Youth Groups/Peer Support |
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Essential Information |
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About PACE Services |
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Proudly supported by: |
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Since Valentine's Day in 1997, PACE Youthwork Service (formerly the OutZone Youth Project for gay & bisexual young men) has has provided weekly groups, confidential help and information and one2one support sessions for hundreds of young people throughout London. We work primarily with the London Boroughs of Haringey, Enfield and Barnet, however, young people from all over the capital are able to access our projects. Click here to find out how to get in touch.
With 11 years of continued and valuable support from our primary funders and partners - Enfield Council, Haringey Council and Barnet PCT- our project has been able to evolve and adapt to provide a unique health and well-being service that also helps to meet the social and recreational needs of lesbian and gay young people from across London.
The main aims of our work are to: |
Joint HIV Prevention Funding
Barnet Primary Care Trust |
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- Build self-esteem and confidence, by providing invaluable peer and one-to-one support
- Promote a positive self-image & identity through structured groupwork sessions and discussions
- Provide speedy, uncomplicated access to information, resources or referral.
"The OutZone Youth Project was initially formed in response to local & government targets relating to HIV prevention, mental health & suicide, all areas where lesbian, gay & bisexual young people are known to be at risk. In November 2000, PACE (London's leading provider of mental health and well-being services for lesbians and gay men) agreed to take over the management & development of the project"
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Our popular youth groups can provide: |
 A safe & relaxed, weekly meeting place to make friends of your own age |
| Information about 'gay life' and services in London - and what to expect |
Sexual health information/resources and/or referral |
The chance to meet other young people who understand how you feel |
| Interesting and FUN weekly group events away from the 'gay scene' |
Continuity, in a sometimes chaotic city (?!) |
| Coming out, sexual health concerns, parental or peer attitudes and homophobic prejudice are all issues we deal with a lot and can be quite distressing for some, so to make things easier, we are now able to provide extra one-to-one support outside of group times, if requested. However... not everyone that comes along to our youth groups has a problem or needs extra support - the vast majority of young people that use the OutZone and Girl Diva youth groups just want to have FUN and meet others without the pressure that is sometimes associated with the 'gay scene' in London. "Many young people are unable or unwilling to go to pubs & clubs - youth groups are a great place to make new friends & socialise AWAY from the gay scene!"
Above all, our youth groups are designed to build up self-confidence and promote a positive self-image about what it means to young, gay and living in London.
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| Our other services can also help you with: |
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 Sexual Health & HIV Prevention Information |
| Relationships and Peer Pressure |
| Coming out and Family Conflict |
| Alcohol & Drug use/misuse |
| Housing Issues and Homelessness |
| Bullying at School, College or Work |
| Homophobia & Discrimination |
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| | Much of the work we do is participant led and we encourage those who come along our youth groups to get actively involved in the planning and delivery of our weekly events. The groups (one for young men, one for young women) provide a popular and secure weekly meeting place where our members can feel accepted and safe to consider all sorts of areas of their lives. |
"Our groups are just like any other youth group really, just better!" |
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