I am the mother of an 11 year old transgender boy who has lived (for most purposes) as a male since toddlerhood but transitioned at his all-girls school only last September. Nicki has provided invaluable support and advice to my son and to me over the past year or so. We both love Nicki and trust her implicitly. My son in particular really opens up to her and seems actually to listen to her gentle suggestions! She is highly professional, exceptionally well-informed and trained, and thoroughly in touch with the needs and concerns of LGBTQ+ young people and the community in general. More importantly, she is a warm, genuine, respectful, intelligent and intuitive person, who has transformed the lives of many LGBTQ+ young people who come to her, often in circumstances where there is nowhere else to turn. She is like a surrogate parent, street-smart older sibling and wise community leader combined!

Lisa, Parent

When my daughter was 13 she started seriously questioning her sexuality. I struggled to find an LGBT group to support her until I came across the Gap and, in particular, Nicki. My daughter was made to feel welcome and noticeably blossomed in confidence from her first few weekly sessions at the Gap. Led by Nicki she was provided with the right balance of education and chill out time, camaraderie and sensitive support to enable her to develop a clearer feeling of her own identity and how she presents that to the world. As a heterosexual mother I can be supportive of my daughter in very many ways including her sexuality but what I can never be is a positive lesbian role model. Nicki has helped fulfil that role for our daughter and in my opinion so many other youngsters attending. My husband and I can’t thank her enough.

(Parent)

There were so many things about LGBTQ that I didn’t understand – even what LGBTQ stands for. I have to admit to living in the dark ages. Free2B didn’t laugh at my questions and explained the gender and sexuality terminology to me in a way that I actually get. Now when my daughter talks to me about sexuality, I don’t have that gormless expression on my face. Free2B is a service I would recommend to parents and young people to find out information and to talk to. You really are Free2B however you want.

Andrea, Parent