Allsorts youth project is willing to deal with all media enquiries, from journalists, TV producers and documentary makers. We can arrange interviews and give comments on any issue relating to being young gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans and living in Brighton. All press releases, once issued, are posted here on our website for editors review - please remember that all material on this page and on the website remains under copyright to Allsorts youth project and if you would like to print or reproduce any of the material please contact us. We also have a high resolution logo which you can download in jpeg or eps.
Release date: 9th March 2010.
The inspirational Infinity Foods are sponsoring Allsorts! Each week we receive a voucher to enable us to provide healthy and tasty organic food for LGBT young people at our weekly drop-in.
Infinity Foods shop can be found on the corner of North Road and Gardner Street. They stock what is probably the largest selection of organic and natural vegetarian and vegan foods in the South East. They are a truely wonderful ethical company and we feel very privileged to receive their support. The shop is open between the hours of 9.30am-6pm Monday to Saturday and from 11am-5pm Sundays.
Release date: 15th August 2008.
LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS is a contemporary fine art fundraising exhibition benefiting Allsorts Youth Project. Allsorts is a Brighton based project which supports young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or unsure. A portion (30%) of all proceeds from art sales at the exhibition will go to Allsorts to help develop resources for further youth centred workshops in Brighton.
25 international and local artists will be participating in the show. Their work will come from Venezuela, Chile, San Francisco, New York City, London, and Brighton. The participating artists have active careers and their works are held in major collections such as: the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Portland Art Museum, the Hammer Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Pamana and in Bogota, Colombia. The show is being organized and curated by San Francisco born artist Erin Burns, who now resides in Brighton.
Young people from Allsorts have painted expressive self-portraits, exploring their LGBT identity and mental health. They have also created the "Light at the end of the Tunnel" installation. This is an artistic testimony to their journeys of coming out from the isolation and darkness of the closet, as they emerge into their LGBT identities. They hope that by exhibiting their work they will be able to raise awareness about issues facing LGBT young people today.
Last month Allsorts Youth Project won a prestigious national award for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans youth volunteering programme, Young People's Voice (YPV). Allsorts was awarded under the 'Inspiring Young People' category at the Academy for Sustainable Communities' (ASC) 'Creating the Future Awards 2008'.
According to the judges, "Young People's Voice works with some of the most marginalised and potentially vulnerable young people in the country. It inspires lesbian, gay, bi and transgender young people to recognise that they have a right to a good life. A life where they are respected for who they are and where they can go on to reach their potential."
Launched in April 2007, BLANK is a studio and gallery complex run entirely by artists. Its purpose is to house and support contemporary art in all its forms. The artists based at BLANK produce a vibrant and eclectic mix of work, including visual and sound installation, performance and more.
Situated at the edge of Hove in Portslade, Blank is part of a wave of pioneering contemporary art venues and organisations, who, attracted by the remoteness of the industrial wilderness, have moved there and are instigating a change.
For further information about the show please contact Erin Burns on 07708 269561 or via email at erin@erinburns.com
For further information about BLANK, please see: http://blankstudios.org/
Train: Portslade station, walk down Boundary Road towards the sea to North St. (last turning on right).
Bus: Number 1 stops around the corner or 49 to the station.
Parking: There is free parking on all the streets nearer the studio.
Release date: 15th July 2008.
On the 2nd August 2008 Allsorts Youth Project is celebrating its newly acquired charity status. Staff at the charity has been busy preparing the organisation so that it can enjoy the benefit of over two years painstaking work.
The organisation was founded in October 1999 to meet the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual trans youth in Brighton and Hove. The project provides a variety of services for LGBT young people and is staffed by a eight part-time workers including their first ever LGBT Youth Peer Support Worker, Sam Thomas, Project Director, two Youth Support Workers, a Youth Volunteering Development Worker, two sessional workers, an administrator and a fantastic team of dedicated volunteers who help in the drop-in and residentials and are trustees of the charity.
An average of twenty-five young people attend the weekly drop-in and an average of six young people receive one-to-one support each week either face-to-face, by phone or email. Allsorts have also produced a variety of booklets, posters, stickers all to raise awareness of the issues faced by LGBT youth. Young people from the project volunteer as peer educators to help other young people understand the devastating impact of homophobic, trans and biphobic bullying in schools and colleges.
Since November 2000, the project has received grants from the major national charities - the Diana Memorial Fund, Awards for All, Comic Relief, and Children in Need. Government programmes like Volunteering England and V-Involved have also supported the project, along with more local funding from Brighton and Hove City Council, Connexions, the PCT, Brighton and Hove Pride, Youth Opportunities Fund, Local Network Fund, Big Boost and wonderful generous donations from individuals.
