This intermediate-level course aims to equip you with the essential knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to effectively support and advocate for LGBTQ+ young people.
LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by mental ill-health – including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm – often due to rejection, bullying and a lack of positive messaging, support and information.
Ynglŷn â'r cwrs
This intermediate-level course aims to equip you with the essential knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to effectively support and advocate for LGBTQ+ young people.
LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by mental ill-health – including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm – often due to rejection, bullying and a lack of positive messaging, support and information.
According to research, half of LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing or having experienced an anxiety disorder, compared to a quarter of non-LGBTQ+ peers, and school is often where many LGBTQ+ young people first encounter discrimination – they are twice as likely to have been bullied in that past year compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts (Growing Up LGBT+, Just Like Us, 2021 survey)
As a youth worker, you are uniquely positioned to make a meaningful difference. This course will help you build the knowledge, skills and confidence to create safer, more inclusive spaces where LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported and empowered.
You’ll learn how to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of essential LGBTQ+ terminology and concepts
- Understand the key issues affecting LGBTQ+ young people and recognise the challenges they face
- Understand how youth work can effectively support LGBTQ+ young people through the application of key youth work principles
- Explore how the Youth Work Curriculum can be tailored to better support LGBTQ+ young people
- Evaluate your own youth work practice with LGBTQ+ young people
- Evaluate your own organisational practices in relation to supporting the needs of LGBTQ+ young people
This self-paced course offers interactive learning with case studies, reflective activities and chapter quizzes, which will reinforce your learning. On completion, learners will receive an NYA completion certificate and digital badge.
Acknowledgements
This course was developed in collaboration with The Brunswick Centre in Kirklees and Calderdale, with gratitude for their expertise and support.
The Brunswick Centre provides dedicated support and services for LGBTQ+ young people aged 11–24, and their families through weekly LGBTQ+ youth groups, one‑to‑one support around gender identity and sexual orientation, and family support for parents and carers. The Centre also runs workshops (including trans‑focused sessions), works with schools and partner organisations to improve local services, and creates safe, affirming spaces where LGBTQ+ young people can connect, be heard and build confidence.
The charity has developed its best-practice approach through collaborative discussions with partners, ongoing research and service evaluation, providing training for school staff and allied sector partners focusing on LGBTQ+ awareness and inclusive practice, and through direct engagement with young people themselves – ensuring that learning is evidence-based, shaped by lived experience and continuously refined through feedback and partnership working.
Content Advisory
This course includes discussions around identity, discrimination and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. Some content may be sensitive or triggering. Please take care of your wellbeing and seek support if needed.
Cost: Free
Level: Intermediate
