Shar Jordan-Passmore - Worker in Charge

 I was involved in the development of LMO, together with the local authority youth service, The LADS Project, and SCVS. After 5 long years, the local authority youth service decided to fund a youth group for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people in Sutton. I began working for LMO (Let Me Out), as the assistant youth worker in April 2001, and by the following year, I became the Worker in Charge.

I am an "out" lesbian in all areas of my life - work, pleasure and church - and believe that young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered, as well as those questioning their sexuality, need positive role models to help them come to terms with the many issues that face them as lgbtq young people.

I have seen many young people pass through LMO in the time that I have worked there as a youth worker, and am proud to say that many of the young people attribute their confidence and self-assuredness to the existence of LMO.

 Lynne Jordan-Passmore - Assistant Youth Worker

I too was involved in the development of LMO, and began work with the group in April 2001 as a volunteer youth worker. Unfortunately, when the Youth Worker in Charge left, we were unable to replace him with a male gay youth worker, so I stood in as a paid worker until such time as we could identify a male worker for LMO. That was over 5 years ago and I am still working there, and very much enjoying it.

My full-time job is very different from LMO. I work as a mini-bus driver for the elderly and people with learning difficulties, and I am currently studying to become clergy at the Metropolitan Community Church (a church that has it's main ministry to lgbt people).

Whilst Shar does a lot of the group work and more structured activities at LMO, I tend to be the listener/counsellor. I have found that in the past that, all most young people want, is for someone to listen to them, and to understand what they are going through. I am aware that there are some very good agencies about to help young people, but unless you are gay yourself, it is very difficult to understand the issues a young lgbt person may have, such as "coming out" to their parents. This is why LMO exists, and has survived for nearly 7 years.