Jess Wood the Director and co-founder of the project says, 'Many LGBT people in Brighton and Hove remember what their young lives were like. How they were bullied at school and scared to come out at home or to their friends. This led to terrible isolation and misery. Now we are charity, our supporters can help us directly by making donations through our various on-line schemes. We hope in the future to have 10% of our income coming from our supporters. This will help us to become sustainable and ensure that the lives of future generations of LGBT young people are hopeful and bright.
Iain Gowers, Allsorts Webmaster, has set up a variety of ways you can support the work of Allsorts, 'Now people can donate using credit card by CAF as gift aid which means we can earn more form their giving, they can make donations by PayPal and also donate a percentage of an eBay sale. But bests of all, they can join our GAYE (Give As You Earn) scheme.'
The work of Allsorts Youth Project spans a wide variety of service delivery. We provide:
Thanks to the city council, the PCT, Connexions, Comic Relief, Children in Need and Volunteering England we have received excellent funding which enables us to maintain a very high level of quality of service delivery in each area. Indeed, thanks to our Children in Need, Comic Relief and Connexions funding, we found that in 2007, we were able to expand our one-too-one provision and saw a 215% increase in the number of one-to-one support contacts compared to the previous year.
Recently, we participated in two of the government’s most important recent reviews of youth policy: the Russell Commission, consulting about youth volunteering and Youth Matters, an extension of influential Every Child Matters, a document which has transformed how services are delivered to children in this country.
Both of these reports informed the government's remarkable Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities. I say remarkable, and it is. Finally the role of the voluntary and community sector is recognized and celebrated. It is embedded at the heart of all youth work. Furthermore, the report seeks to challenge the stereotype of young people as civil society's hooligans and pictures them instead as our gifted, enthusiastic, multi-identity embodiment of the collective hope for the future.
The emphasis in the strategy is on youth participation, youth volunteering and youth inclusion. Those groups previously marginalised are being brought into the centre of all our work – statutory and voluntary and community sector.
Young people are being consulted about their needs. Young people are being encouraged to set up and run their own projects. More than anything, young people are being invited and empowered to be active and influential citizens helping to build a cohesive, diverse, vibrant new world.
How disappointing it is then to see not a single mention of LGBT youth in the entire document, despite countless examples drawing on the experience of every other kind of excluded youth from rural youth to young carers. ‘Sexual orientation’ is mentioned once on p54 in an eighty four page document.
One the one hand, the government is finally saying all the right things, on the other, it cannot bring itself to identify as important or worthy of mention one of the most disadvantaged groups of young people in the country.
And this is the challenge we continue to face as a project: a patchy acknowledgement of the needs and uniquely challenging experiences and circumstances facing LGBT youth.
Our job is both to provide direct services for LGBT youth and also to alert everyone and anyone that the needs of LGBT youth need to be on their agenda and need to figure in their strategic vision. How else are we going to change the most devastating statistic of all: one in four LGBT youth will attempt to take their own life?
Isn’t it time we all began to attempt to give LGBT youth opportunities to take back that life – not merely to survive but to grow strong and powerful and embrace for themselves the vision the government has for our young people: that they become active and dynamic forces for the good, and hold in their hands the shape of our future?
How poignant then sound the outcomes of Every Child Matters when we apply them to LGBT youth. May all LGBT children and young people also be given the chance:
Release date: 5th December 2007.
Allsorts Wins Funding for LGBT Youth Volunteering .
Allsorts LGBT Youth Project in Brighton has been awarded £122,259 funding by v, the National Youth Volunteering Programme, to get young people positively involved in their communities.
Thanks to this funding, Allsorts will now be able to expand their thriving LGBT youth volunteering programme. Activities the funding will support include working in partnership with Spectrum to create a city-wide LGBT Youth Strategy; LGBT young people delivering workshops to local schools, colleges and youth projects to enable them to provide safe and supportive spaces for LGBT youth; an LGBT Health Day (safe sex information, drugs and alcohol guidance etc); LGBT Youth Talent Show; a second LGBT Youth Prom and the development of much needed resources like an information booklet for LGBT young people about how to promote their wellbeing; a booklet for young people who identify as transgender and are in the process of 'transitioning', a booklet for parents of LGBT young people, which will aim to help them understand the issues that their child is going through and gives them suggestions for how to support their child and loads of other things!
