CS6086 Specialist Youth Services - LGBTQ+

Tower Hamlets Council is committed to strengthening dedicated support for LGBTQ+ children and young people across the borough, ensuring they have access to safe, inclusive spaces where they can participate in meaningful activities, explore their identities without judgement, and receive appropriate support from trained youth practitioners. Improving outcomes for LGBTQ+ young people aligns closely with the priorities set out in the Young Tower Hamlets Strategy 2025-2027, recognising the need for environments that foster belonging, promote wellbeing and resilience, and actively challenge discrimination. Significant investment has already been directed towards enhancing youth provision, and the Council's ambition to develop ward-level delivery models represents an important step in ensuring that LGBTQ+ young people can access support locally, without barriers or stigma.

The commissioned Specialist LGBTQ+ Youth Provision will focus on delivering high-quality centre-based support in wards where specific LGBTQ+ youth services are not currently available. The programme will provide free, accessible, and well-publicised activities for young people aged 11-19 (and up to 25 where appropriate), embedding inclusive practice and ensuring that all young people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression are welcomed and supported. This includes facilitating opportunities for personal development, peer connection, community building, and access to relevant health, wellbeing, and safeguarding support.

The successful provider will be required to operate from a designated building within each ward or service lot, using either their own venue or a suitable leased space. The accessibility, inclusivity, and safeguarding arrangements of the proposed venue will form a key part of the tender evaluation. Providers must demonstrate the capability to deliver culturally competent, trauma-informed, and LGBTQ+-affirming youth work, ensuring that every space is safe, confidential, and empowering for young people across Tower Hamlets.

Engagement deadline
Wednesday 15th April 2026

Engagement process description
The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to provide advance notice to the marketplace for the upcoming tender opportunity and the intention of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to hold a preliminary market engagement session to identify potential suppliers to ensure the submission of strong bids.

Market Engagement Session

To provide potential suppliers with more information about the upcoming opportunity, we are hosting an online Market Engagement session that will take place on Microsoft Teams on Friday 17th April 2026 (14:45hours - 15:15hours). The session is advertised openly using this notice.

Suppliers wishing to attend the Preliminary market engagement session should be capable of meeting the procurement description/requirements outlined within this notification.

If you would like to attend, please register your interest free of charge at: www.londontenders.org (using reference DN811341) with confirmation of the name, position, email address and contact details of each attendee/s.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday 15th April 2026

NOTE: Attendance at the market engagement is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement.