The award-winning Queer Youth Summit returns to Manchester in February 2027, bringing LGBTQ+ young people together to celebrate their identities, share their experiences and shape a new Queer Youth Manifesto. Organised by The Proud Trust, the Manchester LGBTQ+ youth charity, the event is open to schools, colleges, youth groups and community organisations amid alarming research showing that 43% of LGBTQ+ pupils have experienced bullying, 58% of LGBTQ+ young people surveyed have seriously considered suicide, and almost a quarter may not complete secondary school. The charity has also reported a 171% rise in referrals following the major Supreme Court ruling.
The Queer Youth Summit 2027 will bring LGBTQ+ young people together in central Manchester on Friday 12th February for a day dedicated to celebrating who they are, sharing their experiences and having a meaningful say in the issues affecting their lives. Schools, colleges, youth groups and community organisations are being invited to attend the award-winning event, which will offer young people the opportunity to meet others with shared experiences, build friendships and help shape a better future.
Organised by The Proud Trust, the Manchester-based LGBTQ+ youth charity, the Summit will give attendees a platform to discuss the challenges they face and the changes they want to see in schools, communities and wider society. Their contributions will help create a Queer Youth Manifesto, which will inform the charity’s future priorities and provide a way for young people to hold The Proud Trust accountable to the people it supports.
The event comes against a deeply concerning national backdrop, with research highlighting the pressures many LGBTQ+ young people face growing up in the UK. Figures from Just Like Us show that 43% of LGBTQ+ pupils have experienced bullying because of who they are, while The Trevor Project found that 58% of LGBTQ+ young people surveyed had seriously considered suicide. Research published by Theirworld in 2025 also found that 24.8% of LGBTQ+ young people may not complete secondary school, compared with 12.1% of the wider population.
These findings reflect the difficult reality facing young people who may be dealing with bullying, discrimination and isolation while trying to understand their identities and find somewhere they feel accepted. The Proud Trust has also reported a 171% increase in referrals following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers in April 2025. The Queer Youth Summit builds on the charity’s national #DeserveBetter campaign, turning its call for LGBTQ+ young people to be heard into a practical opportunity for them to help shape the decisions and services that affect their futures.
While the Summit will give young people the chance to address serious issues, it will also place a strong emphasis on friendship, belonging and queer joy. For those who feel isolated at school or struggle to find others who understand their experiences, spending a day surrounded by LGBTQ+ peers can offer reassurance, confidence and a sense of community, while celebrating the identities and experiences that make each young person unique.
The event is aimed at LGBTQ+ groups in secondary schools, colleges and community youth organisations, with teachers, college staff and youth workers encouraged to bring along the young people they support. Taking place from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Friday 12th February 2027, the Summit will be held at a central Manchester venue, with exact location details shared with booked groups. Tickets cost £100 plus VAT per table, accommodating up to ten people including accompanying staff, with lunch and refreshments provided, and groups are encouraged to book before midday on Friday 18th December 2026.
Liam Swanston, Director of Development and Partnerships at The Proud Trust, the charity behind the Queer Youth Summit, said, “The Queer Youth Summit is about giving LGBTQ+ young people something they don’t always get enough of, the chance to be heard, to feel genuinely understood and to know that they belong. We want every young person who walks through the door to feel proud of who they are, to make connections with others and to leave knowing that their experiences and opinions matter.
“The reality is that too many LGBTQ+ young people are growing up in environments where they face bullying, discrimination or hostility simply for being themselves. Some are struggling with their mental health, others feel isolated or afraid to speak openly about their identities, and far too many are being made to question whether there is a place for them in the world.
“We hear so much debate about LGBTQ+ young people, their rights and what their futures should look like, but we don’t hear nearly enough from the young people themselves. Through this Summit and the Queer Youth Manifesto, we want to change that by listening to what they need, understanding what matters most to them and making sure their voices genuinely influence the work we do.
“But this day isn’t just about the challenges young people face. It’s also about celebrating queer joy, building friendships and creating memories in a space where nobody has to explain or defend who they are. For a young person who feels alone or misunderstood, meeting others who share their experiences can make an extraordinary difference.
“We’re encouraging schools, colleges and community youth groups to join us in Manchester and give their young people the opportunity to be part of something special. Every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, valued and hopeful about their future, and we want this Summit to help them see just how much they have to offer the world.”