LGBTQ+ support for parents and carers

Support for LGBTQ+ young people

Eikon is committed to providing friendly, confidential and warm support to young people who identify as LGBTQ+ in Surrey and their families.

At Eikon, we understand the difficulties that LGBTQ+ young people can face in society; with too many experiencing isolation, bullying and family conflict or rejection, which can negatively impact their mental health.

Our approach involves collaborating with schools, professionals, parents, and guardians to ensure that we prioritise the perspectives and well-being of young people. We focus on empowering young people to navigate these challenges and discover safe communities where they can freely express themselves and experience the joy of feeling accepted.

LGBTQ+ Youth Groups

Eikon’s LGBTQ+ Youth Groups are safe spaces for questions, support, discussions, activities and to make new friends. Our groups are completely free and open to all young people aged 11-18 (or up to 24 for young people with SEND) across Surrey who identify as LGBTQ+ or questioning.

The youth groups are split into a 11-14 group and 15-17 group which meet fortnightly in West Byfleet (for the 11-14) and Guildford (for the 15-17) at 6-8pm where we do activities such as bath bomb making, crafts and meeting therapy dogs. The groups run in parallel with the school term and in the holidays we offer trips for young people such as a recent visit to Brighton – which are open to anyone attending the group or accessing 1:1 support. Additionally, we are in the process of developing an online group for individuals aged 18-24 with SEND. The dates of upcoming groups can be found below.

Join us now! If you are interested in joining our youth groups, please use the link below to register your interest or email EikonLGBT@Eikon.org.uk for more details.

LGBTQ+ Youth Group Dates

Dates of groups for 11-14 year olds

5^th and 19th March

2^nd and 30th April

14^th and 28^th May

11^th and 25^th June

9^th July

3^rd and 17th September

1^st and 15^th October

5^th and 19^th November

3^rd and 17^th December

Dates of groups for 15-17 year olds

26^th Feb

12^th March and 26^th March

23rd April

7^th May and 21st May

4^th June and 18^th June

2^nd July and 16^th July

10^th and 24^th September

8^th and 22nd October

12^th and 26^th November

10^th December

One-to-One LGBTQ+ Focused Emotional Wellbeing Sessions

We also offer 8-10 LGBTQ+ focused emotional wellbeing sessions with one of our LGBTQ+ Specialist practitioners. These 1:1 support sessions provide a confidential and supportive environment for young people to discuss emotions and experiences related to being part of the LGBTQ+ community, including coming out to wider family, understanding and exploring identity, and addressing gender dysphoria.

These sessions aim to offer personalised support, guidance, and resources to help young people navigate these aspects of their lives. Sessions can be conducted online, within school/college or in person at our therapy rooms in West Byfleet. They are available for young people aged 13-17, or 18-25 with SEND. Referrals can be made by the young person (if aged 13+), a parent or carer, or a professional such as a teacher.

Useful links for LGBTQ+ support

If you or someone you know need support immediately, you may find these websites helpful.

The National Lottery Community Fund

Thanks to a generous grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, we have able to expand our work supporting LGBTQ+ young people across Surrey. The funding has allowed us to grow our LGBTQ+ Youth Groups by adding new sessions and organising trips during the holidays to ensure young people are engaged and supported.

We are also pleased to have been able to increase one-to-one emotional wellbeing sessions with our LGBTQ+ Practitioners. The young people who have received this tailored support have expressed feeling increased self confidence, resilience and awareness of their journey and the support available.

Additionally, the grant has help us support parents, carers, and families, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to better understand and support the LGBTQ+ young person in their lives.

Pictured is our Our Garden of Hopes and Dreams shed which received a fantastic makeover with some beautiful artwork painted by young people Eikon supports. The project was a co-collaboration with our young LGBTQ+ people and local artist Soph Kathleen.