Lesbian . Gay . Bisexual . Transgender

Youth . North West

Consultancy

• Setting up a LGBT youth group,
• Services for LGBT young people,
• Making your service more LGBT youth friendly using the quality mark being developed.
• Developing LGBT Youth resources.

In 2005/06 we carried out a significant consultation with LGBT Young people across the region, the findings are as follows:

Who are LGBT Youth North West?

LGBT Youth North West is a regional organisation that is working towards the inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people in North West England, and is supporting LGBT young people and LGBT Youth organisations in the North West of England to achieve a quality and accessible service provision for all LGBT young people. The organisation is made up of existing LGBT Youth providers across the region and aims to work with both the clients of existing youth agencies and young people who are not currently involved in any youth or group provision. LGBT Youth North West thrives to provide a wide and diverse range of activities for young LGBT people to engage in. One of the main ways this is achieved is through the training scheme which is currently being piloted though is open to all young people and youth workers. All training is Open College Network Accredited at various key skill levels and focuses on a range of issues relevant to the needs of the younger LGBT community including anti discriminatory practice, the process of coming out and challenging homophobia. LGBT Youth has a fun and participative programme which has many exciting opportunities for LGBT young people to engage in, they are concerned with the needs and trends in behaviours of LGBT young people and aim to provide opportunities and events which will help to connect LGBT youth groups up across the region.

Why do the consultation with LGBT young people and youth workers?

The aims of the consultation were to ensure that LGBT Youth North West was involving LGBT young people from the beginning and throughout the process and development of the organisation, this meant that young people were identifying the needs of LGBT young people and that the organisation was shaped in order to respond to the identified.
Also, LGBT Youth North West aims to adopt Children as Stakeholders and so by carrying out this consultation process, were able to work through policies: confidentiality, disclosure and child protection, and the rights and responsibilities of both staff and young people to ensure that the approach being taken is both attainable and fair for both young people and youth workers.

Methods used to consult and engage with LGBT young people and Youth Workers?

The consultation process and compilation of this report were completed over a four-month period, with the initial contact and consultation session taking place between October and December 2005. LGBT Youth North West met with 4 existing LGBT Youth groups; Gay Youth R Out (GYRO) in Liverpool, Lesbian and Gay Youth Manchester (LGYM) in Manchester, Power to be Out (POUT) in Chorley and Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Service (GLYSS) in Warrington.
The consultation exercise consisted of a survey in which young people had the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions on the development of LGBT Youth North West, a simulation exercise where young people prioritised the needs and wants of LGBT young people and a discussion exercise. The consultation with youth workers was carried out separately over a weekend residential in January 2006.

Young Peoples Consultation Survey
The consultation Survey carried out was completed by 25 young LGBT people across Chorley, Warrington, Liverpool and Manchester.

Consultation Survey

Consultation Survey