Young, Queer & Away from Home

Many LGBTIQ+ young people and children under 18 decide to leave their home or are forced out because of who they are. Yet, until today, there was no robust, comparable EU-wide evidence on LGBTIQ+ young people and children facing homelessness, living away from home or “going missing”, despite clear signals that identity-based rejection, unsafe environments and barriers to support can drive displacement and harm.

With this in mind, Missing Children Europe, IGLYO, and the University of Portsmouth’s new Young, Queer & Away from Home Study explores and addresses the experiences of LGBTIQ+ young people who faced homelessness, lived away from home or “went missing” before turning 18 in the EU or the UK on the one hand, and the experiences from youth workers and practitioners supporting them on the other hand.

Through an in-depth analysis of survey and interview responses from both these groups, the study first explores the reasons leading LGBTIQ+ youth to leave or be forced out and their experiences while away, before diving into the barriers they face when accessing support and current gaps in existing support services and infrastructure.

The report concludes with putting forward concrete and actionable recommendations for EU institutions, national governments and support services to prevent and address these situations, and ensure adequate support for LGBTIQ+ youth and children facing homelessness and exclusion.

You can download the report here. You can also download only the Policy Recommendations here.

---

For an overview of the key findings, you can access IGLYO's press release, Missing Children Europe's press release, and the University of Portsmouth's press release.

‍

This report has been produced with the financial support of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) 2021-2027 Programme of the European Union. However, the contents of the report are the sole responsibility of the University of Portsmouth, Missing Children Europe and IGLYO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.

Young Queer & Supported Online Training: Ensuring safer services for LGBTQI+ children and youth at risk of exclusion and homelessness

Are you a youth worker or youth support service? Have you ever supported lesbian, gay, bi, trans or intersex (LGBTIQ+) young people and children but didn’t know how to cater for their specific needs? We have just the training for you!

Countless LGBTIQ+ young people and children under 18 decide to live away from their home or are forced out because of who they are. While some turn to other relatives or close friends, many are obliged to seek help from social services and professionals who may not be equipped with the right tools and knowledge to support their specific needs. ‘Young, Queer and Supported: Ensuring safer services for LGBTQI+ children and youth at risk of exclusion and homelessness’ is a free online training developed as part of the Young, Queer and Away from Home (YQA) project to address these gaps and strengthen professional responses.

This training aims to equip professionals, volunteers and activists working with young people and children (at risk of) experiencing exclusion, housing insecurity, or homelessness with the tools to address the specific needs of those of them who are LGBTIQ+. Based on the YQA project’s research, this 2-hour live workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of LGBTIQ+ identities and experiences, explain the project’s research findings, and share concrete recommendations on how to identify barriers that limit access to services and render them more accessible and inclusive. 

When is it happening?

The training is happening twice in identical sessions, so you can choose the date that fits you best. You can register for the training for free on either of these dates:

• Tuesday 17 February at 15:00-17:00 CET - Register
• Friday 20 February at 11:00-13:00 CET - Register

Please do not register for more than one date as the session will be the same on both dates.

Who is this training for?

• Professionals working in youth shelters
• Professionals working for child hotlines and helplines
• Professionals working for youth protection and assistance services
• Volunteers and professionals working for youth and children support organisations
• Youth workers more broadly

You need to be 18 years old or above to take part in the training.

What will you learn?

After following this training you will be able to:

• Identify the diversity of LGBTIQ+ identities
• Have more informed conversations with young people who might be questioning their sexuality or gender
• Understand how different discrimination factors intersect and impact some young people more than others
• Better support LGBTIQ+ youth with practical skills and tools
• Recognise barriers and struggles specific to LGBTIQ+ young people and children, informed by the Young, Queer and Away from Home research report

Help us to share the training!

Do you know youth workers or support services that could benefit from this training? Use our communications kit to send the help us to reach more participants!

Code of Conduct

By registering for this event you agree to our participant Code of Conduct.

Questions & Contact

For any questions, please reach out to IGLYO's programme team at programmes@iglyo.org.

About the Young, Queer and Away from Home Project

Young, Queer & Away from Home is a 2-year project studying the views and lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ young people who had to live away from their home before turning 18 in the EU or the UK (e.g. they were kicked out, ran away, were homeless, had to stay in a shelter or with friends/other relatives, etc). The project is co-led by Missing Children Europe, IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation, and the University of Portsmouth.

