{"id":4647,"date":"2020-07-02T11:55:33","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T10:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/2020\/07\/02\/raising-funds-bame-lgbtq-youth-network\/"},"modified":"2020-07-02T11:55:33","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T10:55:33","slug":"raising-funds-bame-lgbtq-youth-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/raising-funds-bame-lgbtq-youth-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising funds for BAME LGBTQ youth network"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raising over \u00a36000 on their launch day, the Colours Youth Network<\/a> aims to reach \u00a350,000 to become an independently run organisation, dedicated to empowering the UK\u2019s BAME LGBTQ youth.<\/strong>  – Gofundme Page<\/a><\/p>\n

After launching on 10th June, the crowdfund reached a third of its target within the first week and so far the current total exceeds \u00a335,000.<\/p>\n

The Colours Youth Network (@coloursyouthuk<\/a>) provides specialised support, resources and events for youth workers and young people of colour in the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n

Nominated for National Diversity Awards, Colours brings stability and balance to youths whose lives may be disordered and who face discrimination due to their race, sexual orientation and gender identities.<\/p>\n

Colours is currently supported by Bradford Council Youth Service, Gendered Intelligence<\/a> and The Proud Trust<\/a> – a Manchester-based organisation that has been actively involved in working with LGBT youth since the 1970\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Colours Youth Network – The Team<\/h2>\n

Colours was created in 2016 by well-established youth workers of colour from Manchester, Bradford and London\u2019s LGBTQ community, pushing together for a wider reach of services to support youths across the UK.<\/p>\n

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Since starting the first LGBTQ group in Bradford in 1987, Colours co-founding member, Norrina, Rashid was presented with an award in 2017 for her outstanding contribution to the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognising intersectionality, I fought for many years to set up different groups. In 2014 as well as having a healthy LGBTQ+ group I managed to set up Phoenix, a trans youth group.<\/p>\n

\u201cSetting up a group for people of colour was another story. I was alone, the support and infrastructure was not there.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween 2014 -16, I started seeing Sabah and Chloe at conferences. The three of us agreed that we should do a shout out and set up a national network.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have dreamt for decades about a QTIPOC (Queer Trans Intersex People of Colour) youth organisation, led by young people and now it’s realised, To see young people actively involved in their lives and, in turn, community gives me such hope for the future of QTIPOC young people.\u201d<\/p>\n

As society is becoming increasingly connected through digital means, online conversations and digital safe spaces have empowered the LGBTQ community to organise, Norrina explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial media is the biggest thing that has enabled QTIPOC young people to grow strong, they seek each other out, realise they are not the only one, they form networks and people in numbers are powerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cColours’ presence on social media platforms has connected QTIPOC young people from all over the UK. Our annual residential and youth festival has seen young people attend from all four nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hosting free annual day festivals in Manchester, Colours curate events to entertain and educationally empower LGBTQ youths of colour, providing safe spaces to talk and experience meaningful interactions, money raised will go towards the continuation of such events. <\/p>\n

Encouraging QTIPOC from across the UK to attend, the festivals feature high profile guest speakers, with attendees eligible to have their travel and accommodation costs covered to tackle financial barriers.<\/p>\n