LonGBoaT at New College Pontefract: A Day of Connection and Collaboration

Trustees Lyla & Chris at their stall at New College Pontefract

Earlier in the week, LonGBoaT Wakefield had the privilege of attending a vibrant Pride event hosted at one of our local colleges. We joined forces with New College Pontefract's LGBTQ+ student group and Spectrum Health CIC to celebrate Pride, connect with students, and share a little more about the work we do across Wakefield’s LGBTQ+ community.

Our stall was packed with colourful merch, information about LonGBoaT’s services, (and most importantly) a genuine curiosity about the future of LGBTQ+ support for young people. As a charity currently focused on services for those aged 18 and over, this event gave us a valuable opportunity to open up conversations with the under-18s in attendance.

In exchange for some Pride-themed freebies (who could resist?), we asked students two important questions:

What would an LGBTQ+ youth group look like to you?

How would you like to interact with your wider community?

We were overwhelmed by the number of responses, ideas, and insights shared. Young people spoke passionately about the need for safe spaces, social groups, creative outlets, mental health support, and chances to connect intergenerationally.

This feedback isn’t just going in a folder! It’s going directly into shaping the next phase of LonGBoaT’s journey. We're deeply committed to ensuring that the voices of young LGBTQ+ people in Wakefield are part of what comes next.

We also want to give a big shout out to Rebecca from the college, whose support and enthusiasm helped make this collaboration so successful. We’re already looking forward to returning for future events and developing more opportunities to support and empower LGBTQ+ students.