Building Allies from a Young Age — A Powerful Youth Club Session

Yesterday at a youth club, I had the privilege of holding a thoughtful and inspiring discussion with a group of primary-aged students about what it means to be an ally, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

We kicked things off with sentence starters like “What does it mean to be an ally?” and the children’s responses were heartwarming:

“Being true,” “being a good friend,” “supporting others,” and “standing up for people” were just a few of their brilliant answers.

We talked about how we can support people who are experiencing bullying. The children were full of empathy, suggesting things like telling a teacher or a trusted adult and standing up for their friends.

When I asked if they’d ever heard people using phrases like “that’s so gay”, many nodded. This led to an important conversation about how using “gay” in a negative way creates harmful ideas and reinforces discrimination. The group showed real understanding as we unpacked why that matters.

I also asked whether they knew any LGBTQ+ people, and a few shared that they had friends or family members who are gay and lesbian. We talked about how those loved ones might feel if they were told they couldn’t do something simply because of who they are, or how it would feel to see them being bullied. Their responses were thoughtful and full of compassion.

We explored family dynamics, too highlighting that families can look very different:

A mum and a dad

Two mums

A single parent

Or any other combination

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and every one is valid and important.

Then I asked a powerful question:

“Have you ever felt like you couldn’t do something just because of something you can’t change?”

The girls in the group spoke up about being told they can’t play football because they’re girls. We celebrated the rise of successful female footballers and talked about how they can proudly join in with football activities at the youth club without hesitation or fear and I encouraged them to get involved at school.

We finished by reflecting on kindness, inclusion, and how to support someone who shares they are LGBTQ+.

🎨 While we talked, the kids made posters to decorate the youth club and the creativity was incredible. Highlights included: