Welcome to Young Gay Surrey

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Are you a gay young person in Surrey?

Are you 13-19 years old?

Are you facing prejudices or are being bullied? Maybe you have some sexual health questions? Are you questioning your sexuality? Are you wanting to come out to your family/friends and not sure how to handle it? Do you feel isolated? Would you like to meet other LGBTQ young people in Surrey?

It's simple, contact us in any way you feel comfortable; email, phone or text and let us help you overcome your obstacles or simply call for a chat.

TWISTER youth club - Spelthorne

TWISTER youth club - Guildford

TWISTER youth club - Redhill

Youth Links

Have your say

What young people say about us

A week in the life of...

GYSE, On-Line Youth Forum for LGBTQ Young People in Surrey

Surrey University

What I would like to achieve, alongside Gay Surrey

• Set up and maintain new youth clubs for LGBTQ Young People
• Continue tackling homophobia and raising awareness of LGBTQ lifestyles and issues through the LGBTQ Friendly Agency Training
• Continue identifying and meeting the needs of young people through consultation and participation.

Have your say

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What the young say about us

This bit talks about what "you" have to say about Sam, and "Young Gay Surrey" section of our site. If you want to drop us a line then Say Hi

Testimonials

1.
"It was a big step contacting Sam for the first time. I had so many questions running around my head - What would it all involve? How did I become a part of it? I'd got her email from the website, and luckily enough it was half term week, so she gave me a call a few days after. I'd come out to my parents just a few days before, so it was all quite new and scary to me.

I was really nervous and not sure what to expect, but Sam put me at ease and we met in a public place, which is obviously really important. My mum came by a couple of minutes later to make sure that everything was okay, but Sam was great and gave me lots of information about the youth group, what was involved, what it was like, and by the end of the chat I was certain, even if I was naturally still really nervous!!

When my first night came around, I was terrified! I mean, meeting a group full of complete strangers!?! Scary!! But all the same, I turned up and realised what Sam had been banging on about! Everyone looked out for me, and even at the end of the first, nervous, barely-talking night I realised I'd started some great friendships. The other young people and workers were so friendly and welcoming, it only took a few weeks before I was completely at ease with everything.

I'm really pleased I took the step of contacting Sam. It seems like the hugest thing you'll ever do at the time, and that's okay, because trust me, it's worth it. Not only did I get a great group of friends, a supportive atmosphere where my sexuality is okay, and tons of laughs out of it, but my one-on-one work with her as an LGBTQ PA has had a brilliant effect on the whole of my life, not just the stuff about my sexuality.

At the end of the day, it's so worth it. If you've got questions, just ask..it's such a friendly atmosphere that even if something seems stupid, you can be sure it's been asked before! Just go for it - you've got nothing to lose!"

Female - 16 years old.

2.
"Just wanted to say what a fabulously informative site that it is. I have found it really useful..
cheers Nick "

3.
That's a really worthwhile website - the focus on young people is great, wish I had had something like that when I was young!

A little about me

Profile - Sam King
'Youth Development Worker, LGBTQ Young People'
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Young People (LGBTQ)
Surrey Youth Development Services

Sam has 15 years experience working with young people and has been involved in a number of projects including drop-in youth clubs, residential's, one to one work, outdoor Rally Kart Teams, Magazine work, running workshops, PAYP (Positive Action for Young People), self esteem projects, single gender work, video making, Summer Xcape and the Leaving Care Team (now known as the Surrey 16 Plus Service), which is affiliated with Connexions where Sam trained to work in line with Connexions policies and values.

In November 2004, Sam took on her current role working with LGBTQ young people in Surrey.

The aim of the LGBTQ young people service is to assist and support young LGBTQ people as they make their transition into adulthood. But also to highlight the difficulties that LGBTQ young people face within a discriminative society to other agencies including schools and colleges and to bring about change. Sam is networking with LGBTQ friendly agencies in order to provide a complete service. As a 'Youth Development Worker, LGBTQ Young People' , Sam can assist LGBTQ young people in all areas of their life not just sexuality - school, friends, family, health etc.

A week in the life of a connexions PA LGBTQ young people for Surrey Youth Development

A year eleven student takes time out of school to do a weeks work experience with Sam

What a week, and it's not even finished yet! I'm writing this on the Thursday of my work experience with Sam King, Surrey's LGBTQ connexions PA. We have been very busy, sending emails, making and receiving calls, creating workshops, driving around from office to office, meeting young people and I have been writing FAQs, Testimonials and a diary of the week (not to mention this).

It has been great to see some of the councils' inner workings and how the service Sam provides is run. It has been particularly good to help her work on one of her current projects, to open an LGBTQ youth club in every one of the county's eleven boroughs. I have been meeting up with her each day at the train station nearest the office she will be working in that day. Sam has a completely roaming profile, and so she can go to any council office in the county and work from it, allowing her to be where she is most needed.

It's not all been glamorous offices and free lunch however, we have had some walks through the freezing cold, and I found out some statistics about homophobia and the effects it as on LGBTQ people, often leading to self harm and suicide. These made me realise that the situation here is Surrey is perhaps worse than I assumed. So, though there is a lot of work to be done, rest assured that Sam is working tirelessly to ensure that LGBTQ young people have places to go where they are safe and people to talk to who they can be sure will be ready, willing and able to help them.

To contact Sam

if your 13-19, Living in Surrey and want information and advice designed just for you, or just someone to talk to, then Sam has it all.

Feeling nervous about getting in contact? Don’t worry, lots of people do!

E Mail

Mobile : text or call 07976 974 742

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