BeLonG To Youth Services
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Mission Statement
BeLonG To is the national organisation for LGBTQ+ youth in Ireland. We work to eliminate homophobia & transphobia and provide support to those young people and their families who've faced it.
About This Cause
Many lesbian, gay, bisexual & trans young people experience serious levels of homophobia, transphobia and exclusion in their schools and communities - which can have very negative effects on their mental health. For example our research with the National Office for Suicide Prevention shows that young people who experience homophobic bullying are more likely to self-harm and attempt suicide . Our youth services nationwide offer LGBT young people a safe space to make friends, explore their sexual orientation and gender identity in a supportive and caring environment. Our professional youth work staff support the development of peer led programmes in positive mental health, harm reduction in substance misuse, coping strategies and sexual/ reproductive health in an age appropriate manner. Our staff also offer ongoing support to parents and families with LGBT children. Often the young people we work with have a complex set of needs stemming from their experiences of discrimination and isolation. Our staff engage these young people in one-to-one support and referral sessions in order to build their confidence and support them to become agents of positive social change in their own lives. For the most marginalised of LGBT young people our staff also engage in advocating in their behalf, to their teachers, social workers and other key individuals in their lives to create a support structure that takes their needs and personal situation into account. BeLonG To was founded in 2003 in Dublin, and in its first year it worked with and support 53 young people. In 2013 BeLonG To worked with 1,087 LGBT young people in Dublin city and county. At BeLonG To we passionately believe that we cannot just treat the symptoms and fall out from homophobia and transphobia by supporting those who've faced it, but that we must also actively work to eliminate homophobia & transphobia from society. BeLonG To is actively engaged with all 700 post-primary schools in Ireland in support them to end intolerance in their classrooms, playgrounds and corridors. We support schools in educating their pupils on sexual orientation and gender identity issues through the provision of education materials and resources for teachers to use in the classroom backed up by professional support from our team in the office to answer and questions they may have and allay any concerns. Our annual Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week is now entering it's sixth year running and has received the support and endorsement of the Council of Europe, United Nations and Dept. of Education & Skills in Ireland. This campaign targets the silent by-standers to homophobia and transphobia to support and encourage them to 'Stand Up!' and challenge homophobia when it occurs in their peer group.