Supporting LGBT Young People in School

A brief training programme for school staff. The purpose of the session is to enable participants to:

• Be more aware of the key issues facing LGBT young people
• Be more aware of the Public Sector Equality Duty
• Have identified ways to support LGBT young people
• Have identified ways of working in partnership to support LGBT young people
• Have access to various resources

1. Famous LGBTs

Look at this power point presentation of famous LGBT people past and present - useful to use whilst participants arrive, gives them something to think about (and talk about).

2. Music Quiz

Conduct this short music quiz which gives brief introductions to songs; name the singer and the song title. What do they all have in common? All LGB except Diana Ross. Helps participants relax but at the same time start to concentrate.

3. Statistical evidence

Here is a powerpint presentation of data from GALYIC from 1998, 2008 and 2010. It shows how some things have changed over the past twelve years whilst others, such as homophobic bullying, remains the same.
It also shows the devastating effects of homophobia on young LGBT people, and how GALYIC are succeeding in developing resilience.

4. Sixteen

This is a five-minute DVD GALYIC took part in as part of a training programme for the Department of Health. It shows what it is like for a young gay man coming to terms with being gay in Calderdale and how GALYIC have helped him.

5. Public Sector Equality Duty

Here is a brief introduction to the Public Sector Equality Duty which comes into force in April 2011. It outlines what the Duty entails, including the possibility of developing positive actions where there is a need.
Findings from a report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (alongside the GALYIC findings already shown) emphasises a significant amount of catch-up needed in schools to safeguard LGBT young people.
Based on GALYIC's holistic approach, the presentation identifies a series of postive actions that are required to respond to the identified needs of LGBT young people.

6. Developing a Strategy: Partnership Work

2010 has seen a significant rise in the number of schools in Calderdale who are referring young LGBT people to GALYIC for support.
In January 2011, schools in Calderdale will record incidents of homophobic bullying alongside bullying based on race, gender, disability, religion and belief. It is likely this will reveal significant levels of homophobic bullying and is likely to increase the number of young people being referred to GALYIC.
Introduction of the Public Sector Equality Duty in April 2011 also has the potential for increasing the number of referrals to GALYIC from schools.
With this in mind we are developing a strategy to respond to increased need. This powerpoint presentation outlines the strategy.

7. 10 Ways to Support LGBT Young People in Education

Here is a flyer developed jointly by GALYIC and Calderdale Council which is being distributed to teachers throughout Calderdale in response to the Equality Act (2010) and in preparation for the Public Sector Equality Duty.

8. See it my way

Here is a 3 minute video from the Learning Skills Council emphasising the need to tackle homophobic bullying.

9. Asking the Question but Not Asking the Question

Workers are often afraid of 'asking the question' i.e. they are not sure how to go about finding out whether a young person is LGBT. Here is a link to a paper written by Angela Hodgson, the Psychosexual Health Counsellor.

10. More Information

See the Professionals Section for more information.