Spotlight Interview- Just Like Us
This Pride Month and ahead of School Diversity Week we speak with Lily from Just Like Us about the incredible resources and services they have for parents, carers, schools and young people.
Tell us about your organisation and why it started?
Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity, was founded in 2016 to champion LGBT+
equality in schools and to empower young people to do the same. Since our inception, our
work has always been led by young people and we know from them that growing up LGBT+
is still unacceptably tough. Through our programmes we hope to create a world where all
LGBT+ young people can thrive.
Tell us about the Projects and Services you run?
We work with thousands of schools and young people across the UK to empower LGBT+
young people to thrive.
Just Like Us’ Ambassador Programme trains LGBT+ 18 to 25-year-olds to speak in schools,
harnessing the power of storytelling to encourage allyship and act as real-life role models.
Our ambassadors are not just volunteers, they also benefit from a wide range of
opportunities through the Ambassador Programme, from career mentoring, to skills
workshops, to building community with a vibrant, UK-wide network of LGBT+ young adults.
Our Pride Groups programme helps schools create supportive spaces for LGBT+ and ally
pupils. The pupil-led groups are safe places where pupils can learn, make friends and work
together to make changes in their school and wider communities.
Each year, we organise School Diversity Week, the UK-wide celebration of LGBT+ equality
in schools. Taking place this year from 23 to 27 June, schools across the UK will be getting
involved in a range of activities from fundraisers like Rainbow Friday dress-up days, to
LGBT+ inclusive lessons and activities, to assemblies and school talks from Just Like Us
ambassadors.
We also have an extensive LGBT+ inclusive resource library, free to access for all school
staff, with resources
Is there anything you would like to share that would be of particular interest with our Single Parent Community?
We recently released our LGBT+ Guide for Parents and Carers, produced following
consultation with more than 100 parents and LGBT+ young people who shared their
experiences with us. The free, in depth guide is for all parents and carers - whether your
child is LGBT+ or not. It explains how to start conversations about LGBT+ topics, in age
appropriate ways, with your children aged 0-25, includes examples of conversation starters,
such as children’s books and TV shows, and offers advice on what to do if your child does
come out. We would encourage all parents to read the guide, and become part of change.
Where can we find you online?
Visit our website: www.justlikeus.org
Find us on social @JustLikeUsUK
Read our LGBT+ Guide for Parents and Carers here: https://justlikeus.org/lgbt-guide-for-
parents/