“there is no where else he is completely free to be himself”

Think2Speak supports LGBTQ+ young people and their families, and the demand for our services has risen as a cynical culture war has been waged against transgender women and young people in particular. The failure to improve rights for trans people in recent years has contributed to the UK falling to 14th in the European rankings on LGBTQ+ rights – it was top as recently as 2015.​ And this is all on top of the abysmal state of NHS care plans for trans youth, with many young people waiting 4+ years already without a first appointment for support even being on the horizon.

Our recent feedback survey shares the impact of Think2Speak’s work for the children and families who turn to us. Now more than ever, our support for trans youth is even more important.

Our services are a lifeline, offering a confidential and non-judgmental space for LGBTQ+ children, young people and their families to connect, share experiences, and receive emotional support.

By fostering a sense of belonging, we combat the isolation often felt by this marginalized community. We see an ongoing increase in the reduction of loneliness and isolation, with at 83% of parent carers and 90% of young people reporting an improvement for themselves.

Through compassionate conversations, our staff and volunteers provide encouragement, guidance, and resources that empower LGBTQ+ children, young people and their families to embrace their sexual preferences and gender identities with confidence, alongside challenging the injustice and prejudice experienced by this vulnerable minority.

By offering coping strategies, self-acceptance tools, as well as practical support with problems, we aim to enhance their resilience in the face of societal challenges. We see an ongoing increase in the boost of confidence and resilience, with 87% of parent/carers and young people reporting an improvement for themselves.

Our services play a crucial role in early intervention and prevention of mental health issues. Our trained staff and volunteers offer emotional assistance, coping techniques, and referrals to appropriate therapeutic services internally and externally. We see an ongoing decrease in the distress and anxiety experienced by both the young people and their families, with 83% of parent carers and 74% of young people reporting an improvement for themselves.

We know that family support is a huge protective factor with regards to the reduction of distress, which in itself has an ongoing impact on self-harm and suicidality within this vulnerable group, particularly for transgender children and young people, with multiple studies identifying the much higher risk of these behaviours for this population.

We have seen a 50% reduction in self-harm and suicidality self reported by the young people whom we serve directly and through family support.

When asked to reflect on their overall satisfaction with our services, rating from 1 as negative and 10 as positive, the average score was 10 from parents, carers and young people.

It’s simple. We may be small, but we are mighty. We know our work makes a huge difference; it saves lives, strengthen families and empowers individuals as our most recent impact survey shows. Be a part of that. We need your help to make sure that we can continue to provide the mighty support that LGBTQ+ young people and their families need and deserve.

We are so grateful to you for helping us to help LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, feel heard, feel safer.