Through research, an online training for professionals, a resource hub, an awareness raising campaign and policy recommendations, we aim to support LGBTIQ+ young people and children under 18 who are at risk of homelessness and exclusion from their home, as well as to provide relevant professionals and service providers with the right tools to support them.

The map below gathers resources spread across Europe that LGBTIQ+ youth in need can contact to ask for direct support or redirection towards competent services. You can use the Map's search tool to type the name of your country and get a list of all the resources available in your area.

The map and guide gather the following resource types:

🏰 LGBTIQ+ Shelters: Organisations providing accommodation and support specifically to LGBTIQ+ young people

🏠 Youth Shelters: Organisations providing accommodation and support specifically to young people

🌈 General LGBTIQ+ Organisations: Organisations who do not provide accommodation but can receive support requests and either support you or redirect you depending on your needs

💬 116 111 Child Helplines: Free numbers offering general advice as well as support and counselling to young people.

☎ 116 000 Missing Children Hotlines: Free numbers specifically for children, young people and adults calling for matters related to going missing.

More resources are being added over time. If you are an organisation providing support to LGBTIQ+ young people in need, you can fill out this form or contact us at network@iglyo.org to appear on the map.

‍

Join our Young, Queer & Supported Free Online Training for Youth Support Professionals (17 & 20 February)!

This training aims to equip professionals, volunteers and activists working with minors (at risk of) experiencing exclusion, housing insecurity, or homelessness with the tools to address the specific needs of LGBTIQ+ young people and children. Based on the YQA project’s research, this 2-hour live workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of LGBTIQ+ identities and experiences, explain the project’s research findings, and share concrete recommendations on how to identify barriers that limit access to services and render them more accessible and inclusive.  More info.

‍

The Young, Queer & Away Study Report and Policy Recommendations are out!

Our groundbreaking report reveals that LGBTIQ+ young people and children under 18 who face homelessness, live away from home or "go missing" do not find it safe to go home, and further highlights the barriers they face when accessing support services. Through an in-depth analysis of survey and interview responses from LGBTIQ+ youth and service providers across the EU and the UK, the study explores the reasons leading to leaving or being forced out, delves into the barriers faced when accessing support, and puts forward concrete and actionable recommendations for EU institutions, national governments and support services.   Access the Report.

Take our Surveys & Interviews by 31 August 2025

We are looking to hear from two audiences through interviews and anonymous and multilingual surveys: 1) LGBTIQ+ young people between 18 and 29 who had to live away from their home before turning 18 (e.g. who ran away, were kicked out, were homeless, stayed in a shelter, etc), and 2) practitioners who supported LGBTIQ+ youth and children under 18 in those situations (e.g. a shelter, LGBTIQ+ organisation, social or child protection service, refugee centre, etc). More info.

‍

Call for an Advisory Youth Board | 4 June 2024

We're looking for LGBTQI young people between 18-24 years old in Europe with experience of going missing before turning 18 to join the Advisory Youth Board of the project. Read our call and apply by 9 June 2024.

Project Launch Press Release | 31 May 2024

On 31 May 2024, we officially set sail and launched the project's pilot phase through a this press release. Back then, the project was still called "LGBTIQ+ Missing Children", which we later changed to reflect the project's aims and diversity of experiences more clearly.

‍

Two paid boards with different expertise and experience support the Consortium partners in the implementation of the Young, Queer & Away from Home project.

Advisory Youth Board

The Advisory Youth Board consists of 6 LGBTIQ+ young people under 25 who had to leave their home before turning 18 years old. Based on their lived experience, the members of the Youth Board contribute to a variety of tasks ranging from advocacy and research to communications and dissemination throughout the project.

‍

Blin Sali (He/him), Albania

Blin is a 23-year-old transgender activist from Albania. He founded and leads a support group for transmasculine individuals, organises cultural events with and for the LGBTIQ+ community, and represents TGD voices through various advocacy efforts. Blin also contributes to the community through music and art, aiming to help LGBTIQ+ people in Albania feel seen and valued.

