Spotlight: Connect*

What is Connect?

Connect is a relaxed and friendly social group for trans and non-binary people aged 18-35, including people who are questioning and those with a trans history

When and where do you meet?

We meet at the LGBT Foundation on the 1st Monday and 3rd Friday of every month from 6-8pm in the group room. You don’t have to arrive at 6 and you can stay as long as you like.

How did the group come about?

Connect came about because we felt there was a gap in the trans community groups in Manchester. We wanted there to be more for younger adults, for it to be open to all trans people and to be more about socialising than support.

A few volunteers, who met through the Foundation’s trans programme, started the group. We found we worked really well together because we had a shared vision and had the support of the Foundation so it was really easy to get the group started.

What can people expect from Connect in the coming months?

Connect are going to continue growing and welcoming new people along. As a new group, we’re really excited to see how the group develops over the coming months and years because our feedback so far has been really positive. Things can only get bigger and better! Plus we’re always open to suggestions and have had some great evenings already doing things suggested by people who come along.

What advice would you give to someone questioning whether to come along to Connect?

Give it a go! We’re a new group so everyone is still fairly new to it and we’ve had new people come along every time. And we are all about being an easy going space where you can be yourself. We’ve had quite a lot of people come along who have never even been involved in anything to do with the trans community before and they have all been really glad they did it.

If you’re nervous then you can chat with us on Facebook or by email ([email protected]). One of the volunteers can meet you before hand for a chat too if you like.