In the lockdown summer of 2020, Aubrey Crawley hosted a small social gathering in the garden of a quaint local pub in Chiswick.
He had no idea that, just five years later, this simple meetup would grow into the West London Queer Project (WLQP) — a thriving, National Lottery and Sport England-funded social enterprise.
Today, WLQP offers a dynamic range of events and activities, from sporting sessions and fitness workouts to mental health workshops, wellbeing events, socials, comedy nights, and drag shows. What began as a local connection has blossomed into a vibrant community movement empowering LGBTQ+ people across West London and beyond.
Originally from South Africa, Aubrey Crawley moved to the UK in 1998 and has called West London home ever since.“Over the years, I watched as LGBTQ+ venues across West London slowly disappeared — one by one,” Aubrey reflects. “And now, in 2025, there’s not a single permanent queer space left. I remember this being a regular topic of conversation, something we all noticed and lamented. But I never imagined I’d be the one to actually do something about it.”
WLQP offers a wide variety of events — and that didn’t happen by accident. “One of the unexpected positives that came out of Covid was how much people were willing to open up afterwards,” says Aubrey. “In the early days, even before we had a name, people would come up to me and share what they missed, or wished existed. That’s when I realised — this wasn’t just a few socials. This was a project.”
From the beginning, WLQP has been deeply community-led, shaped by the voices and needs of the people it serves. The broader event programme doesn’t just bring people together — it also helps generate income, which in turn funds other forms of support that may not be commercially viable, but are vitally important to the wellbeing of the community.
Behind every WLQP event is a deeper purpose — connection, joy, and care. “I remember someone approaching me about six months into hosting our Sunday Socials and Football in Partnership with Brentford FC 4th Birthday Street Party West London Warriors Training Session asking, ‘What are you doing about sexual health?’” recalls Aubrey. “At first, I thought he was talking about my personal health — but he was actually referring to what I was doing to support the sexual health of our community.”
That conversation turned out to be a pivotal moment. It was a reminder that creating social spaces for LGBTQ+ people wasn’t just about fun — it was also about care, safety, and wellbeing. From that point on, WLQP began reaching out to sexual health providers to explore how they could make information, resources, and testing more accessible at events.
Today, sexual health is an integral part of WLQP’s broader wellbeing offering. From on-site testing pop- ups and PrEP information sessions to collaborations with local NHS clinics and charities, WLQP is helping ensure that health education and support are embedded in the fabric of its community events.“It’s about meeting people where they are,”says Aubrey. “If someone feels more comfortable picking up a leaflet or getting tested at a community social than going to a clinic, that’s a win. We want to create spaces where our community feels safe,supported, and seen — in every sense.”
As WLQP celebrates its five-year milestone, the future is full of promise. Plans are already
“WLQP is your community, and this celebration is for you” in motion for exciting new collaborations, an expanded programme of events, and deeper outreach to underrepresented groups within the queer community. Yet no matter how much WLQP grows, its heart remains the same: bringing queer people together, close to home, in ways that are joyful,inclusive, and real.
“To everyone who’s joined a Friday Social, danced at one of our legendary parties, laughed at a queer comedy night, or simply showed up to connect — thank you,” says Aubrey. “This isn’t just our anniversary — it’s yours too. WLQP is your community, and this celebration is for you. Here’s to the next five years!”
The Street Party to Celebrate!
