Allsorts Youth Project

Allsorts Youth Project
Founded1 October 1999 (1999-10-01)
FoundersJess Wood
James Newton
TypeLGBT youth charity
Registration no.1123014[1]
FocusLGBT youth
Location
OriginsLGBT rights in the United Kingdom
Area served
East Sussex West Sussex Brighton & Hove
Members200
Key people
Jess Wood
Revenue£170,300[2]
Employees10
Volunteers50
Websitewww.allsortsyouth.org.uk

Allsorts Youth Project is an LGBT youth charity in East Sussex. Founded in 1999 by Jess Wood and James Newton, the project aims to meet the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and unsure youth in Brighton and Hove and the wider East Sussex area.

History

Since 1999 the project has expanded to meet the develop needs of LGBTU youth. Allsorts has developed to offer 1-2-1 support via a range of mediums, a weekly central drop-in for 16-25 youth and many satellite groups.[3] The project has been funded through various organisations and grants to expand from LGB support to include trans and gender questioning young people.

Mission

Allsorts works to raise awareness, promote good practice and facilitate the creation of safer and more supportive environments for LGBT young people in the wider community.[4]

Services

Some of the main services Allsorts provide include

One to One Support

Support Groups

Allsorts have a number of satellite groups that support their main drop-in:[5][6]

  • A young men's group: Male Matters
  • A young women's group: No Dress Code
  • A Bi/pan/queer/poly/omni group: Bi Brighton[7]
  • A trans group: Transformers
  • A wellbeing group: A-Sorted

Allsorts recently expanded the capacity of their trans* and gender questioning young people's group 'Transformers' with funding from the Rainbow Fund[8]

Peer education

Allsorts Youth Projects runs a 'peer education' programme which involves trained workers alongside young people at the project facilitating workshops in schools, colleges and youth projects. Started in 2005, the programme, the workshops explore the impact of homo/bi/trans-phobic language on young people. The programme has been identified as good practice by Stonewall.[9] Brighton & Hove council acknowledged the large collaborative role Allsort Peer Education has played in the city council being named to in the country in Stonewall's Education Equality Index.[10]

Resources

Allsorts have produced numerous resources, including a mental health support and resource booklet for LGBT Youth called 'Healthy Heads and Hearts'. An anthology of writings by LGB youth called 'Deep Blue Sea'.[11] They have also produced resources on Gay/Bi/Trans men's sexual health and HIV awareness, and a leaflet on 'Sex, Love & Coming Out'[12]

Campaigns

Young People's Voice is the youth campaigning and engagement project at Allsorts for LGBT Youth.[13] They have done annual campaigns for IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homo/BI/Trans-phobia). For IDAHOBIT the group presented their 'Global Voices' campaign at Brighton's Old Stiene.[14] On 5 February 2013, they launched the first annual LGBT Children, Young People and Families Day with: a Tea Party for CVS groups, practitioners, an LGBT + Allies Youth Prom and a Champions Dinners to showcase the project.[15] The Day was covered by ITV Meridian news, with a feature article and interview on their website.[16] The Day was supported by Mental Health Promotion, Rainbow Fund, Moshi Moshi, Hotel du Vin and Hilton Metropole.[17]

Funding

Allsorts have been funded by numerous large organisations over the years. Including Children in Need which highlighted the work they do in a video interview.[18] For 2012-2013 are one Brighton & Hove Mayor's chosen charities to support alongside The Marlets Hospice and Brighton Women's Centre[19]

Awards

The project is led by the Project Director Jess Wood who in 2012 was awarded an MBE for her services for working with young LGBT people through the charity.[20] Their volunteering group Young People's Voice won best regional volunteering group team for the South East from vInspired for their Peer Educators programme.[21] They also received the 'Working Together' award from the Brighton and Hove Council LGBT Workers Forum as part of their History Awards 2012 for their work in schools with Peer Education.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Allsorts Youth Project, registered charity no. 1123014". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  2. ^ Charity Commission, retrieved 17 April 2012
  3. ^ LGBTU Youth Activities in East Sussex, retrieved 17 April 2012
  4. ^ Allsorts Youth Project - About Us, archived from the original on 7 June 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  5. ^ LGBT Youth Volunteers with Peer Support Groups, archived from the original on 29 June 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  6. ^ Allsorts Youth Project Groups, archived from the original on 8 December 2012, retrieved 17 April 2013
  7. ^ Allsorts Youth Project launches 'Bi Network' for young people, archived from the original on 20 May 2012, retrieved 17 April 2013
  8. ^ Rainbow Fund announces grants for city's LGBT and HIV communities, archived from the original on 29 June 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  9. ^ Good practice - Supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual young people, archived from the original on 12 May 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  10. ^ Good practice - Supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual young people, archived from the original on 12 May 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  11. ^ Reports & Books, archived from the original on 5 May 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  12. ^ Greens applaud school staff and campaigners for national anti-homophobia accolade, archived from the original on 3 July 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  13. ^ Young People's Voice at Allsorts Youth Project, archived from the original on 31 December 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  14. ^ Allsorts Youth Project @ IDAHOBIT 2012, archived from the original on 5 May 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  15. ^ Young People's Voice at Allsorts Youth Project, archived from the original on 31 December 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  16. ^ Brighton's family day out with a difference, retrieved 17 April 2012
  17. ^ Brighton: LGBT Children, Young People and Families Day, retrieved 17 April 2012[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ Allsorts Short interview on Children in need LGBT Brighton, retrieved 17 April 2012
  19. ^ The Mayor's charities and events, archived from the original on 19 April 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  20. ^ Gay rights activist and charity founder receive MBEs in New Year Honours, 3 January 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012
  21. ^ vInspired South East Regional Winner's, archived from the original on 30 June 2013, retrieved 17 April 2012
  22. ^ History Awards winners 2012, archived from the original on 20 July 2012, retrieved 17 April 2012