The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone announced yesterday that 39 LGBT+ youth organisations will receive funding under the government’s LGBTI+ Youth Strategy.
In a statement regarding the announcement, Minister Zappone said:
“I am very proud that we are following up the launch of the world’s first LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy in June of this year with real action that will make a positive difference to the everyday lives of LGBTI+ young people through improving the quality of the services they have access to on the ground.
“I am delighted that such a range of excellent organisations applied for funding under this initiative. This will have a long and wide-ranging impact on the quality of services offered to our young LGBTI+ people all over the country.”
The overall goal of the strategy is to work toward the continued improvement of safe, supportive and inclusive spaces for LGBT+ people living in Ireland. The strategy, which was launched on June 29, 2018, is a world first as it strives to achieve the full inclusion of young Irish LGBT+ people. The Youth LGBTI+ Youth Strategy’s mission is to ensure that all young people are visible, valued and included.
The strategy’s expected outcomes are to improve environments and services for LGBT+ people, to support training for professionals working with young people, to expand legislation, to enforce anti-bullying policies, and to promote the health and well-being of LGBT+ people.
The youth organisations who were given the grants included Foroige, Youth Work Ireland, GAISCE, Focus Ireland, Irish Red Cross, Girl Guides, LGBT Ireland, BeLonG To, GOSHH and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).
The organisations’ work includes youth services, family resource centres, addiction services, sexual health centres and equality organisations.
The funding, which totals €156,000, is being distributed across the country in Donegal, Galway, Monaghan, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Limerick, Carlow, Clare, Tipperary, Laois, Louth, Meath, Cavan, Wicklow and Dublin.
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