‍

Eleonore Strehl-Firquet (She/her), France

Eleonore is a passionate psychology student committed to supporting young LGBTQIA+ individuals. When she's not immersed in her studies, she enjoys reading, following F1 racing, and engaging in various sports. Her dedication to helping others is matched by her diverse range of interests.

‍

Hitesh (They/them), Belgium

Hitesh holds a dual master's degree in social and cultural anthropology from KU Leuven and NTNU, Norway. Lately, they have been invested in the study of "Affective Technologies and Postcolonial Condition(s)of EUrope". Nevertheless, their field of interest intersects (in)security studies from feminist perspectives and science and technology studies, with a hint of psychoanalysis. They are invested in rethinking object(s) of analysis by shifting the gaze of field(s) with feminist epistemologies in science, technology and society.

‍

Lenny (He/him), Switzerland

Lenny has been a queer activist for several years, mainly as a board member of the queer youth organisation Milchjugend, which aims to empower young queer people. He is also Art Director of the lila. queer festival and Community Health Worker at Checkpoint Zurich.

‍

Theodore Nguyen (It/She/Him), United Kingdom

Theo (any pronouns) is a 19 year-old non-binary person living in Wales. He’s currently at university studying marine biology, and works with Mermaids on their youth advisory panel. He feels passionately about queer organising. In his free time he loves to climb, hike and be outdoors.

‍

Expert Board of Professionals

The Expert Board of Professionals gathers five professionals representing either LGBTIQ+ organisations or service providers from various sectors that come in contact with LGBTIQ+ young people and children who are or are at risk of homelessness and exclusion.

‍

Dr. Brian J. Frederick (He/They), United States

Brian is a queer/cultural criminologist and an Assistant Professor at SUNY Empire State University in Brooklyn, NY. His research focuses on the intersection of LGBTQIA+ folx and crime, deviance and transgression. As a teen, he was a runaway on the streets of Los Angeles and New York City.

‍

Julia Kata (She/her), Poland

Julia is a psychologist, mediator in training. She's been working for the transgender and non-binary community for over decade. She's also a co-author of research, scientific and educational publications. She designs and conducts trainings on inclusive language, LGBTQIA+ Rights for institutions, professionals and business. She's one of the facilitators of the first meeting of young Intersex persons in Europe.

‍

Mario Colamarino (He/him), Italy

Mario is a jurist, consultant, and president of the Italian LGBTQIA+ association C.C.O. "Mario Mieli" in Rome, serving from 2015 to 2017 and again from 2021 onwards. He is also the spokesperson and chairman of Rome Pride.

Sara Granath (She/her), Sweden

Sara is a senior advisor with expertise in children in migration and displacement working for Save the Children Sweden. With over 20 years of advocating for children's rights and especially refugee children's rights she is passionate about ensuring all children have equal access to services and opportunities and are treated with dignity and respect.

‍

IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation

IGLYO — The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation is the world's largest network dedicated to LGBTQI young people and their rights. We represent the voice of over 115 Member Organisation in over 40 countries across the Council of Europe Region. IGLYO advances the rights of LGBTQI young people, fights for equality and inclusion, and empowers LGBTQI youth voices through international training and events, thematic research and advocacy campaigns, online tools and resources, networking activities, and much more. Visit their website

‍

Missing Children Europe

Missing Children Europe represents 32 Non-Governmental Organisations active in 27 countries across Europe for the prevention, protection and support of missing and sexually exploited children and their families. They provide the link between research, policies, and organisations on the ground to protect children from any form of violence, abuse, or neglect that is caused by or results from them going missing. Missing Children Europe coordinates the network of 116000 hotlines for missing children, and the network of cross border family mediators and facilitates coordination of cases that involve cross-border issues, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the help they need no matter where they are in Europe. Visit their website

‍

University of Portsmouth

The University of Portsmouth hosts The Centre for the Study of Missing Persons, provides a clear focus for research into missing persons, for knowledge transfer and for educational provision, to academics, to professionals in the missing persons community and to relatives of missing people. Visit their website

‍

‍

Co-funded by the European Union

“LGBTIQ+ Missing - The voice of LGBTIQ+ young people with experience of going missing before the age of 18” is co-funded by the European Union under the call CERV-2023-EQUAL (project number 101144825).

‍