Allsorts are one of 152 projects across the country who will be funded by v as part of 'v involved' a new national youth volunteering programme backed by £75 million funding, which aims to inspire half a million more young people to volunteer in England.
Jess Wood says: "We are very excited to be part of the vinvolved programme. This new funding will enable LGBT young people to get actively involved in volunteering within the safety of Allsorts and then in the wider community. We are so glad that we can offer so many amazing opportunities to young people that take them beyond the immediate crises that may have led them to us in the first place. Our goal is to not just to support LGBT youth to survive but to enable them to really thrive and have a great life as empowered and motivated citizens of a new world where homophobia and transphobia are increasingly weakened in their capacity to harm our young people's chance in life."
vinvolved has been designed by and for young people to make volunteering a compelling choice for all 16-25 year olds in England by tapping into their passions and concerns. The charity aims to change the image of volunteering and make it a 'must-have' part of young people's lives.
Terry Ryall, v's Chief Executive, says: "v is delighted to be able to fund this innovative and youth-led project, which will enable young people to get positively involved in Brighton and Hove.
"Young people are at the heart of this new programme which aims to put them at the centre of our communities. Instead of seeing them as a problem to be fixed, we are giving them the chance to become a positive force for change."
Allsorts can be contacted on 01273 721211. We run a LGBT youth drop-in 5.30-8.30 every Tuesday in central Brighton. Visit our websitewww.allsortsyouth.org.uk
The volunteering opportunities will be available from April 2008. For more information visit www.wearev.com or the young people's portal www.vinspired.com
ENDS
Notes To Editors
Media enquiries: contact Jess Wood (Project Director at Allsorts LGBT Youth Project) here.
Notes to editor re Allsorts:
- Allsorts Mission Statement: Allsorts Youth Project supports and empowers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Unsure Young People, raises awareness of homophobia, heterosexism and transphobia and challenges prejudice and discrimination in all areas of young people's lives.
- For more information about Allsorts, see attached pack
Media enquiries: contact Kate Peden on 020 7299 8740 or katie.peden@geronimocommunications.com
Notes to Editor re V
- v is the youth volunteering charity launched in May 2006 whose mission is to inspire a new generation of young volunteers in England aged 16-25. v is supported by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.
- The charity was set up to implement the recommendations of the Russell Commission outlining a new national framework for youth action and engagement, following a nationwide consultation which included 6000 young people.
- v is led by the cares, interests, passions and beliefs of young people. A Youth Advisory Board made up of twenty young people called v20 is involved in all aspects of the charity's work. Four members of v20 sit on v's Board of Trustees.
- v works with and builds upon the current voluntary sector infrastructure, funds the creation of volunteering opportunities through grants rounds and implements programmes to create awareness and positive understanding of volunteering for young people. For more information on v, visit www.wearev.com
- The new programme will fund 105 v involved teams of experts, at least 105 Youth Action Teams and 152 projects run by small and large organisations.
- V involved builds on the previous government-funded Millennium Volunteers programme and v's work to date with more than 200 voluntary sector organisations. It has commissioned 205,000 volunteering opportunities so far. The new programme gives voice to the 6,000 young people surveyed by the Russell Commission who said there needed to be a step change in the quantity, quality and diversity of volunteering opportunities to make it easier for young people to voluntee
Release date: 18th November 2007.
Baroque Benefit Concert for LGBT Youth.
Distinguished classical musicians, Robert Goodman (baroque flute) and Massimo Redaelli (harpsichord and viola da gamba)) were so affected by the difficulties, discrimination and abuse facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people in Brighton and Hove, including routine bullying at school and college, that they decided to do something about it. On Saturday 24th November 2007 they are putting on a benefit concert of chamber music of the Baroque Era including works by Bach, Teleman, Blavet, Quantz and Delalande. The concert will take place at The Unitarian Church, New Road, Brighton.
All proceeds will go to Allsorts Youth Project. Founded in 1999, Allsorts works with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or unsure of their sexuality. They run a weekly drop-in every Tuesday evening between 5.30 and 8.30pm and provide individual 1-2-1 support. Young people from the project go out into the community and help educate other young people about the devastating impact of homophobia on their lives. It has been estimated that one in four LGBT young people will attempt suicide. Jess Wood, Director of the project, said, 'At Allsorts, we use the arts including painting and drama all the time in our work. It's fantastic to see the effect self-expression has on young people's confidence. We are so happy that Robert and Massimo have decided to support our work through their wonderful music, and we are looking forward to a great evening. The concert starts at 7.30. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by ringing 01273 621445. Refreshments will be available.
projectg
Release date: 1st September 2005.
