About the Fusion Project
The Fusion Project is supported by funding, from the National Lottery, which helps us provide support and activities for young people and families.
Based at The What? Centre in Dudley and Stourbridge, the Fusion Project supports young people aged 13–18 from LGBTQ+ communities and ethnically diverse backgrounds. We understand that growing up can bring different challenges, whether these relate to family, friendships, school, culture, identity or emotional wellbeing.
We want young people to have a place where they feel comfortable talking about what is happening in their lives, meeting others with similar experiences and accessing support when they need it.
What we do
Counselling for young people
Growing up isn't always straightforward and sometimes it can be difficult to talk about what you're going through. Our counselling service gives young people the opportunity to speak with a counsellor about their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a supportive, non-judgemental space.
Whether a young person is experiencing anxiety, struggling with relationships, dealing with difficulties at home or school or trying to understand themselves better, counselling can help them explore what's happening and find ways to move forward.
Family support
We recognise that parents and carers can sometimes find it difficult to understand what their young person is experiencing or know how best to support them.
Our family support service offers parents and carers an opportunity to talk through their concerns, explore different perspectives and find ways to improve communication and strengthen family relationships.
This may include navigating cultural expectations, generational differences, family relationships or understanding and supporting a young person's identity.
LGBTQ+ youth group
Our LGBTQ+ group gives young people the opportunity to meet others, build friendships and spend time in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Having a space where you can connect with people who may share similar experiences can make a real difference. The group offers opportunities to socialise, share experiences if you wish and feel more comfortable being yourself, we also have activities like arts and crafts and host after school groups in some schools.
Young Asian group
Our Young Asian group provides a space for young people to meet others, develop friendships and talk about experiences that may be important to them.
This might include culture, identity, family expectations, belonging or the challenges of growing up between different cultures. The group offers an opportunity to connect with others who may understand some of these experiences, we also have activities like arts and crafts and host after school groups in some schools.
Training for professionals and organisations
As well as working directly with young people and families, we provide training for professionals and organisations that support young people.
This includes staff working in hospitals, GP practices, schools and other organisations. Our training aims to improve understanding of LGBTQ+ young people and young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, helping professionals feel better equipped to offer inclusive and appropriate support.
By sharing knowledge and raising awareness, we aim to help create environments where young people feel understood, respected and able to access the support they need.
Working together
At Fusion, we recognise that every young person and family has their own experiences, circumstances and needs. We want to offer support that takes these differences into account and gives people the opportunity to feel heard and understood.
Through counselling, family support, youth groups and professional training, we work with young people, families and organisations to encourage greater understanding, build connections and support positive relationships.
Find out more
Whether you're a young person looking for support, a parent or carer with questions, or a professional interested in our training, we'd love to help you find out more about the Fusion Project.
Contact The What? Centre in Dudley or Stourbridge to ask about our services, groups and how to access support.