akt, the uk’s leading lgbtq+ youth homelessness charity, has officially launched its new strategy for 2022-2027! 

122,000 young people are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the UK and our research has shown that 24% identify as LGBTQ+, that’s why the work that akt does across the UK is more vital now than ever.

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what is a strategy document?

The strategy is one of the most important pieces of work that akt does. It looks at all of the services that we have been providing over the past few years, and looks to the future to see how we can improve these services. 

The strategy document has been spearheaded by our CEO, Tim and created working with all departments of the charity, including services, communications, policy, and our youth engagement teams. It sets out how we are going to spend the next five years working to expand our services and make a demonstrable change in the lives of LGBTQ+ young people nationwide.

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why do we need a strategy?

Homelessness in England has risen by a staggering 11% in just three months, and we’re worried that the number of LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness in the UK is going to increase with it. LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by homelessness, we need a strategy so that we can plan our methods of intervening early and preventing any more young people from becoming homeless.

During lockdown, akt experienced a 71% increase of people requiring our services. We are committed to supporting young people in crisis and greatest need through expanding both our national and digital services. 

akt’s research has unearthed a number of statistics that show how vital it is that we continue our work. Over 77% of the young people we support cite rejection or abuse from their families after they come out as the main reason they have become homeless. 48% of the young people we helped identified as trans, non-binary or were questioning their gender identity, rising to 63% in Bristol. 39% of the young people we helped identify as living with a disability.

Young people are, and always have been, at the forefront of the work we do, and we understand that young people from intersectional identities can face multiple forms of discrimination. In our newly launched strategy, we are committing to making sure that all LGBTQ+ young people have a pathway to a safe and secure future. We aim to make sure that no young person has to choose between a safe home, and being who they are. 

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so, what are the aims?

Our strategy reflects our vision, for society, and our mission, how we plan to get there.

our Vision

akt’s vision is to build a more inclusive society where lgbtq+ young people do not have to choose between a safe home or being who they are. 

our Mission

akt’s mission is to  provide a pathway to a better future for lgbtq+ young people living in hostile environments, experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.

our objectives

Our five year strategy is set out into five main objectives that reflect our mission, and our vision, these are:

1. Providing pathways into safe, affordable & inclusive housing. We will do this in two ways:

1. Through floating support: providing life skills, training, and support to young people.
2. Via housing pathways: working with our partners to enable more access to safe, affordable housing

2. Reaching young people where and when they need us most

1. Digital services: expanding our digital service in co-operation with young people.
2. National expansion: our research has shown that around 15% of the young people accessing our digital services come from the midlands, so we will be launching a pilot project in the Midlands. We will also explore and commit to expanding our services elsewhere in the UK.

3. Engaging with more young lgbtq+ people from intersectional identities, we have several methods to work with:

1. Community outreach: LGBTQ+ young people from intersectional identities face multiple forms of discrimination, and their journeys through homelessness are often more complex and challenging. Our outreach programme, launching in 2023/24, will be prevention focused. It will work with communities to reach and support young people facing multiple discrimination
2. Trans Pathway: 34% of the young people akt help identify as trans and, through our new trans pathway pilot project, we will work with partners and others to ensure their services are well catered for.

4. Informing and influencing to create change

1. Mainstreaming best practice: This pilot project will develop toolkits to support providers of housing and homelessness services to better understand and meet the needs of young LGBTQ+ people. This will improve LGBTQ+ young people’s pathways into accommodation.
2. Community campaigners: Young people should be at the forefront of improving their own and the next generations' future. Working with those organisations experienced in campaigning, Young Campaigners will provide lgbtq+ young people who have experienced homelessness with the opportunity to develop skills and receive a platform to secure their right to a better future.
3. Real world research that will produce better outcomes and futures for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness.
4. A youth panel dedicated to giving young people a voice at akt.

5. Be a great place to work and volunteer

1. Team experience: building a strong infrastructure that is inclusive and equitable. 
2. Volunteering: growing and diversifying volunteer opportunities to better reflect the young people we support.