'YOU BELONG HERE.'

That's the message in bright pink neon in the city's newest gallery. The sign has been created by artist Asten Holmes-Elliott with young people from Break Out youth group.

It's part of a new project designed to make sure the LGBTQ community is included in city life.

An official 'switch-on' at John Hansard Gallery in Guildhall Square also included the chance for guests to make pledges as to how they will support the community in the future.

Jack Griffin, 15, was told about Break Out by teachers at his school - Oasis Mayfield Academy.

He said: "The group helped me find who I was and become happier. We started off making badges and giving them out at Pride and asked people to make pledges for how they wanted to help the community become more accepted.

"We wanted to make sure we are part of the city as a whole." Now the sign has pride of place in the John Hansard Gallery - giving a clear signal that LGBTQ people are welcome in the city's flagship £30million arts complex.

Artist Asten Holmes-Elliott said: "When we got the funding from Artist Rooms we were able to develop the idea of LGBT people being really important in the city and in culture in general. This is a conscious effort to make sure they are part of the city."

And in a twist of serendipity graphic designer Steve Smith, from company Southampton Neon Signs who made the sign, was a member of Break Out youth group himself from 1997. He added: "It was my first introduction to other gay people - I was about 17 and I had picked up a flyer from a Freddie Mercury exhibtion at The Marlands."