Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2019 provides €200,000 to support LGBTI Community Organisations

On 4 June last, Mr Seán Canney TD,

, published the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2019 providing an additional €6.5 million to benefit disadvantaged groups. This included the provision of €200,000 to support eight LGBTI Community Organisations with payments being made from Minister Michael Ring’s Minister for Rural and Community Development

Minister Ring said:

“I am dedicated to tackling social exclusion in any of its forms and that is why I am delighted that at the end of Pride Month I can provide some support for LGBTI organisations. Many people, particularly in rural areas, find it hard to access services and I want to try to ensure that there is improvements made to the services for our LGBTI community, young and older, urban and rural.”

Funding will help provide services in eight locations nationwide targeting marginalised people experiencing exclusion on account of their LGBTI identities. Services will include extending drop-in hours, developing information and guidance tools, holding additional community events, Delivering LGBTI awareness/sensitivity training in healthcare settings, businesses and schools.

Minster Canney said:

“The objective of the Dormant Accounts Fund is to support people who experience economic, social or educational disadvantage, or to assist persons with a disability. I am delighted the Action Plan 2019 includes €200,000 to support LGBTI Community Organisations. The whole area of LGBTI is a significant platform to showcase and promote Ireland as a progressive, inclusive country targeting people who are experiencing exclusion on account of their identity. And I am particularly pleased that they will deliver social benefits to people in those locations.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Support for LGBTI Community Organisations`

Research shows that LGBTI individuals living in small towns or rural areas can be very isolated that is brought about by a combination of factors including LGBTI identities and difficulty coming out, age, lack of LGBTI friendly spaces, geographical gaps in community supports.
There is a need for ‘safe’/LGBTI friendly spaces that don’t centre on alcohol. It is accepted that it is not possible to have physical centres in every rural location and so many of the community groups are keen to do outreach work.
Under this proposed measure, €0.2m would help provide services in eight locations nationwide targeting marginalised people experiencing exclusion on account of their LGBTI identities.
The funding would be administered by LCDCs, and would be available to eight LGBTI Community Organisations, subject to appropriate governance arrangements being in place.

The additional funding can support enhanced services including:

Extending drop-in hours, developing information and guidance tools, holding additional community events.
Delivering LGBTI awareness/sensitivity training in healthcare settings, businesses, schools etc.
Providing outreach support.
Providing sporting/physical activity programmes to promote inclusion, community participation, health and wellbeing.
Developing frameworks and tool-kits to assist local employers in improving workplace inclusion.

Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2019 provides €200,000 to support LGBTI Community Organisations

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