Belong To

Last weekend we were absolutely delighted to be awarded the The National Lottery #GoodCausesAwards in the Youth category 🎉 The award was in recognition of our LGBTQ+ Quality Mark, a post-primary schools programme that provides a comprehensive approach to developing an LGBTQ+ safe and supportive school! The Quality Mark is a programme we're really proud of, so far over 120 schools have participated in this 18 month journey of inclusion in nearly every county in Ireland. To find out more about the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark, go to our website www.belongto.org 🔗

Hosting #StandUpAwarenessWeek in your school, Youthreach centre or youth service is the first step towards creating a safe and inclusive space for all young people. Our ‘Step-by-Step’ guide makes it super easy to run an impactful week in your school or centre community - available to download from our website now at https://lnkd.in/eeNKHe_z

Here's a look back at what we were up to this week. . . 🌈 Our Development & Training Officer on the National Network team attended Youth Theatre Ireland's Young Critics Panel as part of Dublin Theatre Festival. Youth Theatre Ireland are undertaking the Rainbow Award this year! 🌈 Family Support Worker, Jen (she/her), took part in the Jobstown Health Fair in Jobstown Community Centre for World Mental Health Day 🌈 National Network Coordinator, Kate (she/her), joined our colleagues in Jigsaw - The National Centre for Youth Mental Health for the World Mental Health Day event in TU Grangegorman 🌈 Belong To CEO, Moninne (she/her), attended the Aer Lingus Coming Out Day event where they showcased their new video highlighting Senior Cabin Crew member Darryl's story of self-expression, determination and pride. You can watch the video over on the Aer Lingus page 🌈 Our Over 18s LGBTQ+ youth group got artistic this week with some clay model making! 🌈 We were visited in the Belong To offices by Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, we spoke to him about our work and asked for increased investment in youth work and supporting the LGBTQ+ sector manifesto for the upcoming General Election For more information on all of our work go to www.belongto.org

Today Minister Jack Chambers joined us in the Belong To offices. He met with some of the team who spoke to him about our work and asked for increased investment in youth work and supporting the LGBTQ+ sector manifesto for the upcoming General Election!

A few weeks ago our Research & Advocacy Manager Dr. Matt Kennedy and Denise Croke from the HSE sat down to speak with Fergal Fox for the Health Service Executive's Talking Health & Wellbeing podcast to discuss the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland Report and it's findings! You can listen back to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dMQnwfhm

Don't miss the night of the year: 🌈 The Rainbow Ball 🌈 We have a limited amount of tables remaining - make sure your organisation joins over 40 other top brands and stand up for LGBTQ+ young people across Ireland. Secure your table today by emailing fundraising@belongto.org Moninne Griffith SuperValu HSBC A&L Goodbody LLP AVCOM | The Premium Event Production Agency

Today is your last chance to vote for Belong To in the Peoples Choice Award 2024. Please help recognise Belong To's incredible work supporting LGBTQ+ young people by voting for Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth today at the link below 🌈 Voting ends at midnight tonight. Please vote today and share with your family and friends. https://lnkd.in/emvBwGGp Thank you ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Here's a look at a few of the things we got up to this week. . . 🌈 Our Rainbow Award Coordinator training took place on Zoom with youth workers and leaders from all over the country who have signed up to the Rainbow Award programme this year 🌈 The amazing group of fundraisers walking the Camino made it to Santiago on Wednesday! Check out the highlight on our Instagram page to see their journey - Congratulations folks! 🌈 As part of Better Out Than In, Family Support Worker Jen (she/her), held a webinar for the parents and carers of LGBTQ+ young people on supporting LGBTQ+ youth mental health alongside Nash (she/her) from Pieta and Dr. Brendan Dunlop (he/him) author of the Queer Mental Health Workbook To learn more about all of our work visit www.belongto.org

That's a wrap on Pride 2024 for us! This year we got to attend 8 regional Pride parades thanks to the National Network members who invited us to march with them 🌈 With more of them popping up every year, local Pride festivals are a great opportunity to show solidarity, protest, create community and to be visible for the LGBTQ+ young people in towns and cities across the country. Members of the National Network attend Pride festivals all over Ireland and give LGBTQ+ young people the opportunity to find that community. If you or someone you know is interested in joining their local LGBTQ+ youth group, you can find it on www.belongto.org

We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Charities Institute Ireland People's Choice Award 2024! 🎉 You can show your support for our life-saving work for LGBTQ+ young people by voting for Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth today at https://bit.ly/4di2JgQ 🔗 Voting ends on Wednesday 2nd October. Please vote today and share with your family and friends. Thank you ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