Tell us about your organisation, why and how you started, and what you do?
We are X2Y; a charity working alongside LGBTQ+ young people, young adults and the wider queer community throughout Wolverhampton and the Black Country, to achieve our vision: a world of liberation, joy and empowerment for all LGBTQ+ young people.
We were established around 20 years ago to provide peer support, youth work, and mental health provision (including counselling) whilst also challenging the prejudice and discrimination faced by young LGBTQ+ people.
Recently, we have been able to take this further, establishing our own queer youth and community centre, a space led and created by and with LGBTQ+ young people in the heart of Wolverhampton.
Our counselling service continues to grow, and our youth and community events for both under 18s and 18+ are helping to build stronger, more connected intergenerational relationships. We also are beginning to run parent, carer, and family coffee mornings (for both LGBTQ+ families and families of LGBTQ+ young people) and deliver training that amplifies young people’s voices while helping to create active, empowered allies.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Our greatest achievement has been taking on our new queer community centre and the setting up of our Youth Voice Advisory (YVA) Board.
Having a dedicated queer community space, particularly in the current socio-political climate, is incredibly important – what makes it even more powerful is that it is led collectively by the community itself.
The YVA Board ensures that young people are not just consulted, but genuinely involved in decision-making. They have a rotating seat on our Board of Trustees, enabling them to influence strategic decisions and ensuring their involvement goes far beyond tokenism.
Although both initiatives are still in their early stages, these are by far our biggest achievements and there are so many exciting things to come in the near and distant future!
What is your experience of support received from WVCA?
WVCA have in the past and are currently supporting us in a variety of ways. From payroll support to guidance around volunteering and funding, the team has helped us navigate key stages of our development as an organisation.
As a small charity, having access to that infrastructure support and sector expertise has been invaluable.
What advice would you give to others looking to set up a voluntary group in Wolverhampton?
Anyone wanting to set up a voluntary group in Wolverhampton should do it!
We have such a rich array of voluntary groups in the city. So, network, find partners and people who align with you. The sector is too big and too rich to need to do it all alone!
Partnership is invaluable and can transform the work you do no matter how big or small you are as an organisation.
Have you benefited from any funding opportunities or resources shared through WVCA’s newsletters or social media? If so, could you tell us about the impact this support has had?
Yes, we have had a number of successful funding bids after learning about opportunities through WVCA’s newsletters and social media.
As a small team, it’s incredibly helpful to have funding that has already been shared and highlighted, as it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of opportunities available.
The undeniable support has been when WVCA has directly shared opportunities with us directly that align with our specific focus as an LGBTQ+ youth and community organisation, has been invaluable.
What are some of the challenges you face and how can WVCA help to support your organisation in the future?
As we continue renovating and settling into our new building, we’re exploring how to sustainably hire out rooms, including our listed Georgian boardroom, to generate income and maximise community use of the space.
Support from WVCA around best practice for community centre hire models, pricing structures, and administrative processes would be extremely helpful. Learning from other organisations about what works (and what doesn’t) would also support us in building a sustainable model.
Where can we find out more about your organisation?
Website: https://x2y.org.uk
Instagram: @theofficialx2y
Facebook: X2Y
Would you like to be featured in our Voluntary Sector Spotlight? Contact Olatz on VCSsupport@wvca.org.uk for more info!