The trust creating safe spaces for young LGBTQ+ folks

Take a look inside The Proud Trust, the LGBTQ+ youth charity creating safe spaces, building confidence, and helping young people feel less alone

For many LGBTQ+ young people, finding a space where they don’t have to hide who they are can be life-changing. Thankfully, that’s the work The Proud Trust has been doing for decades.

“We’re here to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people in all the spaces they exist,” says Liam Swanston, director of development and partnerships at The Proud Trust. “And we won’t stop until true equality is a reality for all.”

The charity’s roots date back to the 1970s, with its youth work evolving alongside the creation of Manchester’s Gay Centre in the 1980s. And although the social and political landscape has changed significantly since then, Liam says the need for safe, affirming spaces is more urgent than ever.

Young people often need support to take care of their wellbeing, especially as developing brains are predisposed to soak up stress, social pressures, and negative experiences more intensely during adolescence. A survey of 36,000 young people from Greater Manchester, carried out by BeeWell, highlights that this is particularly important for LGBTQ+ people, who report lower overall life satisfaction when compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

Sometimes, all that’s needed is an open conversation. For this, the Proud Connections Live Chat offers a friendly, discreet way to talk to a youth worker, and is open to those who are LGBTQ+ or questioning their gender or sexuality and looking to talk. Caregivers are also encouraged to use this service in order to better support the children in their lives.

There are group meetings too, with in-person and online options available across Manchester, for young people to learn new skills, build confidence, and socialise with other youths. While the groups mainly focus on under-18s, there is also a group for 16–20-year-olds which hosts social meet-ups, like Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Warhammer painting, games, cooking sessions, and book clubs.

As well as supporting young people on an individual basis, the trust also advocates for the queer community within existing systems. One of its best-known initiatives is the Rainbow Flag Award, a national quality assurance framework supporting schools and youth organisations to create inclusive cultures. Organisations taking part work through a process of self-assessment, training, and ongoing support, helping them challenge bullying while embedding inclusion into everyday school life. The aim is about more than visibility, and about creating a culture where LGBTQ+ pupils, staff, and families feel able to thrive.

It’s clear that a commitment to making young people feel welcome in all areas of life is at the heart of the trust’s mission. “Our sessions – whether a youth group, mentoring, chat, or training – all create the same feeling: belonging, safety, and support,” Liam explains. “For us, creating a community and bringing about meaningful change requires people to feel safe to grow.”

For many young people, that sense of safety can create strong foundations to go out into the world. “It may seem scary at first,” one young person says, “it did when I first joined, but now I have been going for roughly three years, and it really has been like a rock when everything else seems a mess.”

It’s this kind of safe haven that so many LGBTQ+ young people require in order to maintain a positive outlook in the face of discrimination. When asked how the organisation had helped them, young people described becoming ‘less ashamed’ of themselves, feeling less isolated after changing schools, and building supportive networks where they knew they would not be alone.

In this respect, the organisation is not just offering a refuge from difficult realities, but also providing the building blocks for a positive future – something that many young people struggle to believe is possible. As one participant shared: “It gives opportunities to many young people and restores faith in those who think they can’t succeed because of their identity.”

After the UK Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 regarding the legal definition of sex under the Equality Act – a decision that intensified public debate and concern around trans rights and access to services – The Proud Trust saw a 171% increase in referrals. And with just 10p in every £100 of total voluntary sector income going to an LGBTQ+ organisation, The Proud Trust relies on donations to continue helping those in need.

“We need everyday people to choose kindness and make a one-off, monthly, or annual donation to organisations like ours to ensure we can be there to support LGBTQ+ young people when they need us,” Liam says.

He also encourages people to speak up for inclusive education and workplace training in the spaces where young people spend their time. “The more inclusive the professionals and spaces become, the better LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences will be.”

And finally, he emphasises the importance of everyday allyship. “Talk about us and connect us with your networks,” he says. “Be an ally. Speak up and speak out when something isn’t quite right.”

At a time when many LGBTQ+ young people feel increasingly under pressure, spaces where they can safely belong matter more than ever.

---