Local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people have been meeting at Dumfries YES for five years. The YES provided support for them to become formally constituted as the Phoenix group. A partnership was developed with LGBT Youth Scotland, a national organisation that supports LGBT groups. LGBT Youth Scotland provided some training and social opportunities for the group and recommended a link with Save the Children. Save the Children wanted to involve excluded young people in children’s rights work as part of Rights Connection Scotland and a partnership was formed to deliver Standing Out (sexuality awareness) sessions under the YES’s ‘Why Label Me’ support group programme.
After consultation, it was decided that an LGBT event should be held, with a focus on education. The Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Youth Issues Forum was established to steer the planning of the project. A conference, Skoolz Oot, was organised in association with the YES, LGBT Youth Scotland, Save the Children and the Equality Network. Young volunteers were trained as workshop facilitators and assisted in the organisation of the event as well as the creation and delivery of sessions. Evaluation feedback was very positive and this in turn secured the future development of the project.
The Dumfries and Galloway LGBT Youth Issues Forum now boasts an impressive membership, including representatives from the LGBT youth group (Phoenix), YES and LGBT Youth Scotland, together with professionals from Educational Psychology, the Policy and Performance Unit, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, the Department of Family Planning and Sexual Health, Health Improvement NHS, Inclusive Communities Forum and the Voluntary Sector Diversity Consortium.
Application was made to the Scottish Executive/Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) for funding to appoint an LGBT support worker for two years. The bid was successful and the project is now fully functional in its own right. LGBT Youth Dumfries and Galloway has been established. It has a regional remit and now has its own office base within the YES building.
The YES’ work with the Phoenix Group, together with the partnership work established during this process, was cited as an example of good practice in the HMIE inspection report of 2004. HMIE said: ‘the Phoenix Group designed and delivered awareness raising sessions aimed at relevant organisations working with young people. Phoenix volunteers presented their experiences of growing up gay locally. This project has resulted in staff at the YES, and the young people involved (gaining) valuable knowledge and insight into establishing such a group, and in improving the lives of young people who may feel isolated or (experience) homophobic bullying.’
In 2005 Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, launched the LGBT Youth Charter of Rights which had been developed the Phoenix group, YES, LGBT Youth Scotland and Save the Children. The first LGBT Youth Charter was awarded to the YES / Community Learning and Development Service for their work on LGBT issues. The Charter is now being rolled out across Scotland.
Please see below links for further information
LGBT Youth
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