The first UK Jewish gay and lesbian organisation formed in 1972, eventually becoming known as the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group (JGLG) and most recently known as the Jewish LGBT+ Group. Over the next 40 years, Jewish LGBT+ life continued to develop in the UK with the birth of new LGBT+ religious communities and social groups, ordination of LGBT+ rabbis, and availability of same-gender weddings/commitment ceremonies in some communities.

Despite this, within the Jewish community there remained significant ignorance about LGBT+ issues, with a large number of LGBT+ people choosing not to engage in Jewish communal life. There was felt to be a lack of explicit recognition of the existence and needs of LGBT+ people within the Jewish community, with consequent lack of provision, for young people, adults and older adults. The community noted a lack of Jewish themed resources and guidance for educators to use to support and advise LGBT+ Jewish people, and to create inclusive Jewish community.

To address these challenges and others, in 2010-11, a number of UK-based Jewish LGBT+ organisations and passionate individuals met to discuss the creation of a forum that would share information, news and resources of interest to LGBT+ Jews in the United Kingdom.

In January 2012 a row broke out about the teaching of same-sex attraction in a Jewish secondary school, and KeshetUK proved itself as the vehicle for the response. Over the coming months, KeshetUK positioned itself uniquely. Activities would focus on providing education to, and raising awareness about LGBT+ inclusion within, the UK Jewish community. Since then, KeshetUK has become the sole organisation that works across the Jewish community working to ensure that no one is forced to choose between their LGBT+ and Jewish identity.

KeshetUK was incorporated as a limited company in May 2014 with three founder directors and then in September 2015 received Charitable status in England. After beginning fundraising in 2015, KeshetUK employed its first staff member in June 2016. Dalia Fleming joined KeshetUK as our first Executive Director in 2017.

In 2018, KeshetUK worked together with Chief Rabbi Mirvis, Jewish schools and Jewish LGBT+ people to produce a ground-breaking report 'The Wellbeing of LGBT+ Pupils: A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Schools'. This was the first document of its kind anywhere in the world and is particularly remarkable for having been produced by the Chief Rabbi together with LGBT+ Jews.

By 2022, KeshetUK grew significantly and launched its Community Life programme to grow and strengthen KeshetUK’s offer to Jewish community organisations and synagogues by providing a wider variety of training and offer more in-depth support.

In 2023 one of our founder trustees, Dr Benjamin Ellis was awarded an MBE in 2023 for his services to healthcare, equality and the Jewish community.

By 2024, training had been delivered to hundreds of individuals across the UK Jewish community, many of which were receiving LGBT+ Jewish inclusion training and consultancy for this first time. Dalia Fleming announced she was stepping down from her role after seven years in post. Ariel Chapman was appointed KeshetUK’s second Executive Director.

As we enter 2025, KeshetUK is incredibly proud to now have a team of 4 staff and 15 active volunteers, working with over 4,000 young people every year. Our work was recognised with a nomination for a HSBC National Diversity Award and 2025 also marks KeshetUK’s first participation in the Maccabi GB Fun Run in July 2025.