Freedom - OTR

Location

Bristol

Drop-in or signup?

Age range

11-25 year olds

Freedom Youth 11-14

Get Social

Freedom is OTR’s LGBTQIA+ youth programme, providing a safe, joyful and supportive space for young people aged 11-25 who are LGBTQIA+ or are exploring their gender and sexuality.

What is Freedom?

Freedom is a friendly, welcoming and relaxed space that helps young people be themselves, find friends and get the support they need. Freedom sessions are full of fun ways to express ourselves and learn new things.

Please use the sign up button to get involved or email LGBTQ@otrbristol.org.uk for next steps.

Parent/Carer Peer Support Group Are you the parent or carer of an LGBTQ+ young person? We are running peer support groups at Off The Record, for parents and carers to come and share their experiences and receive support and information from the group.

Freedom Pride Fund

Pride season is nearly upon us, and our Freedom team are gearing up to spread the word at Pride events across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. Freedom is OTR’s LGBTQIA+ youth programme, providing a safe, joyful and supportive space for young people aged 11-25 who are LGBTQIA+ or are exploring their gender and sexuality. At a time when the world can feel like an unsafe place for LGBTQIA+ people, safe, joyful, and supportive spaces like Freedom are as important as ever. Please consider supporting Freedom‘s Pride fund – any donations will be put towards resources to hand out to young people at Pride events this summer to raise awareness of, and access to, Freedom.

To donate please head over to donate and add the personalised message of ‘FREEDOMS PRIDE FUND’ so we can ensure the donations are put to our freedom group.

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, questioning or queer and the ‘+’ includes other diverse identities such as asexual, demigender, non-binary, pansexual, etc. You can find a more detailed explanation of gender and sexual identities in this online glossary. Freedom is open to anyone questioning their sexuality or gender and is supported by a team of friendly and knowledgeable LGBTQ+ youth workers.

Here’s what’s on offer…

Freedom Youth (age 11-14)

Please use the sign up button to get involved or email LGBTQ@otrbristol.org.uk for next steps.

Freedom Youth (age 13-18)

A relaxed space where young people can make friends and find support. Our sessions are full of ways to be creative and express ourselves, as well as workshops that tackle topics like keeping safe.

We also have lots of exciting opportunities for new experiences with community partners to help us try new things and gain new skills. The group is supported by friendly and experienced youth workers, and decide on what we do, which includes trips, games and socials.

Freedom (age 18-25)

A friendly, relaxed social space where you can meet and be around other LGBTQI+ people. Each session has optional activities informed by the group members’ interests. This could be something creative, something about queer history, a group discussion… But if the activity isn’t your thing, you can also come for a chat 🙂

Sessions happen weekly, but you can attend as often as you’d like. We also sometimes go to events together – think local theatre shows, exhibitions, and pride – or have external organisations in to run sessions!

If you are 18 and not sure which group is the best fit for you, please get in touch lgbtq@otrbristol.org.uk.

Upon signing up for Freedom you will be contacted with next steps, dates and times. We deliberately don’t put the dates and times on the website for Freedom for confidentiality reasons.

Questions welcome! Please email lgbtq@otrbristol.org.uk.

OTR’s Freedom project was proudly part of the transformational Queer Futures 2 (QF2) research, exploring LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health. Queer Futures 2 is working with 12 best practice agencies (of which Freedom is one!) who are leading the way in championing LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health. This research will influence and shift NHS policy making decisions for the next few years.

Working together with EACH our young people created ‘What is gender?’ a short film with documentary and animation:

To learn more about LGBTQUIA+ terms and phrases please head over to the Mermaids Glossary.

If you’re looking for therapy, please head to the therapies page.

Partnerships

We are proud to work with Voice and Influence as the LGBTQ+ Delivery partner. They work to make sure that individuals, groups and communities whose voices aren’t always heard are listened to, and are part of shaping Bristol’s future. Check out their Twitter and Instagram pages to find out more about what they do.

We also work with work with Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services as their LGBTQ+ advisory partner. If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime, you can contact us for a chat and support here or you can call our 24/7 freephone number on 0800 171 2272.

If you are unsure whether to report or you are nervous about what to expect if you do, you can talk to us. We can give you advice and help you pass on information if you choose.

"When I found Freedom I was lost and confused. Freedom acted as a map, to help me navigate my own path through the confusing world of gender, sexuality and identity, and now I can confidently and comfortably be myself"

Freedom feedback