Tackling loneliness through my LGBTQIA+ society

So one of the things as part of the community you come across when you start university is the LGBTQIA+ society or network or community whatever it's called at your university now for me my university here at Coventry we have the LGBTQIA+ society in my first year it was such an amazing space for me it was the first place as a fairly new to the community and fairly new to question my identity.

It was such a safe and welcoming space for me and for the entire community an LGBTQIA+ society at university is a safe open and welcoming space for the entire LGBTQIA+ community now in my university the society is a space for only people in the community to come on whatever we're doing each week and just be part of the community.

We do crafting, games nights, movie nights we do all sorts to just be there in a safe space as the community which is such an invaluable resource to so many people. Now I understand it's a bit daunting as a new fresher or a new person at university in a new town a lot of the time as well your first time you really had a chance to explore who you are for a lot of people which is what I found it was the first time I ever lived away from home I was three hours away from home as well so it was quite a drastic change and I felt very lonely when I started as this fresh newly questioning person and the society going along to that is what gave me a sense of welcoming and belonging which is why it is such an important resource at every university.

It's definitely scary to go alone but I know my society and at many other societies I've heard of we're all open and welcoming go along whether it's just you or whether you go along with a group of friends you will find people cause I know at my society if you come and you sit on your own someone's gonna come up to you have a chat with you and if they're playing a game get you involved in that or just invite you to sit at the table - it's as simple as that. Now I understand that the LGBTQIA+ societies networks might not be right for everyone they are quite a daunting space it can be a lot to be with a lot of queer people in the singular space every week I know my society we're all very open we're all very happy to share but that can be a bit daunting and it just might not be the right space for everyone and we totally understand that but I always think that you shouldn't be scared of a society at your university or sports club just because of who you are.

Now I know sports can be very daunting to join as a queer person I think I found that but when I joined my mountaineering club they were so accepting. I have one experience in my head that always sticks out when we were doing a friendly tournament against another university I was asked which category do you wanna be in male or female and it kinda took me a second to take that in because no one had ever asked me that before and it just shows that whether you're in a queer space or not people are accepting at universities so it's important to try a sport or society out to help get that group of friends when you join university and you will often be surprised how accepting people are so don't let that hold you back I know I have had bad experiences with societies but most of the time a society is happy warm welcoming no matter whether it's a queer society or not.

I think my main message is go out there join a sports club or society I highly encourage everyone to join the LGBTQIA+ network or society at their university because it's so important in a new environment that university is to have a safe space with warm welcoming friends to just go along to to know that that is a safe space whether you have anywhere else safe or not to go to.