Lucie and Nicki launched The Gap Youth Club in June 2010 as part of the Wandsworth Council Youth Service.

The Gap Youth Club is now delivered in partnership between Free2B Alliance and Wandsworth Youth Service. The Gap provides a safe, social space for LGBTQ+ youth aged 13-19 (and up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities). The club has supported over 350 young people since its launch and offers a wide range of youth curriculum workshops and sessions covering both mainstream youth and LGBTQ+ specific topics. We also run off-site trips and residentials including annual attendance at both London Pride & Brighton Pride as well as inviting organisations and guest speakers to join us such as: Stonewall, Outbox Theatre, Gendered Intelligence, Reggie Blennerhassett and the Navy Compass.

Sadly many of our members are not out, or they have been rejected when coming out and The Gap is the only place they can truly be themselves. Our continued aim is to support our members to be proud of who they are and to help them become active citizens with the confidence to challenge homophobia, biphobia & transphobia.

To promote emotional well-being we have a monthly art therapy session delivered by a qualified therapist as well as a volunteer available fortnightly to speak with members on a 1:1 or group basis to provide emotional well-being advice and guidance and sign post to relevant organisations for further support.

If you are a young person or professional wishing to refer to The Gap, please visit The Gap webpage or contact us on 07884 425 408

Free2Talk is our 1:1 mentoring service for LGBTQ+ young people aged 13-18. We provide a safe space for young people to explore their situations and develop the necessary skills and strategies to manage the difficulties they face.

• Increasing self-esteem
• Building personal resilience
• Improving aspirations

Based in Wandsworth, South West London and available to any young person who can access the borough.

Our youth council have been working hard on their social action project to challenge gendered changing rooms and toilets in public spaces. They have carried out two mystery shopper events and led a social media campaign to raise awareness.

Over the past term members have also helped update our training contents providing details of their personal experiences in school and within the health service.

We are extremely proud to report that four of our members have been accepted on a new UK-Wide youth forum set up to look at improving mental health. The TRIUMPH Youth Advisory Group will kick off with a three day residential in Glasgow at the end of June, joining the other participating youth groups.