From one community in Liverpool in 2008 to 37 communities across England and Wales in 2026: Celebrating 18 years of welcome, belonging and inclusive Christian community.
Our impact
The Open Table Network is changing lives.
Our communities exist because too many LGBTQIA+ people still struggle to find churches where they are fully welcomed, valued and able to flourish.
“Just my deepest and sincerest thank you to Open Table for offering a haven in my storm.”
Our independent Research & Case for Support 2026, carried out by Dot to Dot Training & Consultancy, shows that Open Table communities are making a significant and measurable difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people and allies across England and Wales.
The research found that Open Table communities:
improve wellbeing,
reduce isolation,
create safe and affirming spaces, and
help people reconcile their faith with their identity.
“Members visibly relax when they walk through the door – for many of them this is the first time they have felt fully accepted in a church.”
Just as importantly, it shows that the need for Open Table remains as great as ever.
Since our first independent research in 2021, Open Table has grown from 18 to 37 communities across England and Wales - an increase of 106% - while continuing to support hundreds of people every month.
What our research found
Our independent Research & Case for Support 2026 shows the difference Open Table communities are making across England and Wales. Behind every statistic is a person who has found welcome, belonging and hope. Here is what our members told us:
94% said being part of an Open Table community had improved their wellbeing.
84% said Open Table had significantly reduced their feelings of isolation.
73% said being part of an Open Table community made them feel safe.
71% said being openly LGBTQIA+ remains a barrier to belonging in mainstream churches.
These outcomes are made possible by the commitment of volunteers across the network.
83% of members and 95% of leaders said volunteers play a significant role in creating safer, more welcoming communities.
As the network has expanded, so the number of volunteers has more than tripled, from 132 in 2021 to 399 in 2025, making this impact possible.
Five years of growth
Open Table has grown from 18 communities in 2021 to 37 communities in 2026, reaching more people than ever before.
Our first independent research, published in 2021, demonstrated that Open Table communities were improving wellbeing and reducing isolation during and beyond the pandemic.
Five years later, the evidence is even stronger.
The network has more than doubled in size, welcoming a new generation of members and leaders. The 2026 research confirms that Open Table continues to provide places where people experience welcome, belonging and hope, while showing that affirming Christian communities remain urgently needed for many LGBTQIA+ people.
What people say
‘Just my deepest and sincerest thank you to Open Table for offering a haven in my storm.’
‘I had stopped attending church before I came to Open Table. Now I've reconnected with my faith again.’
‘It is a safe place where I am not “on my guard”.’
‘My mental health is better and I am less suicidal.’
The cover of the report Open Table Network: Research and Case for Support 2026 by Dot to Dot Training & Consultancy.
Why this matters
Many LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience exclusion or feel unable to be themselves within mainstream church settings. Our research shows that Open Table communities provide something unique: places where people can worship authentically, build lasting friendships, volunteer, develop leadership and belong without having to choose between their faith and their identity.
As one Open Table leader reflected:
‘Members visibly relax when they walk through the door - for many of them this is the first time they have felt fully accepted in a church.’
Read our research
Download our Research & Case for Support 2026 to discover more about the impact of Open Table communities and our vision for the future.
How you can help
As demand for Open Table continues to grow, we want to support more communities in more places across England and Wales.
“It is a safe place where I am not ‘on my guard’.”
You can help us create more places of welcome, belonging and hope by:
Giving to support the growth of Open Table Network.
Starting or hosting an Open Table community.
Volunteering with your local Open Table community.
Praying for our communities, leaders and volunteers.
Sharing our work with your church, friends and networks.
READ MORE HERE about how you can support us.