About Us
Our founder is Jam Hirata-Smith (any pronouns). Jam is Neurodivergent and genderqueer.
Jam faced tough times with their mental health and felt left out of standard LGBTQ+ groups. They tried to make a local youth group easier for everyone to join, but the group did not want to change. So, Jam decided to do things differently. They created a brand new space built on real-life experience and true inclusion.
What started as a small youth group is now We Are Explorers CIC. We are a Neuroqueer-led social enterprise supporting people of all ages across Leigh, Wigan and Bolton. We run social groups, offer one-to-one coaching, and train schools and businesses.
Why We Exist
Often, queer spaces leave out Neurodivergent people. At the same time, Neurodivergent spaces can overlook queer identities.
"Society is gradually accepting that all of our brains work in different ways. A parallel to this is our gradual acceptance of the many identities that fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella." — John Anderson, The Brain Charity's LGBTQ+ representative
We all deserve spaces where we can be our whole selves.
We build those spaces.
Where stim toys are always welcome.
Where it’s OK to explore who you are.
Where being yourself does not cause burnout or masking.
Because we are not just here to help people survive. We are here to help them thrive.
Our Values
Safe
We go above and beyond to keep our spaces safe. All of our staff and volunteers have full background checks (DBS checks). They are highly trained to support and communicate with LGBTQ+ and Neurodivergent people. We create spaces where you can be yourself without fear.
Engaging
Everything we do is hands-on and active. In our social groups, our members get involved in fun activities like:
Video games and board games
Arts, crafts, and cooking
Sports and sensory activities
Day trips out in the community
Person-Led
Our community members shape everything we do. From young children to older adults, our members help choose what funding we apply for and how we spend it. They even share their ideas in our board meetings. As our community's needs change, our activities change too.
Radically Inclusive
We never turn people away. You do not need an official medical diagnosis to join us. We welcome people who are disabled, people who are still questioning their identity, and people who are LGBTQ+ but not Neurodivergent. We are called Explorers because exploring who you are is normal, at any age.
Unapologetically Neuroqueer
We are proud of our Neuroqueer roots and our Neuroqueer staff. In 2025, feedback from a major Arts Council project taught us to be louder and prouder than ever. We celebrate our community in everything we do, including the high-quality training and resources we deliver across the UK.