SAYiT works with young people and professionals to improve the lives of young people. We provide groupwork and 1:1s for LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, plus) young people aged 11 – 25 for support and empowerment; work around sexual health and HIV; and mental wellbeing. Our training helps organisations improve their knowledge and address discrimination and inequality.
Welcome to our Spring Newsletter – 2019 looks like being another exciting year for us. Firstly, we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary and we have a number of events planned to commemorate this momentous occasion – we will keep you posted! We also have a number of new projects planned – which means we will have some more staff to introduce you to. We were fortunate to have been awarded Government funding to run a project around raising awareness of Domestic Abuse within LGBT+ communities across South Yorkshire. The project will be run in conjunction with Sheffield City Council – and we will be having an official launch of the project at Sheffield University in July.
Many of you will be aware that in the past few weeks MPs overwhelmingly voted to make Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) compulsory in schools from 2020. This is a move we have campaigned for at SAYiT for many years. We have always recognised young people’s right to receive comprehensive and inclusive RSE, allowing them to make informed choices about the relationships in which they engage. This is the first time guidance has changed around sex and relationships since the year 2000 and reflects changes in society such as the appearance of social media. The vast majority of parents and teachers support these proposals and research by the Terrence Higgins Trust suggests the move is backed by 97% of young people. As an organisation working with partners across the city we will be available to offer support, advice and training for schools in delivering inclusive and age appropriate RSE. So do feel free to contact us. info@sayit.org.uk
Young People’s work
Under 18s
SAYiT Fruitbowl has had a productive and lively start to 2019. Numbers at the group have grown steadily, we see new members almost each week. Activities have been wide and varied – everything from Tie Dye tee shirts through to Internet safety sessions. Over February half-term week young people were once again invited to Kelham Island museum, where we all learned to design and make (maga)zines. This coincided with LGBT history month; SAYiT young people’s work from a previous project was used as the museums LGBT+ trail and is now exhibited at the museum…a great accolade! To celebrate and acknowledge all the young people’s hard work an event was held at the museum and SAYiT took over the museum for the evening; playing hide and seek was a real treat.
We were also invited to the official opening of The Leonardo da Vinci exhibition and this led to young people participating in a prestigious art project around the work of Leonardo da Vinci and to develop work for an LGBT+ curation for Sheffield Museums Trust.
Download Fruitbowl poster here:
Over 18s
SAYiT Prism is a group for LGBT+ young people aged 18-25 to explore their gender identity and sexuality. The group runs once a month on a Wednesday evening 6-8pm. Alongside the monthly group young people can get involved in trips, events, campaigns, projects and we offer 1-1 support. Contact Harriet harriet.wan-hallam@sayit.org.uk for details.
Download Prism poster here:
Young People’s voice
SAYiT aims to involve young people in all aspects of our work. Check out our video to hear some of the things SAYIT young people say and do!
FREE! Offer to schools across Sheffield
SAYiT offers most of its assemblies, classroom delivery and staff training sessions FREE across Sheffield. See here for more info and to book:
Setting up a GSA in school
SAYiT offers support to Sheffield schools to develop Gender and Sexuality (GSA) groups. We will meet with a staff member in school; we will give the school a pro forma poster and flyer for the school to input their own details for advertising purposes; we will attend the first GSA group in school; and we will offer ongoing email and/or phone based support if needed. Contact Hannah hannah.greenslade@sayit.org.uk for support.
Upcoming Seminars and Conferences
Faith, Sexualities and Gender Think Tank: FreeMonday May 13th 9.15 – 1.00. Chaired by Shahida Siddique, Director, Faith Star.
Email Oliver at info@sayit.org.uk for further info and to book your place.
Sheffield Relationships and Sex Education Forum (RSE): Free
Wednesday 10th July 2019 4.15 – 6pm
Launch of findings of Sheffield Hallam University Master’s students research into Sheffield schools’ readiness for the new Statutory LGBT+ inclusive Relationships and Sex Education.
Email Oliver at info@sayit.org.uk for further info and to book your place.
Domestic Abuse LGBT+ conference: FreeWednesday 17th July 9.00 – 2.00 at Sheffield University.
