Community, Connection and Courage: Meet Aubrey Crawley, Founder of the West London Queer Project
For Pride Month, we sit down with the driving force behind WLQP to hear how a chance encounter sparked a movement - and why queer spaces matter more than ever.
When Aubrey Crawley first moved to the UK from South Africa in 1998, he found a thriving LGBTQ+ community in West London. But over the years, many of the dedicated queer spaces disappeared. Then, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aubrey unknowingly planted the seed of a new chapter. What began as a casual idea to run a social night at a local pub in Chiswick quickly grew into a movement - The West London Queer Project (WLQP).
Now a registered Community Interest Company, WLQP organises a huge range of events, from book clubs to touch rugby, all while championing LGBTQ+ advocacy in council, police and NHS settings. For Pride Month, we caught up with Aubrey to reflect on how it all began, the importance of queer spaces, and what keeps him going in the face of daily adversity.
Q&A with Aubrey Crawley
You’ve described the West London Queer Project as something that began ‘by accident’ - looking back, what do you think it was about that first social night that struck such a chord with people, and why do you think the need for spaces like this is greater than ever now?
Our first event took place during Covid when we were finally allowed out but still had to socially distance, so everyone was naturally craving community, conversation and the opportunity to meet new people. The timing was just right for us!
The current political climate and the increase in hate crime has led many LGBTQ+ people to feel unsafe and vulnerable, so spaces where we can meet, socialise and feel safe are extremely important. Unfortunately, there are no permanent LGBTQ+ spaces in West London, which makes our work even more important.
From walking groups to mental health workshops, WLQP offers both joy and support. How do you strike a balance between the fun, social side of the project and the serious advocacy work you do with local authorities and health organisations?
We are very much community-led and hold regular surveys, feedback sessions and online/social-media polls allowing us to know how best to serve our community. It’s important to listen and respond to people’s needs - and those needs vary. Some people come to us for connection and joy, others for mental health support, and many for both. Our programming reflects that balance.
You’ve spoken about receiving daily hate messages but continuing your work with determination - what keeps you going, and what advice would you give to other LGBTQ+ people who want to create change in their communities but may feel afraid to speak out?
The biggest driver for me is seeing how much happiness we are bringing to our community, and to be honest, the hate that we receive just inspires me to keep doing more. Very often the hate is coming from a place of fear, ignorance and/or misinformation, so we need to keep working towards reconciling people with truth, facts and kindness.
For anyone wanting to make change in their communities but afraid to speak out, I would suggest joining an LGBTQ+ group, charity or organisation and volunteering your time with them. There is so much that can be done behind the scenes before putting yourself out there, and over time your knowledge and confidence will grow.
As Pride Month unfolds, Aubrey and the WLQP continue to offer more than just events - they offer hope, solidarity and the space to be seen. Whether you're joining the Pride Month Picnic this Saturday at Chiswick House & Gardens or discovering WLQP for the first time, one thing’s for sure: this “accidental project” has become a vital lifeline for West London’s LGBTQ+ community.
