This Pride Month, Bristol Charities is celebrating the growing success of the Bristol Education Partnership (BEP) Pride Network – a collaborative initiative helping LGBTQAI+ young people and allies connect across schools in Bristol.
Hosted by Bristol Charities, the Bristol Education Partnership was established to enrich education and improve outcomes for children and young people through collaboration and shared resources. The partnership brings together state and independent schools, colleges, universities and city partners to broaden opportunities for young people across Bristol.
The idea for the Pride Network grew from work at Cotham School, where staff member Megan Ingham established Pride groups for younger and older secondary school students. Through supporting these groups, she recognised that while in-school clubs are hugely valuable, connecting LGBTQAI+ students and allies from different schools could further improve wellbeing, belonging and confidence.
Reflecting on the importance of creating these opportunities, Megan said:
“Collaboration serves many vital functions, from mutual aid and resource sharing to celebrating shared culture and experiences. For marginalised communities, it is especially important because it creates spaces where people feel accepted, included and supported, while helping them build resilience and share knowledge for navigating the wider world.
Being a teenager is a time of significant personal development, particularly around identity and culture. While this can be challenging for any young person, it can be even more difficult when you do not know others with similar experiences or are relying on social media for information. Creating opportunities for students to connect in a safe environment allows them to share stories, ask questions, and recognise that there is a broader community available to them beyond their immediate school experience.”
Megan Ingham, PSHE Teacher, Cotham School
As a member of BEP, Cotham School identified the partnership as the ideal way to help facilitate these connections citywide.
Earlier this year, students from five Bristol schools came together for the first BEP Pride Network event. Hosted by Cotham School staff and students, the afternoon brought together young people from Year 7 to Year 12 from Clifton High School, Bridge Learning Campus, Collegiate School and Clifton College, alongside students from Cotham.
One of the most valuable aspects of the session was the opportunity for students from schools with different cultures and experiences of LGBTQAI+ inclusion to meet one another. Some students came from schools with well-established Pride groups and visible support, while others had experienced smaller or newer communities with fewer opportunities for open discussion.
Bringing students together created space for honest conversations, shared learning and mutual support. Young people exchanged ideas, learned from each other’s experiences and built confidence to take new ideas back into their own schools. For many, simply meeting other LGBTQAI+ students and allies from across the city helped them feel more connected and less alone.
The feedback from students reflected the positive impact of the event:
“I enjoyed how I felt included and seen.”
“Connecting between schools.”
“It was really nice to meet people similar to me and learn about their experiences.”
“People being heard, easing into more serious conversations, space to talk.”
Students also shared ideas for future collaboration, including Pride events, workshops, fundraising activities and creative projects celebrating LGBTQAI+ experiences across Bristol schools.
A teacher attending from one of the partner schools commented:
“Our students got a lot from the session and really benefitted from meeting their peers from other schools and having such open conversations.”
Following the success of the first gathering, the BEP Pride Network now includes eight partner schools and is exploring new ways for young people to collaborate and lead projects that promote inclusivity and belonging for LGBTQAI+ students and staff across Bristol.
The network’s next event will take place this month, when students from across the partnership will come together for a Pride Picnic. Building on the connections made at the first network event, the picnic will provide another opportunity for young people to meet, share experiences and strengthen relationships across schools.
This Pride Month, the network is a powerful example of how collaboration between schools can create meaningful opportunities for young people to feel seen, supported and connected.
Together, we can continue building a city where all young people feel a sense of belonging, connection and pride in who they are.
🌐 Find out more about the Bristol Education Partnership here:
https://bristoleducation.org.uk/
