Roadtrippers Events - Nicola Last
Nominee Profile
Location: Liverpool
Roadtrippers Events is a vibrant, community-led events company created for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, built on the belief that everyone deserves connection, belonging, and the freedom to be themselves in safe, welcoming spaces.
Founded by Nicky Last, Roadtrippers Events grew from her own experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Having been a big part of Liverpool’s scene for many years, Nicky built strong friendships locally, but began to feel the pull to explore further afield — to meet like-minded women from across the UK and experience something more than the usual nights out.
Like many others, Nicky spent time going out to clubs with friends, but it became clear that people were starting to want something different. The appetite was there for more meaningful experiences — real friendships, shared adventures, and a stronger sense of community beyond the club scene.
Wanting to explore this, Nicky began travelling to places like Birmingham, Cardiff and Swansea, meeting new people along the way. What started as a small group of around 22 women quickly grew, as more people connected with the idea of building friendships in a more relaxed and genuine way.
Seeing the need, Nicky organised one of the first group camping trips to Bala Lake. The response was immediate and overwhelming. The weekend was so successful that the initial group of 22 wanted another event. By word of mouth the group quickly grew to around 100, with further events including an Oktoberfest camping weekend at Shell Island, a Zip wire experience, along with Halloween and New Years Eve parties
From there, things really took off. More camping trips followed, along with social events and the community grew rapidly — from 100 to over 500 members.
It became clear that this wasn’t just a social group — it was filling a real gap. Many women were coming along alone, often feeling nervous or unsure, but leaving with friendships, confidence, and a sense ‘family’ and of belonging.
As the group grew, so did the demands behind the scenes. What had started organically was now a large and active community, with events requiring significant planning, organisation, and time.
At the same time, Nicky was working full time and trying to manage everything alongside it. Eventually, it became too much to balance. Faced with the reality of how important the group had become to so many people, Nicky made the difficult but defining decision, to leave her job and focus on Roadtrippers Events full time.
This was a turning point. With more time and energy to dedicate to the community, Roadtrippers grew into an established events company, creating opportunities for like-minded women across the UK to come together in a safe and inclusive environment.
Today, Roadtrippers Events has over 3,600 members and offers a wide range of experiences — from camping weekends and activity breaks to themed events and social meet-ups — all designed to be inclusive, relaxed, and centred around connection.
For many, these events are genuinely life-changing. It’s common for women to arrive on their own feeling anxious and leave having made strong friendships and gained a new sense of confidence.
What makes Roadtrippers special is the sense of community it has created. It’s often described as a family— a space where people feel accepted, supported, and able to be themselves, without judgement.
A particularly powerful outcome of our work has been the growth in confidence we’ve seen within our community. Several of our members, who had a passion for singing but had never previously had the confidence to step onto a stage, have been supported and encouraged through our events, to find their voice. Through safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces, they have built the self-belief to perform publicly — with some now taking to the stage at our festival and other events beyond Roadtrippers. Seeing individuals grow in confidence, embrace their talents, and inspire others is one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do.
Beyond personal growth and confidence, Roadtrippers Events has also helped foster genuine, lasting connections within our community. Many of our members have formed meaningful relationships through attending our events, with some finding long-term partners. We are incredibly proud to share that, to date, six marriages have come from people who first met through Roadtrippers. This is a true reflection of the safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces we create — where people feel able to connect authentically, build relationships, and find a real sense of belonging.
This is especially important for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who may have experienced isolation or struggled to find spaces where they truly feel they belong. Roadtrippers provides that space — not just safe, but welcoming and real.
The community has also expanded beyond the UK, with group travel becoming an important part of the experience. A standout example was a trip to the island of Lesvos, Greece, bringing women together from across different regions and creating lasting memories and connections. Plans are in place to continue growing these travel opportunities with more trips abroad in the future.
One of the biggest achievements to come from Roadtrippers Events is Unity Fest.
Launched in 2021, Unity Fest has grown into one of the largest annual weekend festivals for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in the UK. What started as an idea to bring the community together on a bigger scale has become a key event in the calendar.
Unity Fest is more than just a festival — it’s a celebration of identity, community, and connection. The weekend brings together women from across the country for live music, workshops, activities, and social experiences, creating a space where women can relax, express themselves, and feel part of something.
The continued growth of Unity Fest reflects both the demand for these spaces and the strength of the community behind it.
The strength of the Roadtrippers community has also led to the creation of a new event, be U. This was developed to give members the opportunity to step forward and lead their own activities, sharing skills, experiences, and passions with others in the group.
be U is about more than just taking part — it’s about building confidence, encouraging personal growth, and creating a space where women feel empowered to try something new. Whether it’s running a workshop, leading an activity, or simply stepping outside their comfort zone, members are supported every step of the way.
It has become a powerful extension of the community, where people not only connect but truly grow — developing new skills, confidence and a sense of pride in what they can offer others. The inaugural be U event was a huge success, and we are excited to continue growing and evolving it year on year.
The impact of Roadtrippers Events is also seen in the stories of those who attend — women building friendships, gaining confidence, trying new experiences, and in many cases, finding a sense of belonging they hadn’t experienced before.
The nomination for the National Diversity Awards reflects the strength of something built from the ground up, driven by genuine connection, shared values, and a commitment to bringing people together.
Looking ahead, Roadtrippers Events continues to grow, with plans to expand both across the UK and internationally, reaching more women and creating even more opportunities for connection.
