New model announced for LGBTQ+ youth support in Nottinghamshire

Plans have been confirmed for the future of LGBTQ+ youth support in Nottinghamshire. Under a new model, emotional health and wellbeing support delivered to LGBTQ+ children and young people across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will no longer be provided through a single specialist. Instead, support will be accessed through five existing emotional health and wellbeing (EHW) services operating across the area; which already deliver interventions such as counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and group sessions.

The full report from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB can be read online

The existing service currently offers a combination of clinical and non-clinical support for young people, aged 11 to 25, as well as support for their families. The current model offers one-to-one programmes, mental health and counselling support, peer groups, parent/carer groups, advice on housing and benefits, and training for professionals.

It also provides harm reduction support for trans youth; a vital resource given that research from TransActual (2018) found that 35% of trans people (including 41% of non-binary people) have self-harmed, and that percentage is likely to have increased by 2026 amidst growing anti-trans rhetoric.  

Funding for the current LGBT+ Service Nottinghamshire, delivered by Centre Place, will end on 30th September 2026 following a transition period. The new model will then be in place from 1^st October 2026.

Officials say the planned changes aim to improve consistency and equity of access, ensure LGBTQ+ needs are integrated into mainstream services, support long-term sustainability, and strengthen workforce capability.

Health professionals added that similar approaches are already in place in other areas, including Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, where LGBTQ+ wellbeing support for young people is delivered through core services rather than a specialist.

To aid a smooth transition, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) carried out a listening exercise “to understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ children and young people aged 11 to 25 when accessing emotional health and wellbeing services.”

In their key findings, feedback highlighted that many healthcare professionals lack adequate understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, and repeated negative experiences within healthcare provision regarding misgendering and low knowledge of LGBTQ+ communities directly contributed to mental health deterioration, including feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

Therefore, staff being trained in LGBTQ+ awareness emerged as the highest priority, followed by provisions such as gender-neutral toilets and staff showing allyship by wearing rainbow lanyards and badges. The findings “emphasise the value and importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment.”

Recommendations from this report will be shared with the five EHW services to inform their service design and development plans.