CSIE is working with Bath Spa University’s Centre for Education Policy in Practice on a project with secondary schools in Wiltshire to help make young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people feel safer and more included within their schools and wider lives.

Em Williams from CSIE is collaborating with Richard Parker, Director of Bath Spa University’s Centre for Education Policy in Practice (EPIP) and the GoGs Youth Group (which is short for ‘Group Of Gays’) on an Action Research project. GoGs have been meeting in Wiltshire since October 2011 under the auspices of the Wiltshire Council Youth work team to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) young people. The project is about devising ways of helping the young people feel heard, valued and included within their schools and wider lives.

The group have engaged in work around marketing and audiences, as well as engaged in some drama actvities that will form part of a resource pack for schools. Using a series of ‘scenes’ that have occurred to them, or that they have witnessed within their own lives, the group have re-worked the narrative so that they are left feeling in control and valued. Some members of the group have recently attended a national conference in London where they have spoken about the project, their school experiences and the value of GoGs as a safe space in their lives.

The young people met and impressed Janet Palmer, HMI inspector for Ofsted as well as Sarah from My Transsexual Summer and have since given a number of radio interviews about their experiences at the conference.

Richard Parker commented: “There is a danger that LGBT teenagers in schools feel they are not supported or understood. Teachers may not have sufficient guidance to tackle homophobic bullying or include LGBT identity issues in the curriculum. This project is helping address these issues in schools in Wiltshire, but the resources being produced will be helpful to schools across the country.”

The project will run until July 2012 when we intend to have a celebratory event. A final report will be available, via the CSIE website at this time.