The LGBT+ North East Service is available to young people who live in South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham.
Support can include:
- one-to-one sessions with a member of their experienced team
- sexual health guidance
- support to access clinical gender identity services
- the opportunity to meet other LGBT+ young people in your area
- family support
- hate crime reporting
- fun activities and sessions such as sailing, meals, climbing in a safe space (the group decides every three months which activity).
Young people must agree to being referred, but when a young person is under 18, it is helpful when they agree for their parent/guardian to be involved. However, the LGBT+ North East Service team understand this is not always possible.
In these situations, they can work with young people aged 16+ without their parent/guardian being involved and with those aged under 16 without their parent/guardian being involved when they are Gillick competent. This means practitioners have decided that a child is mature enough to make decisions about things that affect them.
More information about the service can be found at humankindcharity.org.uk/service/lgbt-north-east or on their Facebook page. There is also a short film here featuring service users:
- If you think you – or someone you know – could benefit from the LGBT+ North East Service, they can be contacted by email at lgbt@humankindcharity.org.uk or by calling 01325 731160.