Project G.
Allsorts is working with Brighton and Hove City Libraries on their new GCSE study skills support session Project G. Allsorts Volunteering Development Worker Marianne will be working as a Study Skills Support Worker at the new session and along with the other staff, will be providing lesbian, gay, bisexual and unsure young people with a safe space to study and revise for their GCSEs.
The sessions are based at Jubilee Library in Brighton every Monday during term-time, from 4pm to 5.30pm. The first session will be on 12th September. At the sessions, you will be able to access lots of useful studying resources including revision and stress management guides. There will also be free internet access and free printing and photocopying. Marianne and the other Study Skills Support Workers will be on hand to help you find the resources you need and to provide general assistance with your studies.
For more information about Project G, speak to Marianne at the drop-in or contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page. For more information about the Library's Homework Club Scheme, visit their website at http://www.citylibraries.info
Release date: 25th June 2005.
Coconut shy event.
The Allsorts Youth Project in Brighton, which works to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Unsure young people, held a Coconut Shy event for local youth workers and decision makers.
The Allsorts Coconut Committee - the young people's participation forum at the project - is ran the event on the 28th of June. The afternoon involved workshops and games run by the young people, volunteers, and workers from the project, including a coconut shy, and a cream tea! On top of this, there was a 'gay tour' of Brighton, driving attendees around the city, pointing out the good and the bad of the city for young LGB people.
The afternoon will also launched the new Allsorts publication Coming In, a booklet written by the young people at Allsorts to support those who are not yet out, or can't get to Allsorts or similar youth groups. Coming In will be available from Allsorts from June 28th and available to download here.
Project Manager, Jess Wood said: "The young people and the staff at Allsorts love being creative and having fun - that's how we meet the challenges facing LGBU young people in this city. The young people at Allsorts are putting on this fantastic event and we're really looking forward to meeting old friends again and making new friends in the wider community - come and see for yourself what it is to mix up coconuts, strawberries, summer rain and afternoon sunshine, homophobia, challenging homophobia and supporting LGB young people."
The Coconut Shy also marked the beginning of John Proctor's fundraising project, aiming to raise £1,000 for the young people's fund at Allsorts. The money will allow the young people to run their own events and activities.
John, a young person from the project, is leaving to go travelling; as part of his trip in October he will be mountaineering Mera Peak, the highest 'trekking peak' in Nepal at 6476m and Island Peak at 6189m. The 30-day expedition will undoubtedly be gruelling, but will take in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. John is looking for sponsorship or donations as he is aiming to raise £1,000 for Allsorts to allow young people to run more events and activities. If you wish to support John, please make cheques payable to Allsorts Youth Project ltd, and send them to Allsorts Youth Project, YPC, 69 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AE.
Notes for editors:
For more information contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page.
Release date: 13 - 15th May 2005.
Allsorts Residential.
We thought we would give you a quick flavour of the latest Allsorts residential…
After an hour and a half from leaving Brighton passing the time with backward banter and salty liquorice being passed around the minibus, we arrived at a residential centre just outside of Dorking, surrounded by hilly woodland and bustling green. Here we staged the latest Allsorts residential. The weekend comprised of woodland walks, a night hike (you should have heard the screams as people got scared by the shadows), workshops preparing for our next event, the Coconut Shy including games and drama, even a go on an team building assault course type thing. The evenings saw campfires, marshmallows, cake and hot chocolate, story telling and general chat around the fire. In all it was a great weekend, even the weather was good! A chance for new and old friends at Allsorts having a chance to share a fun weekend and get to know each other better. Thanks to all the workers and volunteers as ever for their efforts and being such good sports with a wide range of practical jokes!
Christie and John
Allsorts Youth Project
Notes for editors:
For more information contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page.
Release date: 25th January 2005.
Allsorts say enough to the Daily Mail.
In response to a Daily Mail article Teachers told to promote Gay Pride the young people of Allsorts Youth Project have spoken out with their views. The Daily Mail accuses the government drive to challenge homophobia in schools as being "heavy handed". However the young gay, lesbian and bisexual people from Allsorts have their own opinions on the matter, and on the Daily Mail.
Young Peoples Representative, John Proctor said: "It is typically for the Daily Mail to fall on the homophobic side when reporting such issues; they never stop to consider the needs of young lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and what their thoughts are." John pointed to his report Clear Night Sky which highlighted the suffering of many LGB people at Allsorts. Of the sample group 20% had been made homeless because of issues surrounding sexuality and 60% had attempted suicide. Commenting on these figures John said, "Surely these young people deserve all the help and support they can get".
