LGBT+ school talks

Book a young LGBT+ speaker to talk about allyship.

Hear from trained LGBT+ young people

Our school talks are delivered by trained LGBT+ young adults who know exactly how to increase understanding and allyship in the classroom.

In fact, 84% of staff said they would recommend our talks to other schools.

And 72% agree that their pupils have become more accepting as a result, too.

“The students will get to see real life people talking about their stories, which is something we can’t always offer in the classroom.”

John Oswin, Head of Sixth Form at Beauchamp College in Leicester

What topics are covered in a school talk?

  • What it’s like growing up LGBT+
  • Age-appropriate explanations of LGBT+ terminology

  • What it means to be an ally

  • Myth-busting and breaking down stereotypes

  • Any questions from pupils and teachers

Our free school talks last between 30 and 60 minutes. They can be delivered in-person or online to small classes, year groups or even whole-school assemblies.

We also do our best to tailor our talks to suit your school community. We offer a range of add-ons, including faith, anti-bullying and LGBT+ history, so that your pupils get the most from our relatable speakers.

“It’s going to supplement what you do in the classroom. It’s going to be an added benefit to your curriculum.”

PSHE subject leader, Nicola Ayres, from Queen Mary’s High School near Wolverhampton

Get inspired

Real people, real stories

“It really did inspire me to be a strong support system for those around me”, says Year 12 pupil Ijeoma

What does a LGBT school talk from Just Like Us involve? And why do staff and pupils recommend them? Watch our video explaining what a Just Like Us school talk looks like, how they work in the classroom and why pupils love them.

What does a LGBT school talk from Just Like Us involve?

Watch our video explaining what a Just Like Us school talk looks like, how they work in the classroom and why pupils love them.

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School talks FAQS

Our school talks are completely free and usually we need four weeks’ notice. Talks last between 20 minutes and one hour. You can book for a class, year group or whole-school assembly.

Book now.

Our talks can be adapted to suit your secondary school or college community. They cover what it’s like growing up LGBT+, allyship, age-appropriate explanations of key terms and concepts, how young people can tackle anti-LGBT+ attitudes, myth-busting and breaking down stereotypes, and examples of positive and diverse LGBT+ representation. Talks can be tailored to suit your pupils’ needs, such as speaking to faith communities or tackling harmful language. All of this is delivered through personal storytelling by our trained volunteer ambassadors, who are LGBT+, aged 18 to 25, and share their own lived experiences.

Watch our video on what school talks cover.

No, everything Just Like Us provides to UK schools is free as part of our mission to enable LGBT+ young people to thrive. However, there are costs for us as a charity to deliver talks, so we are always grateful for any donations. Donate now

Yes, you decide the length and audience. We also do our best to tailor our talks to suit your school community. We offer a range of add-ons, including faith, anti-bullying and LGBT+ history, so that your pupils get the most from our relatable speakers.

Just let us know what’s most relevant for your school when you fill in our booking form and we’ll make sure the talk works for you.

Our ambassadors are all trained LGBT+ volunteers aged 18 to 25 who share their own personal stories, and we match speakers to your school based on availability and your school’s context. While you won’t be choosing individual speakers, our online talks give you access to a wider range of diverse LGBT+ ambassadors from across the UK, which can be a great option if you’d like to hear from a broader mix of voices.

Our school talks are designed to complement and support your existing PSHE and RSE provision. As one PSHE subject leader put it: “A Just Like Us talk is going to supplement what you do in the classroom and be an added benefit to your curriculum.”

The talks cover themes central to RSE – including identity, allyship, respect and relationships – and provide the kind of authentic lived experience that is hard to replicate in the classroom. Under Ofsted’s personal development framework, schools are expected to promote equality and help pupils understand and respect difference; our talks directly support that. If you’d like more detail on how a talk maps to your specific curriculum or inspection context, get in touch and our team will be happy to help.

Both – it’s your choice. Talks can be delivered in person or online, depending on your location. Online talks are delivered live via Zoom, Teams or your preferred platform, and can be run simultaneously in multiple classrooms – with no limit on the number of students for a single session. Online talks can also often be arranged more quickly than in-person visits, which is handy if you have a last-minute need.

Absolutely. Every talk is delivered by different ambassadors sharing their own unique personal stories, so no two talks are ever the same. You can also focus on a different theme or angle each time — perhaps one talk centred on allyship, and another on identity or faith. Pupils respond especially well to hearing directly from relatable LGBT+ young people, and seeing real-life role models is something schools can’t always offer in the classroom. Many schools book talks year on year, and find that each one reaches a different cohort of students at just the right moment.

Book now.