LGBT Awareness Training (Scotand)

LGBTQ+ Awareness Training is an evidence-based online training designed to support Scottish staff and professionals in healthcare, education and community-based organisations to create inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people, particularly young people. The training addresses the realities of LGBTQ+ discrimination, lived experience and provides practical skills for culture change. The course ensures organisations are aware of the requirements of the Equality Act (2010), Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act (2021) and the EHRC Guidance (2026).

About the project

LGBTQ+ Awareness Training was developed in collaboration with subject matter experts, LGBTQ+ practitioners, young people with lived experience and representatives from across the Scottish public sector. The project addressed the need for accessible, psychologically safe LGBTQ+ training that moved beyond compliance and basic awareness.

Date:

1 Aug 2026

Client:

LGBT Youth Scotland

Project Details

This project began by reviewing and then redesigning an existing course offering from LGBT Youth Scotland. Since the original publication, the legal landscape in Scotland has shifted and a new edition provided an opportunity for more inclusion of lived experience and interactive elements. The original course also focussed on awareness and a new edition provided an opportunity to bring in a more practical skills-based section to the structure as well as a pledge element that would commit learners to specific actions.

Key focuses for the project were:

Plain language and WCAG 2.2 accessibility for all audiences.
Grounding in Scottish lived experience.
Increased representation of diverse LGBTQ+ identities and intersectional experiences.
Psychological safety throughout the learning journey for all learners, including those with limited or no familiarity with LGBTQ+ themes or terminology.
Practical, actionable skills for everyday inclusion.
Scottish legal and cultural context.

Following the alpha review with expert and lived experience reviewers, content was refined based on feedback from LGBT Youth Scotland, healthcare practitioners, young people, and community partners, further enhancing inclusivity and cultural relevance.

My contribution

As the learning designer for this project, I was responsible for:

Pedagogical design and learner journey
Designing the overall learning journey and pedagogical approach to support different learning preferences (reading, watching, interactive scenarios). Ensuring psychological safety throughout, particularly around sensitive content like bullying, disclosure and discrimination. Integrating reflection, practice and commitment elements to move from awareness to action.
Curriculum and content development
Developing course content, including screen-by-screen copy, scenario design, activity briefs and assessment. Ensuring accuracy and sensitivity across all three modules, with particular attention to Scottish legal context and LGBTQ+ young people's lived experience inclusion.
Accessibility
Writing content in plain language accessible to all learners, regardless of background or familiarity with LGBTQ+ terminology. Applying WebAIM AAA colour contrast and WCAG 2.2 guidance for online publications.
Stakeholder engagement and iterative development
Conducting alpha reviews with expert and lived experience reviewers, analysing feedback and refining content based on recommendations from NHS practitioners, young LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ organisations.
Implementation support and futureproofing
Working with LGBT Youth Scotland on implementation of the SCORM 1.2 package into their LMS and providing end-stage quality assurance. Developing futureproofing guidance and the creation of feedback loops and measurements for impacts and culture change.