Email Oliver at info@sayit.org.uk for more info and to book your place.
Upcoming events
IDAHOBIT 17th May
IDAHOBIT (The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia) is on 17th May and will be held in The Peace Gardens 17:30-19:00. The date in which in 1990 the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. This day is marked annually to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT+ people on a global scale and is marked in over 130 countries. When we look at our current climate today, trans people and people of colour who identify as LGBT+ are still significantly oppressed. The theme for this year’s IDAHOBIT is Justice and Protection for all, we wanted to highlight this and ensure we are creating an IDAHOBIT which is welcoming and accessible to everyone. We welcome people to bring flags of their gender and sexuality but also of their heritage and/or birthplace. Everyone is welcome.
Download IDAHOBIT poster here:
BAMER Pride 28th June
Celebrating BAMER Pride is important. Being LGBT+ is one thing, but being ethnically or culturally “other” is another, and reconciling the two is important. BAMER people continue to face the double discrimination of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia with racism.
The vision that SAYiT has is that by sharing the day with others, even if we don’t all share the same cultural background, you’re able to see yourself reflected, and you can relax, not having to explain or justify yourself. It’s a feeling of recognition, of shared experience and ultimately a relief not to be in a minority.
We will be hosting a BAMER pride, on the 28th June 2019, a date that marks 50 years since the Stonewall riots, a movement started by trans women of colour.
Email sophie.williams@sayit.org.uk for info.
Pinknic – Saturday 13th July in the Peace Gardens
SAYiT will be there with a stall. Lots of fun, music and entertainment. All welcome, please come and join us!
Sheffield PRIDE – Saturday 27th July, Endcliffe Park
Sheffield’s biggest LGBT+ extravaganza! SAYiT will be there with a young people’s tent and a stall, please come and join us.
Upcoming SAYiT Training
LGBT+ Awareness – Addressing the Needs of LGBT+ Young People in Schools and Youth Settings – ½ day course – Thursday 25th April 2019. Free for Sheffield participants.HIV Education – ½ day course – Wednesday 8th May 2019. Free for Sheffield participants.Coaching Young People – Thursday 23rd May 2019. Full day. £100. A few, limited number of places remaining.
SAYiT can also deliver bespoke training courses on a wide variety of issues. For further information and/or to apply to attend a course at SAYiT, please contact Oliver or Liz at info@sayit.co.uk or 0114 241 2728
Volunteers
The volunteer team is gathering momentum – we’ve had two induction evenings, and following a training session for Fruitbowl volunteers we now have a rota for help for the next few months. They’ve also started going into schools shadowing our Outreach worker, and a group of volunteers is taking the lead in planning a BAMER celebration event. Over the next few months we’ll be keeping them busy at all the upcoming events and activities you’ve been reading about here.
The Noah Lomax Fund for Counselling and Hardship
Young people who access SAYiT services are now accessing counselling, therapy and funds to help them if in hardship. Young people can talk to their SAYiT youth
workers about accessing the fund. Noah very sadly died in August 2018 and SAYiT has established this fund in collaboration with Noah’s wonderful parents to help other young people.
Fundraise and donate to Noah’s fund: you’ll help SAYiT transform the lives of young people.
Amazon Smile Page
As a charity we would always encourage everyone to shop locally, environmentally and to use independent stores. However, if you do ever use Amazon, click smile.amazon.co.uk and then help SAYiT to raise money.
(At least you’ll be redistributing some of Amazon’s profits to a good cause!).
Parents and Carers Support GroupMeetings: First Tuesday of the month at Scotia Works
The group provides an opportunity to meet and share experiences with other parents/carers of LGBT+ young people, in a safe space in addition to talks and speakers on a range of issues. May 7th meeting is a social – contact us for details. info@sayit.org.uk
Following regular parents/carers groups:
Tuesday June 4th
Tuesday July 2nd
Tuesday September 3rd
All 6.00 – 7.30pm at Scotia Works.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! SAYiT has recently heard today that South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation has very generously approved a grant for us to continue the Parents/Carers work for the next 12 months! Thank you so much to them.
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