Published: 22.05.08

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and unsure (LGBTU) young people living in West Sussex need more advice and support. That’s according to researchers from the University of Brighton, who have conducted an extensive study to examine the current service provision available for young people in the county.

University researchers from the International Health Development Research Centre (IHDRC), in collaboration with the Terrence Higgins Trust, West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Primary Care Trust, conducted a series of focus groups and individual interviews with LGBTU young people from across West Sussex.

Of the 19 LGBTU interviewees aged between 13-19 years, not one was aware of the existence of any LGBTU service in West Sussex. They also all agreed that they felt there needed to be a service available to them. The research findings have also found that despite a good range of mainstream services for young people across the county, no service provision currently exists in West Sussex to provide specific information, advice or support for LGBTU young people.

Dr Nigel Sherriff, who headed the research project, hopes that the findings will now help West Sussex County Council and West Sussex Primary Care Trust to develop a more suitable and permanent service. He said: “It would be important for any service to consider flexible support options such as floating support, virtual support, drop-ins and rotating services across the county.”

West Sussex Primary Care Trust welcomed the findings of the West Sussex LGBTU Youth Research Project. Dr. Farhang Tazib, Director of Public Health and Well-being for West Sussex Primary Care Trust and West Sussex County Council said: “We felt it was extremely important to find out more about services for young people in West Sussex, which is why in partnership we commissioned the University of Brighton to undertake this research.”

He continued: “We will be scrutinising the findings in more detail over the coming weeks to ensure that we take the right steps to make sure LGBTU young people are supported in West Sussex.”

The practitioners and LGBTU young people involved in the project came together at an event to present the findings of the report. The event was an opportunity for LGBTU young people to have their voices heard concerning the future development of LGBTU youth services in the county. It also gave practitioners and service providers the chance to network and discuss issues of relevance and mutual interest. The event, together with the research, will inform the development of appropriate services for LBGTU young people.

LGBTU youth groups from across West Sussex as well as from neighbouring authorities, including Brighton & Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings, Somerset and London are welcome to attend. Please contact Paul Woodcock at paul.woodcock@wspct.nhs.uk.