Building Financially Resilient LGBTQ+ Young People

Aim

To ensure LGBTQ+ young people have free access to specialist youth work, support services & safe spaces to build bright financially futures.

Our aim is to raise £10,000 funding to support LGBTQ+ young people to thrive and achieve their full potential. We believe all LGBTQ+ young people deserve to live happy, fulfilling lives and most importantly...

Why we've launched this fundraiser...

LGBTQ+ young people currently face a wide range of challenges at numbers much higher than their peers. For example:

* The BeeWell Survey (2023) reported that LGB young people scored, on average 5 out of 10 on its life satisfaction measure, compared to 7 out of 10 for their heterosexual peers.

* Other research finds that 43% of LGBTQ+ school pupils have been bullied in the past year, double the number of non-LGBTQ+ pupils (21%).

* 85% of trans people have experienced transphobia from family members.

We are yet to understand how a recent Supreme Court judgement will impact the lives of young people, but already things feel worse and we have seen 171% increase in referrals for support.

At the same time, the current political climate has meant that funding for LGBTQ+ charities (especially trans-inclusive charities such as The Proud Trust) has dropped significantly. That’s why we’ve launched this campaign, with the aim of raising £10,000 so that we can continue to provide support to the LGBTQ+ young people who need it most.

What we do?...

LGBTQ+ youth groups - Safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ young people to connect, learn and feel safe and belong.

We currently deliver nine groups, that do sessions with LGBTQ+ young people to build their life skills such as budgeting and money management, how to access the world of work, wellbeing sessions and how to be financially aware as they enter their adult lives.

Our youth work last year supported 402 unique young people through 431 youth work sessions delivered with 3320 young people's attendances.

Support Services - including Live Chat and Mentoring. In the last year we delivered 364 mentoring sessions for LGBTQ+ young people and 906 chats on Proud Connections Live Chat last year.

This service will provide access to signposting to resources that will support young people to have better access to information to be around work, their rights, other support services available.

This type of support has been extremely relevant for trans and non-binary young people who are struggling to engage in the world of work due to fear of discrimination. They often ask about their rights and how they can be their authentic selves in all the spaces they exist.

Our mentoring sessions support young people in crucial moments in their lives such as transitioning to university where they have to live independently and manage their own money and lives or as they try to build up their confidence to enter college to start towards their dream goals. For some it is a space to share their concerns and work through them with a trusted adult.

Our Impact...
100% of young people said The Proud Trust improved their confidence.                                                                                       85% of young people said The Proud Trust positively impacted their sense of pride in their identity.                     75% of our young people say The Proud Trust helped them feel connected to the LGBTQ+ community.                           77% of young people said The Proud Trust positively impacted how hopeful they felt about their future

What this will fund...

• 25 youth work sessions to ensure LGBTQ+ young people to learn crucial life skills such as money management, accessing work, understanding their rights.
• In house training for volunteer mentors to be confident to talk money matters with LGBTQ+ young people.
• 12 sessions for trans and non-binary young adults to access specific support for work related 'trans admin' e.g. accessing ID, bank account set up etc.
• Four finance focused workshop designed and tested so they can be redelivered to other young people and groups beyond the initial delivery.

Why The Proud Trust is so important...

When LGBTQ+ young people’s rights are under threat, it’s more important than ever to give them the support they need to thrive, find community and advocate for themselves.

The Proud Trust’s top priority is improving the lives of LGBTQ+ young people. Through our national and regional youth work and national support services, we empower LGBTQ+ young people and the adults in their lives to create positive change for the future. We won’t stop until true equality is a reality for all LGBTQ+ young people.

Our young people said:

“These LGBTQ+ youth groups have supported me through my horrible time at high school and prevented me from spiralling into a worse mental state, and I am forever grateful.”

“The Proud Trust has done wonders for young people like me who are going through some of the worst times. Politics aside, going through puberty is terrifying, let alone as an LGBTQ+ individual, but these youth groups give us the space to feel like 'normal' teenagers, 'normal' children, letting us just be us.”

“When I was 14, I was recommended The Proud Trust[...] and for a couple hours every Wednesday I was given a space to be out, and loud, and proud. For a few hours a week, there were no kids my age doubting me, judging me, or bullying me. You may question the point in funding a group so some gay teens can bake cupcakes, or make hot chocolate, but those small moments saved my life. Spaces for queer teens are why I am able to live my life as a queer adult.”

This project successfully funded on 3rd November 2025