Spotlight Interview- GoodVibes - YMCA Swansea
This Pride Month we spoke with Toni at GoodVibes about the work Swansea YMCA are doing to provide support and community for the young people of Swansea in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tell us about your organisation and why it started?
GoodVibes is the LGBTQ+ youth group, that forms part of YMCA Swansea’s broader LGBTQ+ support service. GoodVibes was established over 10 years ago in response to the requests and needs of young people in Swansea attending open-access generic youth club provision. A Youth Forum was formed as an offshoot of the youth group, and with the support of Swansea Council and the Welsh Government, the LGBTQ+ service and GoodVibes youth group were formed to support young people with protected characteristics in connecting and exploring their identity.
Tell us about your ethos and values?
YMCA Swansea believes in fairness and opportunity. There are essential building blocks for a whole and rewarding life: a safe home, acceptance, guidance, friendship, physical and mental health, academic support, employment skills, and access to real opportunities. Many young people have never known these things; others have lost one or more as they grew up, but we all need them. At YMCA Swansea, we provide these critical foundations for a fresh, strong start for young people and a better quality of life in the community.
YMCA Swansea aims to:
Tackle poverty
Improve health and well-being
Promote equality and diversity
Improve the quality of life for children, young people and communities in Swansea and surrounding areas.
Tell is why our community should connect with you?
Young people can find a safe, welcoming, nonjudgmental space where they can speak one-on-one regarding their identity, relationships, and any aspects of their well-being. They can also join in social activities with like-minded individuals to have fun, relax, and express themselves creatively.
Parents and professionals alike can access training to understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people and how they, as their trusted adults, can support them.
Members of the public can connect with us to explore their understanding of LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences, breaking down stigma and challenging discrimination, connecting communities and creating safer spaces.
Tell us a little about your services and support you offer to 'widen participation'.
YMCA Swansea offers the following services both directly to LGBTQ+ Young People aged 11- 25 years old and those who support them:
GoodVibes Youth Group: Every Tuesday evening, 6 pm - 8 pm at YMCA Swansea’s youth club. Providing a warm, welcoming, inclusive space for young people who are LGBTQ+ and their allies, supporting them to connect, relax, express themselves and get information, advice and guidance from qualified youth workers. Including free food, arts and crafts, community trips and interactive sessions such as seed planting, baking, creating vision boards and coping kits, and celebrating the diversity of LGBTQ+ identities.
One-to-one support for 11–25-year-olds: in person, via phone or digital means, at YMCA Swansea, at home, in educational or community settings. Support to understand identity and safe, healthy relationships, emotional and physical well-being, and social skills.
Community Support: Drop-in interactive information sessions for young people or those who support them in a variety of community settings, such as schools, colleges, and community centres.
Training and Workshops: Free training for adults and workshops for young people on topics such as LGBTQ and Trans Awareness. Bespoke sessions are available upon request.
Is there anything exciting coming up this year at GoodVibes?
GoodVibes is hosting the LGBTQ+ Prom in July which is ‘Fantasy’ themed and open to all LGBTQ+ young people 11-25 years old in Swansea. Over the next few club session’s we will be working with a textile artist to create corsages, headpieces and clothing for the event.
Goodvibes has also just launched its new and refreshed LGBTQ+ training that sits alongside its Trans+ training session for professionals.
GoodVibes are also working in partnership with Swansea Council’s Evolve youth groups, visiting sites in Townhill, Blaenymaes, Gorseinon, Brynhyfryd and Stadwen to bring support to young people’s local communities.
Where can people find out about GoodVibes and offer support to young people/ refer them in?
LGBTQ+ Youth Support | YMCA Swansea
Contact us at kelly@ymcaswansea.org.uk to find out more about the GoodVibes youth group, one-to-one support, community drop-ins, and training packages.