To celebrate Pride 2023, Collins is proud to announce a partnership with LGBT Youth Scotland.

For every Edge Rainbow product sold on the Collins website, Collins will donate £1 to the charity to help with their important work in the local community.

LGBTYS is Scotland’s national charity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning (LGBTQ+) young people. They are the only organisation delivering specialist youth work for LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland - and the largest provider of LGBTQ+ youth work in the UK - and their vision is a Scotland where LGBTQ+ young people can flourish and thrive.

“Young people are the future; our future leaders, teachers and parents,” says Ali Kerr, Head of Partnerships. “If we get it right for them, we get it right for all of us.”

“For over 30 years, we have created safer spaces where LGBTI young people can explore their identities in an affirming environment, learn new skills, gain confidence and build community. We know that this early intervention changes, and often saves, lives.”

Their work focusses on four main areas:

• Youth groups, which take place in-person, and online through our award-winning ‘Pride & Pixels’ digital youth work service. Pride & Pixels is particularly valued by rural, remote and neurodivergent young people who struggle to access in-person support.
• One-to-one support, which uses an asset-based coaching approach to help young people effect positive change in their lives. In 2021-22, we delivered 846 youth group sessions and 1,830 one-to-one support sessions throughout the country and online.
• The LGBT Charter, an award which helps schools and organisations throughout Scotland become safe, LGBTI-inclusive spaces for all young people to flourish. More than half of Scottish state secondary schools have been awarded, or are working towards the LGBT Charter. One of our goals for 2023-25 is to develop the LGBT Charter for Organisations, ensuring that as young people progress from more inclusive education environments, they can move into more inclusive workplaces too.
• Youth participation opportunities, where we amplify young people’s voices directly to policy-makers and those with most influence, in order to bring about lasting positive change for every community in Scotland. For example, our Youth Commissions support groups of young people to bring their lived experience to issues such as LGBTI homelessness or Trans Rights, and our young people elect two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament every two years.

This is an exciting new partnership for Collins Debden, demonstrating our corporate responsibility to support local charities who do fantastic work in our communities. The Edge Rainbow Range is the perfect fit for this cause as it allows you to take PRIDE in your planning!

To see products in the Edge Rainbow range – click here.

And to find out more information on LGBT Youth Scotland – click here.