Last week we attended the national launch of a project called Youth Chances. NAM worked on the design and development of the Youth Chances website and we were pleased to celebrate its launch. You can see some photographs from the launch event below.
This ambitious new project, run by The Metro Centre in south London, aims to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people in England. Through two national surveys it aims to establish:
- what role sexual orientation and gender identity play in affecting a person’s life chances
- what services are needed to address risk areas
- what young people consider important and relevant
- how services for young people can evolve to challenge homophobia and transphobia.
Caspar Thomson, NAM’s Executive Director, says:
“This is a very important project and I am really delighted NAM has already been involved. During the launch event I was very struck by the fact that, despite the raft of legislation that has been set in place to protect LGBT people over the last fifteen years, the issues and experiences young people described were so similar to those any LGBTQ person, from any generation, will understand – and all too often from personal experience: bullying, name-calling, fear of rejection etc. This project will provide an invaluable evidence base to enable bodies like the Equality and Human Rights Commission to respond to young LGBTQ people's concerns.”
Design and web development from NAM
We were excited to be involved with this project, working on the design and development of the website.
Youth Chances needed an online communications hub, which would reflect the core values of the project and make the most of available social media tools.
Initially we worked with the team at Youth Chances to create a striking, colourful logo. It was important that the logo looked fresh, dynamic and eye catching and the team were pleased with the final design:
"The logo takes the traditional LGBT rainbow and twists it into a spiral effect to represent an energising forward motion flowing into youth chances’' Dan Baker, Youth Chances Project Manager.
We then worked on building and developing the website itself, which included creating:
- a fresh and interesting homepage
- specific pages for each of the project’s target audiences
- links to and feeds from social media
- a news feed from the Youth Chances blog
- media pages, including photographs and videos.
So that the Youth Chances team can respond quickly to new ideas and developments, we provided training in how to use the content management system (CMS).
'NAM has supported Youth Chances creatively, practically and sensitively.
Creatively: in the development of a fresh, dynamic and distinctly LGBT identify for the project.
Practically: developing a site that serves as both an information resource and as a focal point for engagement and interaction with and between our key target audiences; young people, service providers and commissioners.
Sensitively: in the care and attention to our project needs. We have a safe space for everyone to contribute easily and constructively whilst enabling us to build our community of partners and foster communication and co-operation. ' Dan Baker, Youth Chances Project Manager.
We wish the project well and look forward to seeing it develop.
Want to find out more about the Youth Chances project?
For more information on the Youth Chances project and how you can get involved, visit the new website: www.youthchances.org
Alternatively you can contact The Metro Centre on 020 7160 0941.
Can NAM help you?
NAM has a longstanding track record of developing and delivering high quality, accessible websites and resources. If you are developing your own website, or information materials, and would like some help or advice, then please get in touch at info@nam.org.uk
We understand the importance of creating resources that are appropriate and relevant to the needs of their users, and use design effectively to help people engage with key messages.