Projects
2024 BHA Skyline Quilt
The BHA Skyline Hangout Memorial Quilt is a bold and beautiful project inspired by the AIDS Memorial in America. This quilt serves as both a call to action in support of trans rights for young people across the UK and a powerful symbol of solidarity.
Created through a series of sewing and design workshops led by talented artists Mila Du and Lily Arnold, the quilt embodies the spirit of community and creative activism that defines The Hangout.
2024 Pride Programme
Our 2024 Pride Programme was a season of celebration, connection, and advocacy. Highlights included trips to SAYiT! Youth Pride in Sheffield, Happy Valley Pride in Hebden Bridge, Leeds Pride March, and the unique Herd Farm Bushcraft Pride, featuring exciting outdoor activities.
These events provided opportunities for young people to celebrate their identities, forge new connections, and feel part of a wider LGBTQIA+ community.
Beyond LS14
Beyond LS14 is a heartfelt short film capturing the experiences of growing up in Seacroft and the vital role The Hangout plays in the lives of local young people.
Through their voices, the film sheds light on the importance of having safe, supportive spaces where creativity and community thrive. Supported by Leeds City Council, the film premiered in the summer at Hyde Park Picture House.
2023 Zine: Exchanging Violets
In collaboration with Leeds 2023, we created Exchanging Violets, a mental health zine designed for LGBTQIA+ teenagers.
This inspiring collection includes poetry, collages, and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills flashcards, all shaped by the creativity and input of our young participants. The zine serves as a meaningful resource for mental health and a testament to the power of self-expression.
Age of the Queering the Map
As part of the Age of the Queering the Map project, The Hangout contributed to a powerful local installation featuring banners that signified their identities and experiences.
This creative journey began with a communal dinner hosted by a local artist collective, where participants shared stories and learned about the rich histories of being queer in West Yorkshire and beyond.
The banners, infused with these personal and historical narratives, became a vibrant and meaningful addition to the installation, celebrating the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community in Leeds.
The Hangout’s 3rd Birthday
This year we celebrated The Hangout’s 3rd Birthday! We gathered in the sunny garden of Kentmere community centre to celebrate all the young people we have supported and provided workshops, trips and events for over the last few years.
We invited our friends from Chapel FM down the road to enjoy cake, nail art, temporary tattoos, bouncy castle and piñata games.
We are so grateful for the young people who attend The Hangout and the adults who support us to continue providing this service for LGBTQ+ youth in Seacroft.
Half Term Cowboy Party
We had a fantastic February half term Cowboy Bonanza with the incredible ThemThereCowboys!
We had a rootin’-tootin’ afternoon packed with wild west fun, including a high-energy live performance and hilarious improv games.
Young people unleashed their creativity, tried their hand at songwriting with real cowboy flair, and enjoyed a hearty spread of yummy food!
Off to London: Interviewing Chetna Pandya – Coach Singh from Netflix’s ‘Heartstopper’
Thank you so much to Chetna Pandya for spending the day with us, who gracefully taught us about the journey of Heartstopper, her process as an actor and teacher and what being an LGBT+ ally looks like.
We discussed the power of storytelling and access in the arts, then had an amazing time at FITZROVIA production studio practising sound design and recording with our young people, which led to dinner and exploring the famous Camden Market!
