A GROUP is set to meet in Alloa for the first time tomorrow in a bid to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ adults in the area.

The Lavender Room will offer a safe space for the entire diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual community in Clacks and the wider Forth Valley region, meeting for the first time on Wednesday, February 15.

People, including those who are questioning their identities, will be meeting at the Carsebridge Culture Campus, run by Resonate at the Carsebridge whisky heritage site, from 5pm to 9pm on the day.

The group is the brainchild of Menstrie artist and youth worker Lou Carberry, who has benefitted from the Clax LGBT youth group, at the Bowmar Centre, since the age of 13.

They told the Advertiser: “I'm trying to create that same sense of safety and community I got from that group from a young age, for vulnerable adults because I know that there's a lot of people within this community that don't have a safety net, that don't have anybody that understands the LGBTQ+ community.”

The group will be alcohol-free, Lou explaining that many in the community suffer from issues of addiction and mental health worries.

“I'd just like to work on the LGBTQ+ communities having a support system,” Lou, 23, continued.

“Currently, there's addiction services, but a lot of them are based in religious backgrounds.

“I'd like to be able to get in touch with other local services that just have LGBT people in mind.”

Lou also spoke about the difficulties and indeed, hate, LGBTQ+ people still face in the Wee County.

They added: “I think, today with the current climate in the whole of the UK, with trans rights the now – there's so many issues.”

Lou also spoke of an incident last year which saw a group from outside the Wee County meet in Alloa, putting up anti-trans stickers in the town, allegedly with razorblades below them to prevent people from removing them.

In August 2016, there was a rainbow-clad procession through Alloa as a Pride event went ahead in the wake of a homophobic hate incident earlier that year.

While Lou could not attend the procession, they said: “It had its benefits, but I think there was quite a lot of hate speech going through the town, I think it was quite a challenging march for the people that were involved.

“The event afterwards was lovely, there were loads of people who came along, everybody was very nice and welcoming but it was held in a safe and secure environment.

“I think the march was rocky.”

LGBTQ+ people interested in the group can find FVLavenderRoom on Facebook or head along to the meeting on February 15.