For 13 years 2BU has been supporting vulnerable LGBT+ young people in Somerset. The support 2BU supplies ranges from providing friendship to LGBT+ young people who often feel isolated in Somerset, to providing one-to-one support for many young people struggling with serious mental health problems, abusive relationships, bullying. I and hundreds of other young people can attest to the monumental difference 2BU has made to our health, our self-esteem and quality of life. 

2BU is a targetted, preventative and efficient service, it helps support the most vulnerable young people in Somerset preventing much larger costs being borne later on by the NHS, social services or the education system.

Read more about what the group does at their website - http://www.2bu-somerset.co.uk/  And in their latest newsletter - http://www.2bu-somerset.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/29/2BU%20Newsletter%202016.pdf

2BU's 2016 survey of members revealed that 86% had suffered verbal abuse, 76% had self-harmed and 47% had attempted suicide. 2BU saves lives.

It's for this reason that in May 2016 2BU's leaders were invited to a reception with David Cameron at Number 10 Downing Street, alongside organisations such as Stonewall, to congratulate them for the "outstanding contribution they make to the LGBT community". While central government has recognised that 2BU is an essential service, Somerset County Council is planning on withdrawing funding from March 2017. If the County Council goes ahead with this false economy, ignoring the government's obvious support for 2BU, it will be putting LGBT+ young people in Somerset at risk, in a year where homophobic hate crime has risen 147%.

Members, ex-members and supporters of 2BU are now campaigning to save 2BU, please support us, sign this petition and join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/201856926937965/