Ultimately, Roadtrippers Events is about much more than organising events. It’s about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, build lasting friendships, and become part of something bigger. That real, human impact is what makes Roadtrippers Events such a powerful and deserving nominee.
Founded by Nicky Last, Roadtrippers Events grew from her own experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Having been a big part of Liverpool’s scene for many years, Nicky built strong friendships locally, but began to feel the pull to explore further afield — to meet like-minded women from across the UK and experience something more than the usual nights out.
Like many others, Nicky spent time going out to clubs with friends, but it became clear that people were starting to want something different. The appetite was there for more meaningful experiences — real friendships, shared adventures, and a stronger sense of community beyond the club scene.
Wanting to explore this, Nicky began travelling to places like Birmingham, Cardiff and Swansea, meeting new people along the way. What started as a small group of around 22 women quickly grew, as more people connected with the idea of building friendships in a more relaxed and genuine way.
Seeing the need, Nicky organised one of the first group camping trips to Bala Lake. The response was immediate and overwhelming. The weekend was so successful that the initial group of 22 wanted another event. By word of mouth the group quickly grew to around 100, with further events including an Oktoberfest camping weekend at Shell Island, a Zip wire experience, along with Halloween and New Years Eve parties
From there, things really took off. More camping trips followed, along with social events and the community grew rapidly — from 100 to over 500 members.
It became clear that this wasn’t just a social group — it was filling a real gap. Many women were coming along alone, often feeling nervous or unsure, but leaving with friendships, confidence, and a sense ‘family’ and of belonging.
As the group grew, so did the demands behind the scenes. What had started organically was now a large and active community, with events requiring significant planning, organisation, and time.
At the same time, Nicky was working full time and trying to manage everything alongside it. Eventually, it became too much to balance. Faced with the reality of how important the group had become to so many people, Nicky made the difficult but defining decision, to leave her job and focus on Roadtrippers Events full time.
This was a turning point. With more time and energy to dedicate to the community, Roadtrippers grew into an established events company, creating opportunities for like-minded women across the UK to come together in a safe and inclusive environment.
Today, Roadtrippers Events has over 3,600 members and offers a wide range of experiences — from camping weekends and activity breaks to themed events and social meet-ups — all designed to be inclusive, relaxed, and centred around connection.
For many, these events are genuinely life-changing. It’s common for women to arrive on their own feeling anxious and leave having made strong friendships and gained a new sense of confidence.
What makes Roadtrippers special is the sense of community it has created. It’s often described as a family— a space where people feel accepted, supported, and able to be themselves, without judgement.
A particularly powerful outcome of our work has been the growth in confidence we’ve seen within our community. Several of our members, who had a passion for singing but had never previously had the confidence to step onto a stage, have been supported and encouraged through our events, to find their voice. Through safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces, they have built the self-belief to perform publicly — with some now taking to the stage at our festival and other events beyond Roadtrippers. Seeing individuals grow in confidence, embrace their talents, and inspire others is one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do.
Beyond personal growth and confidence, Roadtrippers Events has also helped foster genuine, lasting connections within our community. Many of our members have formed meaningful relationships through attending our events, with some finding long-term partners. We are incredibly proud to share that, to date, six marriages have come from people who first met through Roadtrippers. This is a true reflection of the safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces we create — where people feel able to connect authentically, build relationships, and find a real sense of belonging.
This is especially important for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who may have experienced isolation or struggled to find spaces where they truly feel they belong. Roadtrippers provides that space — not just safe, but welcoming and real.
The community has also expanded beyond the UK, with group travel becoming an important part of the experience. A standout example was a trip to the island of Lesvos, Greece, bringing women together from across different regions and creating lasting memories and connections. Plans are in place to continue growing these travel opportunities with more trips abroad in the future.
One of the biggest achievements to come from Roadtrippers Events is Unity Fest.
Launched in 2021, Unity Fest has grown into one of the largest annual weekend festivals for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in the UK. What started as an idea to bring the community together on a bigger scale has become a key event in the calendar.
Unity Fest is more than just a festival — it’s a celebration of identity, community, and connection. The weekend brings together women from across the country for live music, workshops, activities, and social experiences, creating a space where women can relax, express themselves, and feel part of something.
The continued growth of Unity Fest reflects both the demand for these spaces and the strength of the community behind it.
The strength of the Roadtrippers community has also led to the creation of a new event, be U. This was developed to give members the opportunity to step forward and lead their own activities, sharing skills, experiences, and passions with others in the group.
be U is about more than just taking part — it’s about building confidence, encouraging personal growth, and creating a space where women feel empowered to try something new. Whether it’s running a workshop, leading an activity, or simply stepping outside their comfort zone, members are supported every step of the way.
It has become a powerful extension of the community, where people not only connect but truly grow — developing new skills, confidence and a sense of pride in what they can offer others. The inaugural be U event was a huge success, and we are excited to continue growing and evolving it year on year.
The impact of Roadtrippers Events is also seen in the stories of those who attend — women building friendships, gaining confidence, trying new experiences, and in many cases, finding a sense of belonging they hadn’t experienced before.
The nomination for the National Diversity Awards reflects the strength of something built from the ground up, driven by genuine connection, shared values, and a commitment to bringing people together.
Looking ahead, Roadtrippers Events continues to grow, with plans to expand both across the UK and internationally, reaching more women and creating even more opportunities for connection.
Ultimately, Roadtrippers Events is about much more than organising events. It’s about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, build lasting friendships, and become part of something bigger. That real, human impact is what makes Roadtrippers Events such a powerful and deserving nominee.