LGBT+ Ambassador Programme helping London schools to become more inclusive, thanks to £30,000 National Lottery boost

Just Like Us, a London-based charity which empowers young people to champion LGBT+ equality, has received a £30,000 National Lottery boost.

The funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will allow the group to expand the reach of its Ambassador programme in London, which provides LGBT+ young people in the Capital with access to a fully supported volunteering programme to help make schools in the city more inclusive.

The group are using the funding to recruit, train and support LGBT+ young people, aged 18-25, to deliver talks and workshops in schools championing LGBT+ equality and inclusion as part of the Ambassador Programme.

Just Like Us is one of more than 800 charities and community groups across London benefiting from over £30 million of National Lottery funding throughout 2021 so far*.

Pippa Sterk began training as an Ambassador in October 2020 and is now one of over 300 skilled LGBT+ Ambassadors working across England. Since January she has been speaking to sixth form students virtually about her experience growing up in the LGBT+ community.

“I think young people still face a level of discrimination despite there being some legal and social strides being made. It’s important for us to speak with them, to connect with them and their story as people who have gone through it relatively recently. For us to be able to say, ‘two or three years ago I was in your position and I know what you’re going through’, is comforting” explained 24-year old Pippa.

Although Pride Month has just passed, the importance of the Ambassador Programme is about continuing the conversation of LGBT+ inclusivity among young people all year round. Pippa first started talking about her sexuality when she was 15 and has been thankful for her strong family network who were always been very supportive. She joined the Ambassador Programme to be a reassuring and positive voice for LGBT+ young people who don’t have that support network.

Pippa continued: “My parents are very supportive, and I grew up in an environment where it was never going to be a big deal for me to come out. It wasn’t until I got a lot more involved with the LGBT+ community that I realised how prevalent it still is that many people don’t have that support at home or from school.  Especially last year with the pandemic and being so isolated from a lot of people, I really wanted to do something that felt like I could provide that nice, comfortable space for people to feel themselves and to feel that it’s fine to come out and it doesn’t have to be a lifechanging or difficult thing to go through.

“I use the word lesbian for myself now but that’s really only been a recent development that even I feel secure in saying for the last two or three years.”

Pippa is currently completing a PHD on LGBT+ Volunteering in Higher Education and feels passionate about getting other young people involved with the programme.

“I became an Ambassador during the pandemic and the online school talks have been really great, the young people have been so engaged in our talks even when we can’t see them face to face. It really sparks a discussion that they take into very nuanced depths that is amazing to see” added Pippa.

“For me it’s also been a really great way of improving my public speaking as well as being able to meet different Ambassadors. You feel like you’re part of a community, not just an LGBT+ community but people who care about education and making sure other people grow up having an easier time than we perhaps did.”

Taz Rasul, Director of Volunteering at Just Like Us, said: “The National Lottery Community Fund grant is supporting our Ambassador Programme in London which supports LGBT+ young people to deliver inspiring and empowering school talks championing LGBT+ equality and inclusion. Our talks provide positive relatable role models for LGBT+ young people and encourage allyship in the wider school community. Already, more than 3,700 pupils in London have received an online talk from one of our Ambassadors. A big thank you to the National Lottery players for making this possible.”

London isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £200million has been distributed to more than 4,500 community groups across England so far this year’. *

Helen Bushell, Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I am incredibly proud to see the amazing impact that money raised by National Lottery players is having in communities across London. Recent challenges have shone a light on the inspiring volunteers and groups, like Just Like Us, who have been dedicated to helping their communities to thrive. This funding has given a much-needed boost to community spirit this year after what have been some extremely difficult times.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Thanks to National Lottery players, last year we awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

National Lottery players raise £36million each week for good causes throughout the UK**.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk