4U

Last updated: 17 February 2010 16:04 UK

Contact us

The project workers can be contacted on the group mobile 07931 536973.

It's a shared phone, so any out of the staff may answer when you call. If you wish to contact a specific worker a message can be taken and they'll call you back when they're able.

More information

The colourful history of 4U

The 4U project was officially launched during the Portsmouth Pride Festival in July 1999. The current staff are Mark, lead youth advisor and Chris, youth advisor.

In November 2001 we held our first u4ria event at Martha's. This dance night for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and sexually unsure young people. The event attracted a lot of political and media attention but despite this the night was a great success with lgb groups from all over the south coast attending.

4U continues to run u4ria dance nights and is committed to providing similar events in the future.

Magazines

4U currently subscribes to Gay Times and Diva. We also receive copies of the LGBT monthly magazine, Fyne Times.

Books

Any 4U member is welcome to borrow some books from us. Please remember to sign it out and return it to us as soon as you can. We have many books on LGBT subjects including, 'Transgender History', 'Lesbianism made easy' and 'Stranger in the family'. If you have any suggestions for further titles please let us know.

Sexual health information

The group has a number of leaflets on sexual health as well as good contacts with local sexual health agencies. Please help yourself to this material and feel free to ask one of the project workers if you have any questions.

4U structure and contact details

The 4U project is funded and run by our integrated youth support services.

Other agencies/facilities available

The best place to look for lgb groups or services is in the listings guide of the Gay Times which will always be available at meetings. However, here is a list of some groups which may be useful to you.

This details are provided for your information, we're not responsible for the service that you receive from any of these other agencies.

Local:

Gay Outdoor Club - 07866 786673 goc.solent@btinternet.com
Gay men's health project - 023 9265 5077
Portsmouth lesbian line - 023 9287 6999 Thursday 8-10pm
University of Portsmouth LGB - over 18s, non students welcome lgb@port.ac.uk
October books - LGB books, 243 Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NG
Breakout - LGB youth group in Southampton 023 8022 3344
MCC Portsmouth - gay Christian church in Portsmouth 01590 672434
82A - gay community drop in (counseling, sexual health, advice) 023 8023 5111
Southampton switchboard - 023 80637363 Monday, Thursday and Friday 7.30-10pm
Sex sense - Ella Gordon Unit, St Mary's Hospital 023 9286 6301
Off the record - counseling for young people 023 9281 5322

National:

FFLAG - support for young gays and their families 0161 628 7621 PO Box 153, Manchester
LAGER - employment rights 020 7704 8066 Unit 1G, Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London, N1
L&G Christian movement - 020 7739 1249 Oxford House, Derbyshire St, London, E2 6HG
Long Yan club - Oriental group in London 020 8311 5835.
National freedom youth - national LGB youth group PO Box 72, London, HA5 2UJ (send SAE)
National friend - national network of lgb helplines 0121 684 1261
Regard - disabled lgb group 020 7738 6191 regard@dircon.co.uk

Our aims

To provide a safe and supportive venue for the targeted group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and sexually unsure young people.
Facilitate an environment of peer support amongst the target group.
Develop the project to play a role in the wider arena of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community.
To provide relevant information to all members of the target group.
To challenge homophobia as it occurs within the wider community.

Our objectives

Meet with young people in the target group on a regular weekly basis so as to develop good working relationships both between workers and young people and amongst young people themselves.
Promote the 4U project in a wide number of venues so as to reach out to the target group of the project.
Seek to bring new people into the group as often as possible in an appropriate manner as possible i.e. meeting young people individually first or through outreach work.
Develop links with other agencies that can offer both support and access to the target group of 4U.
Encourage young people to run and develop project in ways appropriate to their needs.
Work with young people to integrate their ideas for the project into the wider arena of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community.
Seek additional funding for the project from a wide range of agencies that may have a strong interest in the work of the '4U' project.
Enable young people to talk in confidence with youth workers regarding any personal matters they are experiencing.
Have a range of materials that young people can access whilst at 4U meetings.
Actively encourage the education of all young people in the Portsmouth area regarding lgb issues.
Play a role in the personal development of individual members accessing the group.