Announcement of Funding for Capacity Building Initiative for professional service providers working with young people

Further to the launch of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020 in June 2018, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD, is delighted to announce that 39 organisations were successful in their applications and will receive funding under the grant scheme for LGBTI+ Capacity Building initiatives for professional service providers who deal with young people.

Minister Zappone had this to say on the announcement of the grantees:

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.

Grants are being made available to youth projects and services for capacity building measures such as evidence-based LGBTI+ training, mentoring, coaching, CPD initiatives and guidelines targeted at professional service providers and youth services.

Grants range from €1,400 to €7,490. 46 applications were received in total, of which 39 were eligible for funding. 25 applicant organisations were awarded top scores and received the full funding amount requested. A further 10 organisations received 80% of funding requested. In total 39 organisations were awarded a total of €156,388.

Organisations who received funding ranged from youth services, family resource centres, sexual health centres, addiction services, equality organisations, arts therapy organisations, traveller organisations in counties Donegal, Galway, Monaghan, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Limerick, Carlow, Clare, Tipperary, Laois, Louth, Meath, Cavan, Wicklow and Dublin.

National organisations who received grants for national capacity building initiatives included Foroige, Youth Work Ireland, GAISCE, Focus Ireland, Irish Red Cross, Girl Guides, LGBT Ireland, BelongTo, GOSHH and Trangender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).

Minister Zappone had the following words for organisations who were successful in their grant applications:

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 3 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:

• active and healthy, with positive physical and mental wellbeing
• achieving their full potential in all areas of learning and development
• safe and protected from harm
• economic security and opportunity
• connected, respected and contributing to their world

The expected outcomes from the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy will:

• improve environments and services for LGBTI+ young people
• support better training for professionals engaging with LGBTI+ young people
• enforce anti-bullying policies and address anti-LGBTI+ discrimination
• address the health and wellbeing of LGBTI+ young people
• expand legislation to include and protect LGBTI+ young people, generate information and insight into the needs of LGBTI+ young people