Voda secures £650,000 to bolster mental health support for LGBTQ+ community amidst rising hostility in the UK

Voda, an award-winning mental health application designed by and for LGBTQ+ people, has successfully raised £650,000 in funding. This investment will enable Voda to expand its inclusive, therapist-developed mental health resources at a crucial time, as queer and trans communities in the UK experience increased animosity, discriminatory legislation, and limited access to appropriate care.

Voda, co-created with a diverse team of LGBTQ+ psychotherapists and psychologists, integrates therapeutic rigor with real-world experiences to offer trauma-informed, self-guided support. The app provides guidance for users navigating issues such as coming out, gender dysphoria, discrimination, and hate speech.

This funding milestone follows a successful community-backed launch last year. Voda currently supports over 35,000 LGBTQ+ users worldwide, with a growing user base in the UK. The app offers accessible tools for building self-esteem, managing difficult emotions, and promoting emotional well-being in the face of adversity. With this new funding, Voda aims to broaden its reach, create new therapeutic content with LGBTQIA+ clinicians, and introduce community-driven features to support daily well-being.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of increasing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the UK, including renewed attacks on trans rights, the dismantling of NHS LGBTQ+ inclusion programs, and widening disparities in access to mental health support. Many individuals, particularly those in rural areas or facing long waiting lists, continue to lack access to affirming care.

Chris Sheridan MBACP, Lead Therapist at Voda, stated, “Our community, especially trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, are not struggling because they don't want help. They’re struggling because the system is becoming increasingly hostile to them.”

Jaron Soh, Co-founder and CEO of Voda, commented, “As LGBTQ+ rights are being eroded and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments increase, we are proud to build a queer-led platform that prioritizes care and dignity. This funding will empower us to provide thousands more LGBTQ+ individuals across the UK with the mental health support they deserve.”