AKT emergency winter appeal
Your donation to AKT could help young LGBTQ+ people this Christmas.
The fairy lights are twinkling in Soho, and London's gone full Christmas mode. While many of us are planning festive gatherings with our chosen families, some LGBTQ+ young people are facing a harsh reality: no safe place to call home.
It's a situation I know all too well. Twenty-five years ago, I unintentionally outed myself to my parents. The days that followed were traumatic—the tension, the strained looks, the unspoken words hanging in the air like poison. I felt completely alone, knowing I could no longer stay in what had been my home.
I was lucky. My best friend Phil and his family took me in without hesitation. They gave me the time and space I needed to find a job and eventually a place at a gay men's housing project in Bristol. My support worker, Frank, helped me rebuild my life piece by piece. Without their help, I honestly don't know where I'd be today.
But not everyone has a Phil or a Frank.
A safe place to stay
That's why AKT is so important. They make sure LGBTQ+ young people aged 16 to 25 who are facing homelessness or hostile living environments have somewhere safe to stay. Their work isn't just important—it's life-saving.
The harsh reality is that coming out or being outed can still lead to young people losing their homes. AKT's 2021 LGBTQ+ homelessness report revealed a devastating statistic: almost one-fifth of young LGBTQ+ people they interviewed had engaged in casual sex just to find somewhere to sleep while homeless.
This winter, AKT has launched an emergency appeal. They urgently need our help to keep up with the growing demand for their emergency services. Your donation can:
Provide emergency supplies to young people on the streets.
Cover a night's stay in safe, warm accommodation.
Fund expert caseworker support.
Help furnish a young person's first proper home.
Make a difference
I believe that no LGBTQ+ person should face homelessness because of their identity. Not in 2024, not ever. This Christmas, if you're planning to make a charitable donation, please consider supporting AKT. For my American friends, The Trevor Project does similarly work in the US.
I'm one of the lucky ones. Time has healed many wounds, and this Christmas, my parents will join me and my husband for dinner. But I know that's not everyone's story. Twenty-five years ago, I was that scared young person who needed help. Today, I can make sure other young LGBTQ+ people get the support they desperately need. Will you join me and donate to AKT?
