Tanya Compass, 27

Youth worker and youth engagement specialist @ tanyacompas

“People in positions of power are closing doors behind them”

I call myself an accidental activist because I fell into it. I want to create spaces for young queer people to make friends.

I experienced homelessness at the beginning of the year and my community helped lift me out of it. I use social media, and my experience of the charity sector, to guide people in similar situations and create spaces for them to meet other people. It’s so uplifting to be in a room full of black queer people because you really feel seen and can discuss experiences relating to racism or homophobia.

I used to work at The Albert Kennedy Trust and helping young people get into permanent housing is one of my proudest moments. Mainstream charities get so much funding but lack the understanding of how to help queer young people, even though they make up 24 per cent of the young homeless population.

One way to make a big difference is for everyone to acknowledge the privilege they have. So many people in positions of power are closing the door behind them, rather than opening it to allow other people through. There are so many layers of oppression that the most vulnerable in our community face and we have to do more to support them. We have to focus more on the “us” not the “them”.