Bex Shorunke

Why is an intersectional lens so important when exploring Black women’s professional experiences?

A PhD project

Despite being over-represented in the homeless population, there is a shortage of specialist support. Collaborative work with organisations like us can help meet this need, writes Bex Shorunke.

Our guest blog for Pride Month is by Bex Shorunke, from the LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, akt. Bex describes the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ young people and her hopes for One Day when they will feel welcomed and safe everywhere they go.

There are just 77 beds in London to help more than 1,300 people at risk of LGBT homelessness each year. That must change, writes Bex Shorunke.

Coordination and collaboration are at the centre of most communications teams. However, when working remotely, researching, designing and launching a big project can be challenging. So how can we make sure we are coordinating effectively?

Bex Shorunke, Senior Media Officer at akt writes about the importance of recognising the diversity of young people experiencing homelessness and the specific experiences of young people from LGBTQ+ groups found in their new research.
It may not be well known that 24% of the youth homeless population in the U.K identify as LGBTQ+, meaning they are overrepresented in this demographic.
Despite this, their existence remains largely unreported along with their needs and the specific barriers they ...

The Home Office recently announced its new immigration policy that will see rough sleeping non-UK nationals at risk of deportation as of 1 December 2020.
The rule will make rough sleeping grounds enough for refusing or cancelling the leave of a non-UK national.

Cath Hall MBE tells DIVA all about her journey to becoming one of the UK’s most influential activists for queer youth.

akt is a charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness, experiencing familial rejection and living in a hostile environment. The charity works across London, Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol to provide safe refuge and forge better futures for the young people accessing our services.
24% of the U. K’s homeless population identify as LGBTQ+. 68% of the young people accessing our services are Black and PoC (rising to 80% in London with 38% being Black). We know that COVID-19 has di...

How can the charity sector be more pro-black?

The third sector is having a reckoning about its shortcomings in achieving diversity. The Black Lives Matter movement has spotlighted severe racial discrepancies across all sectors – and charities are no exception.

The #charitysowhite hashtag originally eme...

LGBTQ+ youths, who are over-represented among the homeless population, have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Akt are a charity who support LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness, and have witnessed firsthand the negative effect that lockdown has had on this group, as well as the barriers they face in accessing supports. Tim Sigsworth outlines how akt have adapted their services to suit the needs of LGBTQ+ homeless young people, and how local authorities can do the same.

The past four months have shown themselves to be a uniquely challenging time for charities and charity communications alike. COVID-19 has reprogramed the way we think, work and behave, whilst social movements like Black Lives Matter has forced into question all of our priorities and strategy.
At akt, as a charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness, experiencing familial rejection and living in a hostile environment these challenges have been particularly present. 24% of the U....

Womxn worldwide are being confined to the four walls of their home, bored? Probably. Unproductive? No need to be. The country’s self isolation standstill can be viewed as either a jail term – or an opportunity. One forged out of self care and a drive to keep learning, in spite of the circumstances.

In a bid to help make things that little bit better out there, here are five key ways to keep yourself busy – while throwing in some well-deserved self care to boot.

The UK government has called for councils to take in homeless people, yet queer youth are being told to sofa surf

The UK is on pause. Days are delineated by BBC updates as we’re hit with an hourly barrage of Covid-19 facts and warnings. Schools are out until September (bye Prom), with pubs, shops, and high brow restaurants (Morley’s included) closed indefinitely. While a lot of Britons shield themselves in the comfort of their own homes and acclimatise to that space being the length and bread...

If you want to understand Lagos, start with Balogun market.
A city within a city, it spills out onto the many streets of Lagos Island, as one of the biggest street markets in Africa. Beaded fabrics and woven mats in orange, green and blue hues explode off the pavements. Earthenware pots and baskets form teetering pyramids as thousands of shoppers dip and dive between them. The breeze carries the sweet aroma of suya – grilled, spiced meat on sticks – and rustles fabrics that drape down 15 feet...