Findings

GETTING STARTED WITH NATnIMP

verify your registration
explain how to use the system
arrange for payment
activate your account
provide help and support contacts, for when you need them

WHY use NATnIMP?

identify need,
improve services,
prove success of interventions,
show how well services meet LGBT young people's needs,
influence local strategies,
influence mainstream and specialist service provision,
help access funding, and
help gather evidence to influence national strategy.

Vulnerable Group
By 2008, 50 interviews had been completed using the NAT; these were analysed and published in "Ten Years On: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People in Calderdale", November 2008 (www.galyic.org.uk - About, history). The findings show that LGBT young people are a highly vulnerable group and are more likely than heterosexual young people to:

Experience homelessness
Experience mental health problems, in particular depression, anxiety, self harm suicide attempts and phobias
Experience alcohol and drug misuse
Use tobacco
Experience bullying based on their sexual orientation
Experience sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape.

The findings suggest that the age of coming out has reduced to 14.8 years and that many young people do not have the support of parents and continue to be isolated until they access GALYIC.

LGBT young people are not included in relevant national strategies, in relation to mental health, substance misuse, homelessness, sexual health, etc., and rarely are they included in local or regional strategies. How can this be when we are aware that they are a highly vulnerable group?

When the Equality Bill becomes law in 2010, public sector services will not only have to tackle homophobia but also make sure that their services are meeting the needs of LGBT young people. NATnIMP will help to keep up to date with the needs of LGBT young people