The Hub Bromsgrove LGBTQ+ Youth Project

The Hub Bromsgrove received a grant from WCF’s Inclusive Communities Fund for their LGBTQ+ Youth project.

WCF partnered with West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner supporting grassroots organisations across Worcestershire, particularly amongst minority and vulnerable groups, by supporting innovative projects to create safer and more confident communities, develop community cohesion, or address early-stage crime prevention and, which had long-term impact.

The Hub Bromsgrove provides open access youth clubs, detached youth work and targeted projects for young people. They act as a resource for young people in Bromsgrove and surrounding areas. All projects are codesigned and youth-led. They provide programmes and activities to enhance young people’s opportunities, a space where they feel safe, welcomed and can have fun. They help to advance their skills and provide them with a voice, enabling them to be agents of change in their own lives.

The grant provided supported three elements:

• A weekly LGBTQ+ support group for 11-17s.
• ‘No Definitions’, a weekly peer support group for LGBTQ+ neurodiverse young people aged 18-25.
• Vesta Tilley Youth to open a monthly group for LGBTQ+ young people in Worcester City centre.

One example of the support they gave was to one young person who had referred themselves to a gender clinic. They helped them navigate what medical transitioning would mean and what type of support they would like. Staff were able to discuss things such as social transitioning, short term aims and focused on getting them involved in planning a local Pride event while they waited for a response to the referral.

Comments received from group attendees include:

“You can get out of the house and you’re not stuck in the cold outside and it’s enjoyable.”

“My first session we were painting for Pride, and I found it so fun, it was genuinely great…I got to sit there for two hours and paint and talk.”

“It’s a non-stress environment as well.”

“I think it’s great that you can help out in the kitchen and stuff, it teaches you life skills.”

Hub Manager, Sarah Mulhall said:

“Without this grant we would not have been able to keep this space open for young people. Having this space open has enabled young people to have peer and professional support.”

“Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity, it’s been great to work with you!”

To learn more about The Hub Bromsgrove go to https://youthhubbromsgrove.org/ or email [email protected].

For more information about the Inclusive Communities Fund go to https://www.worcscf.org.uk/grants/inclusivecommunitiesfund/

If you would like further information about WCF contact: Lucy Wells, Director [email protected]