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LGBTQ+ yOUTh Service

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Make a referral Weekly LGBTQ+ Youth Group Trans Group Workshop Behaviour and Conduct What is it like locally for LGBTQ+ Young People? What to do if you are worried about a child or young person Helplines

The yOUTh Service works across all of Calderdale and Kirklees, providing support to LGBTQ+ young people, their parents and carers.

To make a referral, click below:

Or you can contact our staff directly:

LGBTQ+ Young People and Family Support Worker (Kirklees only) - Caz Morreale - 07976 402 198

LGBTQ+ Youth Worker (Kirklees and Lead Youth Worker) - Kate Ribchester - 07534 075 388

LGBTQ+ Youth Worker (Calderdale) - El Lotz - 07958 914 070

Services include:

  • One-to-one support for young people around their sexual orientation and/or gender identity
  • Family Support for parents and families of LGBTQ+ young people
  • LGBTQ+ youth groups (these groups are closed access - see below)
  • Online and over-the-phone support
  • Schools and partnership work
  • Research into the further needs of LGBTQ+ young people
  • Chances to influence local services

Please note, some services available may differ in Calderdale and Kirklees.

The service involves LGBTQ+ young people in improving services locally so that they better meet their needs. Our team works with organisations locally, regionally and nationally to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people and to make Kirklees a great place for LGBTQ+ young people.

Our LGBTQ+ youth groups are closed access, which means you need to meet with one of our youth workers before attending for the first time. In addition, you can't bring someone with you who is unknown to the youth workers. To protect the young people who attend our groups, we reserve the right to refuse admission.

We take the views of young people seriously; you have the right to be listened to and as a young person you will be involved in the planning of groups and services. As a young person you may speak to us at any time and there are lots of ways you can get in touch with us here. If you feel we are not listening to you, you may make a complaint.

If you attend our premises or one of our groups, you will find feedback cards which you can complete and return to us. During one-to-one sessions, you have the opportunity to tell us your thoughts and feelings, too.

Weekly LGBTQ+ Youth Groups

You cannot attend unless you have met a member of staff first. This is to keep everyone safe. If you turn up without having met a member of staff first, you will be refused entry. The same applies if you bring a friend/relative/partner who is unknown to our youth workers. Have a look at the behaviour and conduct section for more information.

Monday - Dewsbury:

  • Years 7 - 11, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Monday - Hebden Bridge:

  • 13 - 19 year olds, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Tuesday - Halifax

  • 13 - 15 year olds, 5pm to 6:30pm
  • 16 - 19 year olds, 6:30pm to 8pm

Wednesday - Huddersfield:

  • Years 7 - 11, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
  • Seniors, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Trans Group Workshops

Trans Group workshops are a 6-week workshop for parents and carers of young people under 25 who identify as transgender, non-binary or genderfluid. Workshops are held in Huddersfield town centre and are a safe space, where parents and carers can access practical advice and emotional support.

They provide an opportunity to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ identities. Additionally, there will be quarterly groups and family socials.

Family Support

In Kirklees we have a family support worker who will offer support to LGBTQ+ young people, their parents, carers and siblings. Our worker uses a whole family approach to ensure the needs of LGBTQ+ young people are met, they are safeguarded and all family members are supported.

"The Brunswick Centre have been pivotal to my family. I firmly believe that the support and hope that they gave my transgender daughter saved her life when she was at crisis point"

Parent of trans young person

Behaviour and Conduct

Ground Rules

In order to keep all young people safe at our groups, young people have devised a list of ground rules and ask that those who attend the group adhere to them. Breaching these will result in you being asked to leave or being refused entry to the group. Breaches will be addressed individually with the young person.

Our rules are:

  • Don’t bring with you unknown (to the group and/or staff) young people;
  • Avoid offensive language;
  • Respect others' belongings and opinions;
  • Respect all group members and staff;
  • Smoke only in designated areas; and
  • Do not attend under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What is it like locally for LGBTQ+ young people?

In 2018, Dr Eleanor Formby from Sheffield Hallam University and Dr Jo Woodiwiss from the University of Huddersfield were commissioned by the Brunswick Centre to undertake local research and an evaluation of the yOUTh service in Kirklees.

Young people were invited to take part in the research, giving them a voice and enabling them to influence the work of the charity and other health and social care agendas.

The research ran for five years, have a read of the report here!

Have your say and make a difference

We have various opportunities for you to have your say. This could be about our service/charity or influencing other local services for LGBTQ+ young people. We have a Mystery Shopper Programme which you can be involved in. These meetings are held monthly.

If you are worried about a child or young person

If you think you or a child or young person in Calderdale or Kirklees is being abused or mistreated, or you have concerns about a child’s wellbeing, you should call and speak to someone on one of the following numbers:

Calderdale

During Office hours - 01422 393 000

Out of Office hours - 01422 288 000

Kirklees

01484 456 848

Call 999 if the child is at immediate risk or call the police on 101 if you think a crime has been committed.

If you're in crisis and need to talk to somebody:

  • Duty & Advice team: 01484 456848
  • NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
  • NSPCC email: help@nspcc.org.uk
  • NSPCC text: 88858 (free service)
  • Childline: 0800 1111