Base 51's Outburst supported by Panthers at Pride Night
"Life-changing" services performed by Base 51 are being supported by the Nottingham Panther's Pride Night.
Saturday saw each of the Elite League ice hockey teams don their rainbow splashed jerseys to highlight LGBT representation in hockey. "Hockey is for everyone" was lit up on the fan-made lights on Block 16. Pride Night happens each year around LGBT History Month.
The Panthers' chosen charity for the night was Base 51 - specifically for their Outburst programme, their LGBT support group for 11-21 year olds.
To find out more about the work of the charity, we reached out to Verity Woods, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Base 51.
The Outburst desk was front and centre in the Motorpoint Arena on the night. "We always have our Treat Kitchen on our stall!" The neon sour sweets weren't the only vibrant eye catchers at the table; Pride flags and rainbow theme Instagram frames were available for selfies.
"It was a great night for us, just talking to people about what we do and how they can support us," Verity told us. "We always get people coming up saying, 'I used to come to Base 51 when I was younger - you really helped.'"
Base 51 have been supporting all younger members of society for thirty years now, not just LGBTQIA+ folk. Over that time, attitudes have shifted in some ways, but not all.
"LGBTQIA+ is more spoken about now than it was 20 years ago, and there is more understanding of different genders and identities." This is true even amongst LGBT communities themselves; the well adopted "Progress" Pride flag, which includes stripes for trans identities and people of colour, only came about in 2018. Since 1979 it was the simple rainbow flag.
"Sadly, there is still a lot of homophobia and transphobia out there."
Indeed, JK Rowling has notoriously damaged her own reputation with her outspoken views. Even in ice hockey, the Fife Flyers changed their plans to play in their pride jerseys due to "personal beliefs" of some team members - the only team in the league to disappoint their fans in this way.
"We're also seeing young people becoming more isolated due to so much screen time, which is why it's really important that Outburst gives them a safe space to meet other LGBTQIA+ young people in person, learn, have fun, make friends, and have a trusted adult to talk about issues with."
Outburst is a specific event hosted at Broadway Cinema on Wednesdays between 4-7pm.
Helping social connections isn't the only way Base 51 help with youth wellbeing. A key part of their services is facilitation of counselling sessions. Between April 2024 and March 2025, they counted 1,321 sessions. "Without Base 51, I'd probably be in a prison cell," said one person.
We asked Chris Ellis, Head of Media for the Panthers, about the partnership: "We are very proud to support Outburst and 100 per cent of the profits from our game-worn jersey raffle will go to Base 51's Outburst programme."
The online raffle will run until midnight tonight, where 28 of ice hockey's most popular special jerseys are up for winning. As Mr Ellis said, all profit goes to support Nottingham's LGBTQIA+ youth. Grab your ticket now for just £1 for a chance to win one of 28 shirts.
