Just Like Us was founded for a simple reason: growing up LGBT+ is still one of the most challenging experiences young people can face.
We believe the best way to support LGBT+ young people is to make sure they hear powerful positive messages about being LGBT+ from other LGBT+ young people, just a little older and little wiser.
That's why we're building a national network of university student volunteers, giving them the skills they need to communicate with impact, and sending them into secondary schools to share their stories, bust stereotypes, and explain why LGBT+ equality is everyone's issue.
Just Like Us is the LGBT+
charity for young people
Empowering them from the
classroom to their careers
is our purpose
our
vision
a world where LGBT+ young people
live awesome lives
empower young people to be role models championing LGBT+ equality at school and work
our
mission
the
Problem
Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity are facts of life for the 150,000 (or more) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) pupils in UK secondary schools: 25% attempt suicide, 50% self harm and 96% still hear homophobic remarks.
These negative experiences undermine aspiration, reduce performance and limit the potential of LGBT+ pupils. Schools remain uncertain about how best to teach and support all pupils about LGBT+ issues.
In the workplace, too, LGBT+ young people often lack the confidence to be themselves, with 35% of 18-29 year old LGBT+ people not out to any colleagues.
Just Like Us recruits LGBT+ student volunteers at our university hubs. We partner with prestigious employers to equip volunteers with the public speaking, facilitation and leadership skills they need to be positive role models in schools.
We build relationships with secondary schools around our university hubs and connect them with our volunteers, who speak at assemblies & run workshops.
We support school visits through lesson resources and our Storywall, an online resource of affirming personal stories from LGBT+ young people.
We unite our network every summer through School Diversity Week, our national initiative empowering pupils & teachers to organise coordinated celebrations nationwide.
Our corporate partnerships with prestigious employers help our volunteers become future LGBT+ leaders, confident to be themselves when they enter the workplace.
Our aim: to support pupils and students, LGBT+ and straight, to thrive in a diverse world.
our
Solution
Who we serve
Pupils
We support children in schools to grow up happy in themselves, and understanding the importance of LGBT+ equality