When it comes to stressful experiences, most people would agree that moving house is a life event with a deservedly bad reputation.

Research confirms its status as a top source of stress: according to a 2019 poll of 2,000 UK homeowners, 40% voted moving house as more nerve-wracking than getting a divorce, having a baby or starting a new job.

But while researching everything from van hire to the best way to pack a cacti collection is nobody’s idea of fun, for underrepresented groups like the LGBTQ+ community or the elderly, finding professional help for moving day can be a source of fear, and even discrimination.

For Londoners who want to minimise the stress of moving, however, Shirley’s Removals is one company that makes getting from A to B a more manageable experience, and they’re particularly well-versed in helping those who are in vulnerable situations.

The business was founded in the late 80s, when many people living with HIV weren’t able to get hired help when moving home because of the stigma around the disease. So in 1988, Shirley McGah started a removals business to support the community and partnered with the Terrence Higgins Trust to become one of London’s first LGBTQ+ removals companies.

Now run by Magali and her partner Wendy, the company mainly serves London’s community, helping everyone from the elderly to victims of domestic abuse to move anywhere in the UK.

Here, they reflect on the company’s heritage, putting the client first, and why they’re on a mission to do away with the term ‘man in a van’.

This LGBTQ+ owned removals company is creating a safe space for everyone - here's why that's important