Youth Work Ireland is organising a digital fundraising campaign for Pride. Youth Work Ireland (YWIRL) is the largest youth organisation in Ireland working with 116,000 young people every week. YWIRL and its Member Youth Services provide direct youth work supports and services to LGBT+ young people, who either identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or, are questioning their sexuality.

Their clubs, projects and youth groups provide young LGBT+ people with a safe space where they can hang out with their peers in a safe environment, where they can meet, relax, talk, listen to music, and participate in games and organised social and educational activities, supported by trained and professional youth practitioners. They have also been lobbying for the introduction of inclusive sexual health education for the past two years.

Last year 400 young people from all over the country traveled to our national offices for a celebratory breakfast and to march in Dublin Pride. Follow our social media and be part of PRIDE!https://t.co/AACiAXEkrj#givethegiftofpride pic.twitter.com/jIqJQpL5su

— Youth Work Ireland (@ywirl) May 23, 2019

Through their services, they address issues and concerns that affect LGBT+ young people and help increase the self-confidence and self-acceptance of LGBT+ young people. They also work with other community groups, organisations and schools to increase awareness about homophobic bullying and discrimination.

For the past three years Youth Work Ireland and BeLonG To Youth Services has brought together LGBT+ youth groups from all across Ireland to march in Dublin’s Pride parade. The group, consisting of various clubs and projects from a National Network, was the largest ever single group of young people marching under one banner ‘Transforming young LGBT+ lives’ at Dublin Pride.

Give the Gift of Pride

This year, Youth Work Ireland want your help in supporting young people from rural Ireland in getting to Dublin Pride. All money raised from the fundraiser will support a young person from a rural location attend Dublin Pride on Saturday, June 29.

In a video released by Youth Work Ireland, some of the young LGBT+ members of Youth Work Ireland have shared their experience of getting to attend Dublin Pride last year:

“I went to Pride last year and experienced true joy by meeting other people and amazing role models.”

Another young member added, “One thing that made me feel very accepted was seeing all the rainbow flags on buildings or maybe even the small additions to company logos.

‘This acceptance is one of the many reasons I want to go to Pride 2019.”

The video ends with young people asking:

“So if it’s okay, can you give the gift of Pride?”

You can donate whatever you can afford. €30 will bring a young person to Dublin Pride to celebrate and be supported.

To help, young, isolated LGBT+ people attend Pride, give the gift of Pride here.