Belong To, Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, has launched its strategic plan for 2025 to 2027. Entitled You Belong Here, it was unveiled at a special online event on Wednesday, April 23.
The document sets out Belong To’s roadmap for the next three years, propelling the organisation towards its mission of working with and for LGBTQ+ young people to create a society where everyone belongs. It contains four strategic goals, including: Providing innovative, responsive youth work that supports LGBTQ+ young people to be equal, safe and thriving, and assisting other youth services to do the same; creating spaces so every young person feels safe and supported in their communities; driving change and equality through advocacy, research and campaigns; and investing in their people, systems and sustainability to achieve their vision.
The plan comes amid an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ+ people worldwide. As Belong To CEO Moninne Griffith and Chairperson Patricia Carey note, the external landscape shifted more than ever during the organisation’s last 2022 to 2024 strategic plan.
“During these times, when our courage is tested and we face attacks on our day-to-day work, we lean into our values, our strong team and our collective dedication to continue to be there for LGBTQ+ youth. In the coming years, we will continue to hold strong in the face of resistance and rising hate,” they stated.
“Many of us have lived through times when things were rough before and survived terrible times in the past. Our opponents want to kill hope, so that we are easily manipulated and dominated and we become hopeless. We want to make sure young people don’t become hopeless as they encounter this hostile environment for the first time – so they know there are paths and ways things can get better,” the organisation added.
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The strategic plan was officially launched at a webinar on April 23 hosted by Darren Kennedy. The TV presenter was joined by Griffith, as well as Board Member Kieran O’Donovan and youth member Megan Quinn. Together, they spoke about the importance of the service for LGBTQ+ young people in Ireland, and urged stakeholders to continue to stand with cause as they navigate challenging times over the next three years.
Read the full You Belong Here Strategic Plan 2025-2027 here.
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