Bourne Free Pride 2022!

A month ago Dorset's biggest Pride event, Bourne Free Pride, took place in Bournemouth after two years absence (due to the pandemic). It was a welcome return to the event, with a massive turn out of people, including many members and team members of Space!

We started off the pride weekend with our Space Youth Project stall in Meryick Park. We had lots of leaflets and information about what we do. badges for sale with designs like pronouns, flags, and slogans, and the free lollipops and pens went down very well too! We had many visitors to our stall and it was wonderful to meet everyone and spread the word about what we do. The event was a big celebration of the LGBT+ community, with many great stalls from other charities, such as Beyond Reflections who have a lovely team that gave us some of their badges about consent. It was amazing to see so many people freely be themselves, celebrating their identity and expressing themselves, supportive families and friends, and incredible performers throughout the event.

Then came the Pride March, (pictured above) which began in the Bournemouth Triangle. (Outside FLIRT Café, where we hold our bi-weekly 'Coffee 'n' Chat' group for over 20's) We walked through Bournemouth Town Centre, all the way to Meryick Park, bringing the tunes with our boom box! It was glorious to see so many happy faces watching the parade, of all different ages, and we made sure Space Youth Project's presence was known! It was great to have some of our young people walk with us, proudly waving their flags. You probably could have heard our brilliant youth workers Charity and Jodie from quite a distance as they worked up the crowd so energetically!

We also held a pride event at The Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole throughout Pride Month, where we had our stall as well as crafty activities like decorating mugs and tote bags. It was lovely to have so many visitors be interested in what we do and how we could help them or someone they know.

Pride events are really important, not just because they're great fun, but because they bring us together, even if you're not in the LGBT+ community. It's a time to celebrate ourselves and eachother, be PROUD of who we are and celebrate progress and freedom!

A massive thank you to all our supporters and members, the organisers of the events, and most of all to our hard working Space team.

Hope to see you there next year!

Blog by Katie S

Photo by Bournemouth Echo

Bridport's Litter Pick & Crabbing!

Our amazing young people at Space Bridport had a day trip out to clean up and do some litter picking for their local community. Zoe S has written a report of the day alongside pictures taken by Zoe B!

Our Bridport group recently hosted a day out which was a fantastic opportunity for the young people to meet up and have a wonderful time while still making a contribution to the local area. The day turned out to be a delight and was enjoyed thoroughly by all. The group met beside the river at Askers Meadow before beginning our litter pick around the area to make a lovely and tranquil space even nicer for the community.

During the litter pick, we managed to cover multiple areas of field, seating and pathways before taking a well-earned break with a picnic. After our lunch, we began to set off on a walk through the Dorset countryside to West Bay. When we arrived, we began to go crabbing along the harbour. People had loads of fun doing the crabbing as well as naming the crabs after catching them. Dev, a member of the Bridport group, said that he most enjoyed the crabbing as we were all able to have a good laugh. It was a fun and relaxing activity. Ash said that everybody was having fun all day long and they enjoyed it all!

In the late afternoon, to round off the day, we sat together and ate chips and ice cream beside the chip kiosks with a lovely view of the boats docked at the harbour before heading back across the fields and back to the meadow to return home. We were all rewarded with the lovely weather and the smiles on everyone’s faces. Jane, a youth worker with Space Youth Project who came along, said that she really enjoyed being with everyone and seeing everyone have fun. It was a spot-on day.

Report by Zoe S

Photos by Zoe B

Pride 2022 - 50 years & counting!

2022 is the 50th Anniversary of the UK's first official Pride March, after two years of lockdowns and no in-person events we're finally back out and ready to spread some Pride!

This pride month, we've partnered with The Dolphin Centre in Poole to bring some Pride joy to all! They're written this super duper press release to promote the events, take a read to learn all about the upcoming festivities!

Dolphin Centre partners with Space Youth Project to celebrate Pride Month

The Dolphin Centre in Poole is partnering with local LGBT+ charity Space Youth Project, to provide support to the local community with various events throughout Pride Month this June.

On Saturday 11th June, from 10am – 6pm, The Dolphin Centre will be bringing back its dedicated support booth to provide a safe and confidential space for anyone to drop in and talk about LGBT+ topics

Helen Walsh, CEO of Space Youth Project, said: “The world has come a long way in recent years to provide more support and acceptance around people within the LGBT+ community, but there is still plenty of work to be done. To be partnering with The Dolphin Centre, a central hub for many people of all ages in Poole, is a wonderful opportunity to open up this conversation further to people that may not be as educated as others.

“We predominantly work with young people in the day-to-day, but we would like to open this support booth to anyone who may want to talk. Whether you are a friend, parent, grandparent or simply someone looking to learn more about the LGBT+ community, please do come say hello.”

The Dolphin centre will also be decorated throughout June with Pride flags and inspirational quotes from LGBT+ activists, to celebrate the month.

Space Youth Project will also be hosting three free Thursday afternoon sessions in GATHER across Pride Month from 3:30pm – 6pm on 9th, 16th and 30th June. A selection of creative activities will be taking place including badge making, and pottery decorating, while also providing a safe space for open conversation with members of the Space Youth Project team.

John Grinnell, Centre Manager at The Dolphin Centre, said: “It’s important to us that we create a safe and welcoming space for all, and we are very pleased to be working with Space Youth Project to bring back our support booth.

“The Dolphin Centre will be transformed top to tail into a celebration of Pride, and we are all very much looking forward to continuing to help those who may need some extra guidance.”

For those looking to support the services provided by Space Youth Project, donation points are stationed throughout the Dolphin Centre.

Fore latest information, please visit www.dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk

To learn more about Space Youth Project visit: www.spaceyouthproject.co.uk

Space Youth Project

Space Youth Project is a charity supporting young LGBT+ people and their families since 2001. The charity has five regular, free youth groups across Dorset which are open to any lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or questioning young person under the age of 25.

Space Youth Project also offers one-to-one support, family support, workshops for schools, colleges or youth groups, and professional training. They have a wealth of expertise in supporting this marginalised group, their families, and others who want to be more inclusive, loving, kind and understanding.

The Dolphin Centre

Legal & General acquired Dorset’s largest indoor shopping centre, the Dolphin Shopping Centre, in 2013 and it is set to become its flagship centre in the south in the coming years.

Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (Legal & General) has committed to evolving Poole’s current retail offering, to act against the national declining landscape.

For more information about the Dolphin Shopping Centre, please visit www.dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk

For press enquiries contact: Venita Cutler, Liz Lean PR

Venita.cutler@lizleanpr.co.uk 01202 112041