Free2B’s Mentoring Service is Transforming the Lives of LGBTQ+ Youth

Read Seen, Safe and Supported by PBE here.

LGBTQ+ young people face disproportionately high mental health challenges; they are twice as likely to be bullied as their peers and far more likely to experience depression or even suicidal thoughts. In 2016, Free2B launched our Free2Talk mentoring programme to help change that. 

Free2Talk is a free one-to-one mentoring service which provides a safe, affirming space for LGBTQ+ youth to explore their challenges with a trusted LGBTQ+ adult mentor. Through weekly or fortnightly sessions, it helps build resilience, confidence, and support networks while tackling issues like bullying, family rejection, and barriers at school or work.

We’re proud to share new research that clearly demonstrates the positive impact of Free2Talk. PBE has released a report on the mentoring service, which explains its wellbeing and economic benefits, and the findings are very positive. Here are the key takeaways from the report:

• Significant Boost in Wellbeing: On average, young people who use Free2Talk experience a major improvement in life satisfaction: about a +0.96 point increase on a 0–10 scale. To put that into perspective, this jump is roughly 30% more than the improvement typically seen when someone recovers from depression. In other words, our service users are reporting feeling happier and more hopeful after getting our support.
• Life-Changing Impact & Value: PBE estimates that each young person’s improved life satisfaction is worth about £15,600 per year in social value. In 2023/24 alone, for those who engaged in mentoring for over 9 months, Free2Talk delivered roughly £71,000 in total wellbeing benefits at a cost of just £17,900. That’s an estimated £4 of benefit for every £1 spent on Free2Talk.
• Reach: Since its launch, Free2Talk has supported 289 LGBTQ+ young people (and counting) as they navigate their mental health and identity challenges. Many of them have often struggled to find help in mainstream services. Free2Talk offers them belonging and a safe space to be understood. Our community-focussed support model is meeting a vital need that traditional services often miss.

The report clearly shows that our tailored support for LGBTQ+ youth works and delivers real improvements in wellbeing as well as benefits for society. We’re incredibly proud of the lives we’ve changed through Free2Talk. Every young person deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported, and thanks to our mentoring, hundreds have found hope and confidence to thrive.

But our work is far from over.

With your support we can make sure Free2Talk continues to grow and reach even more LGBTQ+ young people. PBE’s evaluation strengthens our case to policymakers and funders, but individual supporters like you are crucial to sustain our work. Please help us continue this life-changing work. If you’re able, please consider donating to Free2B. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure we can reach the next young person who needs us.