LGB Alliance starts Helpline for teens and young adults

[IwantToRetire]

This isn't a specifically for women, lesbians but aimed at young people who are feeling confused or bullied whilst trying to work out who they are. Thought some on FWR might have siblings, children, who might find this useful.

Q: Why did you select the age range 13 – 24?

Adolescence is often a time of turmoil and change and teenagers can struggle as they begin to think about who they are.

Whilst acting on any sense of same-sex attraction may be years away, the worries and fears associated with the idea that you are ‘different’ often start early.

Young adults, on the other hand, may be more settled in their sexual orientation but struggling with a new world of relationships.

Whilst the support would be framed differently and always in an age appropriate manner, the underlying message from our volunteers will be meaningful to all teens and young adults – it’s always fine to be you.

Q: How is it different to any other service?

Like other helplines, we’ll be there to support teens and young adults facing a whole host of issues – ranging from coming out and bullying to break-ups and family alienation.

What makes us unique is that the service won’t suggest to a teenage girl who feels different, because she prefers short hair and playing sport, that she might really be a boy. And it won’t tell a teenage boy who is being bullied for being effeminate that maybe he’s really a girl.

Many young adults report being shamed for their lesbian, gay or bisexual relationships by those who would say that same-sex attraction is in some way bigoted. We start from the premise that homosexuality is perfectly natural.

There is much more info about safeguarding and how volunteers were recruited on this web page https://lgballiance.org.uk/our-helpline-is-open/

I’m so glad LGBA is getting the opportunity to do more practical outreach.

And brilliant that they got so many volunteers.

Lets hope as time goes on they can have a Lesbian Helpline, where lesbians who ring will know that they will be speaking to an actual lesbian, not someon who "identifies" as a lesbian.

I don't like this framing of 13 and 24 year olds as being remotely similar/similar needs. There's a whole decade of difference between the two.

That is quite clearly what has been explained in the OP - that the ages and techniques for different ages are different, but there is an underlying common message to all who access the helpline that it is always ok to be you.

From the OP:
Whilst the support would be framed differently and always in an age appropriate manner, the underlying message from our volunteers will be meaningful to all teens and young adults – it’s always fine to be you.

That was my thought too. There is too much of an age gap. 24 has a very.different mindset from 13

The age range of this is very concerning and inappropriate imo. The OP suggests the same guidance and support will be given but just in age appropriate manner - what does that mean?

I thought LGB doesn't believe LGB kids exist, so why are they offering a helpline for children instead of young adults?

I'm also not keen on this. But we know that this age group have been relentlessly targeted by trans activists and are in desperate need of a neutral listening ear rather than an affirming activist.

The safeguarding issues are also different for under 16s but I'm sure they've had comprehensive advice and training - unlike the safeguarding free zones of so many adult lobby groups targeting children. .

Totally agree, LGB Alliance founder Kate Harris states that LGB children don't exist. I'm sorry I'm supporter of LGBA but I can't support this as it is inconsistent with their policy (aside from the safeguarding issues it throws up).

'I don't see the fuss. The quotes in the OP very clearly distinguish between children and young adults. The fact of the matter is there will be 13 & 14 year olds who are thinking about their sexuality. You can either leave them to chat to all the captured organisation, or you can provide them with a space like this. I'm glad the LGBA are doing this.

What's the difference between being LGB as a child and an LGB child?

This is key, people’s inference of this. I read it as children shouldn’t be labelled as being part of a movement of any sort.

No one should be discussing sex with children - that's safeguarding 1.01.

I get the feeling a number of posters here are against this helpline 'just because'. It is almost like some are misconstruing on purpose.

The info posted said age appropriate, acting on may be several years away etc.

What is wrong with a helpline for a 14yo who is having attraction feelings to a same sex peer?

A helpline is not the same as a group with 13-24s all in the same room. Plus it won't be pushing operations or drugs onto anyone.

Excellent news - this will be an invaluable space

Based on what?

I think there should always be a clear distinction between services for adults and services for children and the volunteers should be subject to different training and safeguarding policies in kind. There shouldn't be a blanket service for 13-24 year olds for anything imo. Why could they not have a separate helpline for children and one for young adults? Why the blurring of the lines? Are the same volunteers working on both? The info they have provided is very wishy washy and I can't find the detailed safeguarding policy anywhere to suggest they have one in place for children separate to adults.

If you want abuse to fester then by all means put a blanket ban on anyone ‘talking about sex with children’. There are appropriate ways to do this that absolutely have safeguarding at their heart.

Yes children should be educated on sex to protect them from abuse. But I don't think volunteers should be speaking to children about anything to do with sex especially on a helpline which also receives calls from young adults. That seems like basic safeguarding that you are either manning a helpline taking calls solely from children or adults, not one minute speaking to a 13 year old and the next minute someone who is 22.

There are lots of services, including helplines, that operate for children. 18 years and under. They are quite capable of understanding that a 10 year old and a 17 year old are very different, and tailoring support once a call is made. This is either by training every one in every age group, or by triaging calls and directing to appropriate advisers. I imagine that the LGBA has gone with this age range to reflect Cass - and others - observations about under 25s, and their need to have a service that is distinct from other adult provision.

A helpline is not the same as a group with 13-24s all in the same room. Plus it won't be pushing operations or drugs onto anyone.

Feels like this bears repeating

I think 24 is a bit old to be a 'young adult'- but then again I left school at 16 and got a job, and was a fully-fledged adult human female worker by the time I was 24! People seem to take longer to reach adulthood these days.
But apart from that...

I think it's a bit inflammatory to suggest that the helpline will be 'discussing sex with children'. Being lesbian or gay isn't all about sex, you know. There are lots of other things to discuss with a child or young adult who is questioning their sexual orientation. I knew I wasn't straight from a very early age, but finding what the alternative was took me a lot longer; if I'd had a helpline to talk to, my childhood and teens would have been a lot less troubled.
I can assure you, Flareware, the last thing I would have wanted to discuss back then was actual sex, it would have been all about working out who I was and what roads lay ahead for me.

Hearing "it’s always fine to be you" from an LGB helpline back then would have been like finding shelter in a storm.

Sounds a potentially very useful service.

They are open to hearing views and criticism:

'Delivering support to teens and young adults is an enormous responsibility and we take it extremely seriously. We need ‘critical friends’. It would be foolish to pretend we know everything and we will listen to experts and service users who suggest how we can improve. We welcome comment and scrutiny and we will actively seek advice and always aim for best-practice.'

Absolutely awful invention, I’m aghast. Far far too young to be allowed unsupervised conversations for such a respected organisation.

Yeah but they're all under 18 and therefore subject to the same safeguarding policies? It seems unnecessary and inappropriate to blur the lines between 13 year olds and people in their 20s. Nothing in the Cass report requires them to that, they could easily have a separate service for 13-17 and 18-24.

Helplines for young people are nothing new. There are a number of charities that do this. The important thing is safeguarding which far too many of the current charities are failing on but LGBA is clearly taking very seriously.
Are those posters concerned about this also wanting to shut down childline too? Because they're pushing gender identity which is far bigger concern than telling kids it's normal to be gay.

To my knowledge childline doesn't advertise the same helpline for a 13 year old and a 24 year old. I would complain about that too if that were the case.
Looking further into it, it's not even a helpline it's only an online chat with no pre screening questions which I think is even more worrying as they can't as easily screen who you're talking to and could be advising a young child to same as they would an adult.
This is just odd!