The young people from Allsorts accuse the Daily Mail of biased reporting, and continual homophobia with regards to reporting issues affecting the gay community. To make a stand, they have written to the editor Daily Mail making a formal complaint, and are lodging a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission with regards to misrepresentation, and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual youth.
Notes for editors:
For more information contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page.
Release date: 23rd November 2004.
Clear Night Sky for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth.
There have been many comments received on the report, Clear Night Sky investigating Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth and Connexions target setting and monitoring by John Proctor from the Allsorts Youth Project. There has now been a response from Connexions and from Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP (Minister for Young People, Children, and Families).
Connexions are in the throws of printing the report and distributing it through paper and electronically to all Connexions partnerships. A reply from Steve Jackson on behalf on Anne Weinstock recognised that more research into Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual youth could be done, and they hope to build on the recommendations of the report.
The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP stressed that Connexions partnerships are required to "meet the needs of all young people (13-19) and, clearly LGB young people are a key group", she also mentioned concerns that monitoring sexuality could deter some young people from using the service.
However, experience from a range of services has shown that monitoring information on sexuality does not deter young people from accessing services, with evidence to support this being part of a response to the Minister from John. John said, "I am really pleased to have received such a positive response from Connexions and Margaret Hodge. I still feel that there are issues to discuss but am glad the debate has been opened up."
The report can be downloaded from our download page.
Notes for editors:
For more information contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page.
Release date: 1st September 2004.
Clear Night Sky for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth.
John Proctor, age 21, from the Allsorts Youth Project has written a report examining Connexions policy and target setting regarding lesbian, gay and bisexual young people. The results could be fundamental for ensuring this vulnerable group are given access to the services they need.
The report included a survey of young people from Allsorts, a project in Brighton which aims to support young lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and those questioning their sexuality. Some frightening figures were found, including that 60% of the group had attempted suicide.
John said, "I hope this report will encourage Connexions to take action to ensure the service meets the needs of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The issues that LGB young people still face are devastating and Connexions is in a position to be able to change that."
The report has already been sent to Margaret Hodge MP, the Minister for Children, and Anne Wienstock the Chief Executive of Connexions. As yet, John is still awaiting a response.
The report is due to be published shortly. The report can be downloaded from our download page.
Notes for editors:
For more information contact Allsorts Youth Project using details found on the contact us page.
Release date: March 2004.
Allsorts Campaigning for Gay Youth.
Workers and two young people from Allsorts Youth Project recently attended a "Gay Summit" hosted by the Conservative party in the House of Commons. The event was facilitated by Charles Hendry MP, Shadow Minister for Young People to discuss issues around safety, health, and working with the government.
John and Justine represented young people from the project and managed to squeeze a few words in the debate, as well as getting a chance to speak to the media. At the event they said to the press: "I'm glad that one of the most marginalised sections of society is finally being listened to," representative John Proctor. Fellow volunteer Justine Newby added that she was also "pleased" with the summit, "I'm confident that my opinions are now being taken into consideration,"
The Summit came as a result of Charles Hendry talking to a group of young people from Allsorts back in September 2003 hearing from them the day-to-day problems they face.
Release date: 21st January 2004.
Allsorts youth project receivces
Comic relief funding.
After months of uncertainty Allsorts has finally been given funding for the next three years thanks to Comic Relief. This will enable the project to continue doing its vital work of supporting young, lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and those questioning their sexuality in Brighton and Hove.
Allsorts was set up in 1999 by Jess Wood (Project Manger) and James Newton to fill the gap in services in Brighton and Hove, and the surrounding area. Allsorts went on to receive funding from the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Recently, with this funding coming to an end the project had to act quickly to find new sources of funds.
The Comic Relief funding allows the drop-in and one to one support to continue for at least the next three years. Jess, the Project Manager, said:
"This is great news, we receive so little statuary funding that the support of charities like Comic Relief and The Princess Memorial Diana fund is vital for our survival. The situation LGB young people face on a day to day basis is at times absolutely appalling. It is a responsibility for the whole of society to take steps to ensure that all young people and children are safe within our society. For me it is a basic human right."
The young people at Allsorts are also understandably glad of the stability the new funding will provide. One young person said: "Allsorts has helped me become a very outgoing confident person and I see it as a second family." A young woman said "It is really beneficial to talk to people who have been through the same experiences as me."
