Dorchester student sets up support group to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by text and email
Dorchester student sets up support group to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers
5:00pm Monday 19th December 2011 in News
OFFERING SUPPORT: Dan Spracklen, right, with friends who are relaunching the Stars gay and lesbian support group in Dorchester
A Dorchester teenager is setting up a new support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender teenagers.
Thomas Hardye School pupil Dan Spracklen launched the STARS group in Dorchester in September with the aim of using his own experiences of homophobic bullying to help others in a similar position find the support they need.
This is now being run by the Space Youth Project – who run LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) groups in different areas.
STARS stands for Support To All, Respect as Standard and will now be meeting at the Dorchester Youth and Community Centre from 6.30pm to 8.30pm every Tuesday from January 10.
The group had previously met at the same centre on Thursday nights from 7pm to 9pm.
Organiser, Dan, 15, said that the Space group had originally come on board to help out STARS but claimed that relations quickly deteriorated.
So he decided to set up a new peer group where people can meet more informally.
He said: “They said I don’t have experience.
“It’s ridiculous.
“I’m living it every day.
“They have gone through it and forgotten.”
Dan said the experience had left him angry but determined to continue with the STARS project.
The new STARS group, organised by Dan and friend Hannah Ward, 16, will be open to everyone between 11 and 19 and is open to straight people too. It will be an informal group to talk through issues and to support each other.
A spokesman for Space Youth Project denied that Dan had been forced out of the group or that they had taken it over.
She said: “We are looking forward to creating a rounded service for LGBTQ people whether peer group orientated or worker-led giving professional information and guidance.”
She added that a consultation was underway into the future of the Thursday night group and added: “There would be no reason why young people cannot attend both.”
For more information about STARS Dorchester visit starsdorchester.com
