Out in Education is an entirely student-run not-for-profit. We were founded at the University of Nottingham in 2013 and have grown year-on-year under the leadership of successive waves of enthusiastic volunteers.
We have three key aims:
1. Tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in schools
2. Support young LGBT+ people coming to terms with their sexuality
3. Train teachers to organically bring LGBT+ issues into the classroom
We work towards these by delivering assemblies and workshops on a diverse range of topics to students from KS1 to KS5. We also help schools create effective pupil-led anti-bullying policies. Our impact is demonstrated through Ofsted reports, schools displaying pupils’ anti-bullying policies and frequent repeat visits.
Most of our volunteers are LGBT+ university students who have recently come through the education system, and so can relate to homophobic bullying and coming out at school. As LGBT+ education in schools is often inadequate and we lacked role models, many of us felt we couldn’t be ourselves at school. Our aim in every session is to be the person we needed when we were younger and ensure no more students suffer in silence.
