. Bring swimwear, a towel, goggles and water, and arrive early to fill in the registration form. LGBT Foundation also lists Marlin, a free trans swimming group that meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7.30pm to 9pm, at Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre, M19 3PH.

• Northern Waveswimming club

  Abraham Moss, Moss Side, Hough End and Manchester Aquatics Centre

  LGBT+ masters swimming for competent swimmers 18+; first session free, then £6–£7 or £3.50 concessionary.

Singing: Manchester Proud Chorus

Manchester Proud Chorus rehearses every Monday. Its homepage did not give a time or venue, and it says you don't need to read music or have formal training to join. When this guide was checked, the chorus said it was closed to new members until January 2027, with a join link for future sign-ups.

The chorus's site did not describe its history, so this guide does not confirm any link to earlier Manchester choirs. If you want to sing in the meantime, register your interest through the chorus's site and check back in the new year.

• Manchester Proud Choruschoir

  Manchester

  Rehearses on Mondays; no need to read music; closed to new members until January 2027.

The Proud Place and the groups that meet there

The Proud Place, at 49–51 Sidney Street, M1 7HB, describes itself as Manchester's LGBTQ+ community centre and the home of The Proud Trust, an LGBT+ youth charity. Its café is run with The Ground Up Project, a community interest company that creates jobs for neurodivergent people. The café serves coffee, homemade cake, sandwiches and hot food, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

Its community groups page lists Rainbow Noir, a volunteer-led social and peer-support group for LGBT+ people of colour aged 18 and over. It meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7pm to 9.30pm, alternating between social and activity-based events. The page also lists Mxer MCR, a sober social space for non-binary adults, and LGBT+ inclusive Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, with schedules on those organisations' own sites.

No book club was listed at The Proud Place when this guide was checked. Queer Lit, an LGBTQ+ bookshop at 27 Great Ancoats Street, did not mention a book club on its contact page either. Ask in the shop, or start one yourself: the café is the kind of place where a small group can meet.

• The Proud Placecommunity centre

  49–51 Sidney Street, Manchester M1 7HB

  LGBTQ+ community centre with a café open Monday to Friday 9.30am–4pm and Saturday 10am–3pm; hosts Rainbow Noir and Mxer MCR.

LGBT Foundation: groups, volunteering and support

LGBT Foundation is at 72 Sackville Street, M1 3NJ. Its Connecting Communities hub lists groups for women, trans and non-binary people, people over 50 through Pride in Ageing, and veterans and armed forces personnel. It also runs a Community Café drop-in, though the page did not give its location. Volunteering is another way to meet people: Village Angels help people get home safely from the Gay Village and other queer events, and Village Heroes keep the Village clean and welcoming.

Its trans local groups page lists TransForum, a peer-support group for trans and questioning people. TransForum meets on the fourth Saturday of each month, 3.30pm to 7pm, at Wilbraham St Ninian's Church in Chorlton, M21 0UB. Forge, a social group for transmasculine people aged 18 and over, meets in central Manchester and online. The page also mentions Sparkle, a free trans festival held in Manchester each July.

For people affected by drugs, alcohol or chemsex, the charity's Recovery Programme supports LGBTQ+ people aged 16 and over in Greater Manchester. It runs SMART Recovery, ChemSafe and Here and Now groups, and you can refer yourself online. The helpline, 0345 3 30 30 30, is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.

• LGBT Foundationcharity

  72 Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3NJ

  Groups for women, trans and non-binary people, over-50s and veterans; Village Angels volunteering; helpline Monday to Friday 9am–6pm.

Before you go

• Apply to Village Manchester FC through its join page first. There is a waiting list, and LGBTQ+ applicants are prioritised.
• For Northern Wave, bring swimwear, a towel, goggles and water, and arrive early to register. You need to be able to swim competently.
• Read Manchester Frontrunners' new runners page before your first run. Its runs page does not list costs.
• Manchester Proud Chorus is closed to new members until January 2027, so register your interest now.
• Check monthly groups such as Rainbow Noir and TransForum on their listings before you go. Monthly dates can move.

Questions people ask

Is there an LGBTQ+ football team in Manchester?

Village Manchester FC is a gay and inclusive club with five teams. It trains weekly at Trinity Sports Centre. Your welcome session and first training session are free, and LGBTQ+ applicants are prioritised from a waiting list.

Can I join an LGBTQ+ running club as a beginner?

Manchester Frontrunners says it is open to everyone, whatever their running ability. Its social runs are on Thursdays at 7pm from Manchester Aquatics Centre and on Saturdays at 10am from Longford Park.

How much does Northern Wave swimming cost?

Your first session is free. After that, sessions cost £6 on Mondays to Wednesdays and £7 on Saturdays, or £3.50 if you earn below the Living Wage. Payment is by card at the door.

Where is Manchester's LGBTQ+ community centre?

The Proud Place is at 49–51 Sidney Street, M1 7HB. Its café is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

Is there an LGBTQ+ choir in Manchester?

Manchester Proud Chorus rehearses on Mondays, and you don't need to read music. It said it was closed to new members until January 2027 when this guide was checked.