LGBT Youth Scotland
Making Scotland the best place to grow up for LGBTI young people.

LGBT Health and Wellbeing
A Scotland where LGBT people have access to the support they need and opportunities to connect as a community.

LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation is a national charity delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities.

Stonewall
Here to let all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, at home and abroad, know they are not alone.

Stonewall also provide advice for those belonging to a faith group:

LGBT Muslim groups, Hidayah and Imaan

You can also contact the Muslim Youth Helpline

LGBT Jewish group, Keshet UK

LGBT Christian group, One Body One Faith

LGBT Catholic group, Quest

The ‘Be You’ Project – provides links to many other useful sites

Childline
We’re here for all young people, whatever you’re going through.

Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Young Minds
We want to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.

Sandyford Clinic Glasgow
Provides an integrated sexual and reproductive health service across the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area; Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. It is delivered in a confidential, friendly, non- judgmental manner from a range of highly professional staff that include doctors, nurses, counsellors, reception, and administration staff to name a few.

Mermaids UK
Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.

Transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.

Scottish Government
Scotland is considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe in terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality.

We aim to preserve and advance Scotland's reputation as one of the most progressive countries in Europe in terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality.

Scottish Trans Alliance
The Equality Network project to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland.

There are many sources of help and advice.  Within school you can talk to any member of staff.  Your PSE teacher, Year Head, Mr Ratcliff or Miss Chittick and Miss Dunbar in the Health and Wellbeing Support Resource can also help. You may also be able to request an appointment with a school counsellor.

Out with school, there are helplines who can also help.  These include:

LGBT Youth provide an online chat service and telephone helpline – Phone 07984 356 512 (Monday – Friday)

LGBT Helpline - Phone: 0300 123 2523 (open every Tuesday and Wednesday between 12-9pm)

Breathing Space provides a helpline for young people. All calls are answered by specialists in mental health, counselling and social work backgrounds - Phone 0800 83 85 87 (Monday – Thursday 6pm – 2am and Friday 6pm – Monday 6am)

Switchboard promises to keep talking until you are ready to end the call.  Everything is confidential and all their volunteers identify as LGBTQ+.

LGBT identities and orientations are one of the nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act (2010).  The Act ensures that every person in Scotland is protected from discrimination and, therefore, any discrimination or targeting towards people because of their LGBT identity is classed as an illegal Hate Crime.

The images below sum up the basic rights of all young people, including those who identify as LGBT.

Our school library has a selection of LGBTQ+ fiction (stories) and non-fiction (fact) books. A list of current titles can be accessed by clicking on the link below:

LGBTQ+ fiction and non-fiction

The LGBT Charter is run by LGBT Youth Scotland and sets a series of standards through which schools can achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold status in relation to the quality of provision and learning experience they offer LGBT pupils.  We are aiming to achieve Bronze Chartership by June 2022 and already have a huge number of staff and pupils supporting our journey.

The LGBT Charter is structured into the following six areas:

1. Leadership

• Surveys completed by staff and pupils to evaluate ‘how is our current provision for LGBT young people at Bishopbriggs Academy?’
• A staff working group (run by Mr Ratcliff, Music) established to work through the Charter Standards in order to ensure we are successful. This group meets monthly.
• A pupil working group (run by Miss Reilly, English) established to ensure a safe space for sharing and discussion is open to all pupils. This group meets weekly.
• Improvement Plan developed to set real targets and ensure progress.

2. Training

• Over 60% of our staff have opted in for 2-2.5 hours of voluntary online training around LGBT identities, orientations and issues
• A smaller number will receive a further 1.5 hours of live training later in the year.

3. Policy

• All policies will be reviewed to ensure they meet the standards set out in the Equality Act (2016)
• This includes our Anti-Bullying and Uniform policies as well as any other departmental policies
• Our LGBT pupil group will be involved in reviewing these policies to ensure the wording is inclusive to them and their peers.

4. Practice

• Key dates in the LGBT calendar (Pride Month, LGBT History Month, International Day Against Homophobia etc.) will be marked in school through special events, announcements and presentations
• Departments across the school will include more LGBT content and naturally increase visibility through their courses
• Safe spaces will be considered across the school through consultation with our young people.

5. Visibility

• Information will be provided to all our young people through our website, an LGBT noticeboard, Twitter updates etc.
• Our library will be updated with newer additions of LGBT inclusive books

6. Monitoring & Evaluation

• We ensure equality and diversity workforce monitoring which is safe, confidential and appropriate and ensure a diverse and equal workforce for our young people
• We will review our LGBT Charter progress in June 2022 and set real targets moving forward into next session and beyond