Allsorts Youth Project

Who we are

Established in 1999, Allsorts Youth Project is a Sussex-based charity that listens to, supports, and connects children and young people under the age of 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ+), or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 

By placing young people’s voices at the centre of our work and consultations, we ensure that our understanding of their ongoing and evolving needs continues to inform our service provision.

There are three main strands to our service provision, each approaching our work from a different angle, all aimed at improving the lives of LGBT+ children and young people.

Youth & Education Service:  We offer youth groups, one-to-one support, activities, residential trips, in-school support, and much more for children and young people.

Our youth groups are fun and supportive spaces for Sussex-based children and young people to make friends, connect with the LGBTQ+ community, explore identity and participate in workshops and activities. You will meet in a comfortable & confidential setting with other LGBTQ+ young people where you can get involved in workshops and activities that matter to you and build your skills, resilience and confidence. We will also connect you with other professionals and organisations as and where appropriate.

At our youth groups, you can expect to get involved in fun, creative and interesting activities, participate in group games and have the opportunity to go on trips and residentials! We have guests visiting our youth groups from other organisations & services, which you may find helpful and interesting, and of course, we have free food and drink!

All Allsorts staff and volunteers are LGBTQ+ and are trained to work with young people. There are usually between two and four staff members and volunteers who help us run our groups.

We plan activities and workshops (either delivered by Allsorts staff or visitors) with you in mind. On occasion, we will cover topics including sexual health, hate crime, mental health, relationships and identity. We encourage all young people to give it a go, as we pride ourselves on creating a safe and supportive environment for discussing challenging topics. We know it is important to provide spaces for open and honest discussions, for learning together, and for feeling safe and comfortable challenging each other. We won't shy away from tricky conversations, and we will support you through these discussions, topics and themes.

Parents & Carers Service:  We offer groups, one-to-one support, activities, information sessions, and much more for parents & carers of LGBT+ children and young people.

We are a vibrant community of parents & carers who are raising LGBT+, but mostly transgender, non-binary or gender non-comforming young people, aged between 5 and 25 in East & West Sussex. 

The Parents & Carers Service is run by Allsorts’ Senior Practitioner and Sessional Worker who run regular groups and events to support you, connect you to others in our community, and to remind you that you are not alone.

What we can offer

• A place of understanding for you, where you have the space and time to reflect on how this experience has been for you.

• Monthly in-person and online groups for parents and carers to share their experiences of having a transgender child.

• Support, community and friendship with other parents and carers and their families both in person at groups and online on social media.

• Support with your child which may be very specifically affected by their gender identity, for example; school, eating, mental health

• Opportunities to have your views fed into consultations with local and national services about raising and supporting LGBT+ children and young people.

• Additional support in accessing our service. Just let us know if you need translations, captions, or any other support. Most of our meetings are held online via zoom, but we can arrange to meet in person if that is easier for you.

Training & Consultancy Service: We provide LGBTQ+ Inclusion Training & Consultancy for a wide range of organisations, primarily those working with children and young people, to build people’s knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues and their confidence as LGBTQ+ allies.

Our workshops and assemblies for young people explore, in age-appropriate language, some of the critical issues and challenges experienced by children and young people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, or in the process of exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBTQ+). Together, we will examine how these issues may affect their emotional and social wellbeing.

Our aim is to leave students with;

• A better understanding of the experiences of their LGBTQ+ peers

• More confidence in being an ally to LGBTQ+ people

• Knowledge about LGBTQ+phobic bullying and ways to stop it

Our culture and values

Our Vision

To see a world where LGBTQ+ children and young people are free to be themselves.

Our Mission

To listen to, support, and connect children and young people under the age of 26 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ+), or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and to challenge exclusion, prejudice and discrimination in all areas of their lives.

Our Aims

Focus all our work with children and young people on the 5 pillars of youth and community work;

Empowerment

Educative

Participative

Inclusive

Expressive

• Enable LGBTQ+ children and young people to develop their voice, influence and place in society and reach their full potential.
   

• Involve LGBTQ+ young people in shaping resources and educational materials for LGBTQ+ children and young people, and in promoting their well-being.
   

• Provide support, information, advice and guidance to parents, carers and families of LGBTQ+ children and young people.
   

• Provide training, information, advice, and guidance to schools, colleges & other educational settings in Sussex, the South East, and beyond.
   

• Deliver a range of LGBTQ+ awareness and inclusion training, workshops, consultancy and advice to professionals and organisations working with LGBTQ+ children and young people.
   

• Provide holistic support for LGBTQ+ children and young people, in order to facilitate their personal, social and educational development.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

As an employer, Allsorts provides mandatory training for our team in a wide range of areas surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB). We clearly communicate to staff, volunteers, and trustees that we are building a culture that challenges and changes practices to ensure we are as accessible as possible to all LGBTQ+ people, and we encourage feedback on these topics throughout the project.