charlie’s story
Find out more about Charlie's journey with akt and The Trans Pathway Project.
stories from our trans pathway service users
Read more stories from LGBTQ+ young people who have benefitted from the Trans Pathway Project.
the trans pathway project
The Trans Pathway Project is our 3 year pilot project funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, providing support to 18-25 year old trans and non-binary people in Greater Manchester who are facing homelessness.
The Trans Pathway Project is our one of a kind 3 year pilot project funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, providing support to 18-25 year old trans and non-binary people in Greater Manchester who are facing homelessness.
The Trans Pathway Project is catered specifically towards trans+ young people in Greater Manchester who have been made, or are facing homeless, due to transphobia. akt is currently the only charity to offer a highly specialised support service of this sort in the area.
We are extremely grateful to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, for funding this project, which has supported 72 trans+ young people facing homelessness to date.
the need for trans inclusive services:
One in four trans people in the UK has experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Trans+ people often face additional barriers to accessing support with housing and homelessness, such as:
- transphobia from staff, residents or service users
- lack of general knowledge about supporting trans+ people
- difficulty accessing ID and housing documents in the correct name
- IT systems and databases that are not designed with trans people in mind
- exclusion from gendered accommodation and services
- a lack of LGBTQ+ specific accommodation and services
- needing to stay in a particular area to access trans affirming care
- their causes for homelessness, such as fleeing transphobic abuse, may not be taken seriously by Local Authorities
- they may be unaware they are eligible for support and/or overlooked by services because they are hidden homeless, including sofa surfing, living in an unfit home or with an abusive partner, or engaging in survival sex work
- experiences of exclusion are intensified for those who are multiply marginalised, such as trans and intersex people of colour, trans women, refugees and asylum seekers, and disabled trans+ people
our aim
The Trans Pathway Project's aim is not to provide a segregated service, but rather through our advocacy to improve trans inclusion in mainstream services and increase the options available for trans+ and non-binary young people in Greater Manchester. We are also working with an external evaluator to identify learning and best practice from the project, which we will share to help make the homeless sector more trans inclusive.
our project:
The Trans Pathway Project provides specialised support to trans and non-binary 18-25 year olds facing homelessness in Greater Manchester, through floating support and youth engagement activities.
The support we provide:
- advice: We can give non-directive (non-leading) advice to help you understand your rights and options.
- advocacy: We can advocate with other services, such as mental health and well-being services, as well as building young people’s skills and confidence as self-advocates.
- support: to access safe housing.
- pathways: to access education, employment and training, and get involved in activities that are meaningful to you and achieve your goals.
- life skills: such as budgeting, bills, cooking, writing a CV, and building good relationships with housemates.
- community: our Youth Engagement activities provide opportunities for those accessing the project to meet other trans young people and build a supportive community.
Everybody should have a safe place to live where they can be themself. We are grateful to St Martin's for funding the project over three years, which has allowed us to provide consistent and sustained support to trans young people. Taking a holistic approach to trans housing through casework, advocacy and empowering young people, the Trans Pathway is unique but meets a need which is sadly widespread. I hope this project can provide a useful model for others in the homelessness sector.Ben, the Trans Pathway Project Manager
We are delighted to be funding akt’s Trans Pathway Project, to provide specialist support to trans and non-binary young people in Greater Manchester. The three-year funding provided through our Frontline Fund has enabled akt to support over 70 trans+ young people to date, addressing the additional barriers often faced.Tim Bissett, Executive Director at St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity
tash’s story
Find out more about Tash's journey with akt and The Trans Pathway Project.
