From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Capacity Building is a key action under the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020
Further to the launch of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 in June 2018, Dr Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, is delighted to announce funding under the grant scheme for LGBTI+ Capacity Building initiatives for professional service providers who deal with young people.
This capacity building is a key action under Goal 1 of the Strategy, which is to:
“create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTI+ young people".
The objectives and actions associated with this goal will work towards the continued improvement of safe, supportive and inclusive spaces for LGBTI+ young people. This initiative aims to provide funding to implement evidence-based LGBTI+ training, mentoring, coaching, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) initiatives and development of guidelines targeted at professional service providers and youth services.
€167,335 in total will be awarded for funding in 2019, with grants announced under the initiative ranging from approximately €3,000 to €10,000. 29 applications were received in total, of which 25 were eligible for funding.
Organisations who will receive funding under this initiative range from youth services, family resource centres, sexual health centres, traveller organisations, art therapy to other organisations with LGBTI+ specific expertise and knowledge.
National organisations who received grants for capacity building initiatives include Foroige, Youth Work Ireland, Macra na Feirme, LGBT Ireland, BelongTo, GOSHH and Trangender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).
Announcing the funding, Minister Zappone said:
“This initiative will have a long and wide-ranging impact on the quality of services offered to our young LGBTI+ people, all over the country. I am delighted at the range and quality of organisations who are developing exciting initiatives under this fund.”
ENDS
The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy was published on 29th June 2018 and is a world first. It is a key commitment for DCYA as part of the 2016 Programme for Partnership Government and will make a significant contribution towards the government's broader commitment to continue to strive for the full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Irish society. It is a three-year Strategy that is strongly action oriented with the mission to ensure all LGBTI+ young people are visible, valued and included.
A number of significant changes have taken place in Ireland in recent decades which have resulted in substantial progress and improved outcomes for LGBTI+ people. The Strategy seeks to put measures in place to address some of the remaining challenges faced by LGBTI+ young people, so as to ensure that they can achieve the same positive outcomes as all other young people.
The Strategy and its future governance lie within the framework of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures : The Policy Framework for Children and Young People and as such will contribute to achievement of the five national outcomes for children and young people:
The expected outcomes from the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy will: