LGBTQ+ X-Plore youth groups transfer of governance

ON January 1, 2020 X-Plore Youth Group, which has run dedicated youth groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer plus (LGBT+) young people in Devon for 18 years, transferred the running and governance of the charity to Space (formerly Devon Youth Service).

Space Youth Workers have operated the current groups in Exeter and Barnstaple, for the last few years, so there will be no change to how the groups are run.

The website, social media and email addresses also remain the same.

The change means that X-Plore will cease to be a charity in its own right (transferring all assets to Space, where it will continue to run as a project, all the former Trustees of X-Plore having stepped down.

The Trustees took the decision after they believed it was the best outcome to secure a sustainable future for X-Plore.

Part of this development includes a bigger presence at Exeter Pride, in which X-Plore have exciting plans for a new "youth zone" which will take place on May 2, 2020.

Kev Henman, Chief Executive at Space said: "Space Youth Services have worked in partnership with Xplore for many years, to provide safe, stimulating spaces and programmes for Devon's young LGBTQ community.

"Their work has been incredibly important for hundreds of young people and we are proud to be able to enable this work to continue.

"Space will do whatever we can, collaborating with our network of partners, to grow more provision for LGBTQ young people across Devon.

Julia Boas, Chair of Trustees, X-Plore said: "We have worked hard to promote and expand the groups, and have achieved a lot in the past five years, making it a viable project to hand over and develop further.

"Now feels like the right time and we would like to thank everyone who has supported the charity over the years.

"We would particularly like to thank the Garfield Weston Foundation for its ongoing support during this transition, and acknowledge our previous funders who have helped keep us running over the past few years up to our point of hand-over: Foyle

Foundation, Big Lottery - Awards for All, Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, The Rainbow Ball, Halleria Trust and the Local Youth Network Fund.

"We would also like to thank our regular private donors. If you have been donating to X-Plore you can continue to do so but will need to change the payment details. Please contact us for further information by email at: xplorecharity@gmail.com ."

For further details, visit: www.lgbtqyouthdevon.org.uk