The Youth Association’s LGBTQ+ online project (aka the ‘UNITED UNICORNS’) has been doing some fantastic work in recent months!
The group was born during the previous lockdown, when young people were out on the streets, speaking to youth workers around the impact of Covid-19, education, and day-to-day life. LGBTQ+ young people’s experience in education was a hot topic, with some saying that they had experienced bullying and misunderstanding. They felt there was little support since the lockdown and decided they would set up a group and create a questionnaire with the aim of raising awareness of these experiences.
The young people have since met positive role models in the LGBTQ+ community such as Andrew Bogg (co-chair of the Barnsley LGBTQ+ forum, campaigner and activist), Mikk Murray, (artist and youth worker) and Jean Hatton, (Senior Lecturer, University of Huddersfield). The group is now scheduled to meet with Yorkshire drag queen Divina de Campo, contestant and runner up in BBC Three Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK season 1.
Meeting such inspirational role models offers the opportunity to see life from different perspectives. It is a safe space for reflection and self-expression, with the aim to inspire the UNITED UNICORNS to make change, feel empowered and essentially tap into, and develop, their own strengths.
If you know an LGBTQ+ young person from Barnsley who would like to get involved, please contact Rebecca on Rebecca.coyne@youth-assocaition.org
