PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 23rd June, 2020
Youth Work Ireland and BeLonG To Youth Services partner on #BringingPrideHome campaign for LGBTI+ youth across Ireland.
Some 500 LGBTI+ young people are set to receive a Pride Self-Care Pack to keep the spirit of Pride alive while remaining socially distant as the annual Dublin Pride parade is moved online. The Pride Self-Care packs are supplied free of charge by BeLonG To Youth Services and Youth Work Ireland and will be delivered on the eve of Pride, Friday June 26th. Youth Workers supporting the campaign will hand deliver packs to those who are not yet out as LGBTI+.
LGBTI+ youth across Ireland will receive a Pride t-shirt with a once-off design by artist Timur Aldemir, from Creatives Against COVID-19, rainbow facemasks, badges, sweets, a Dublin Pride Booklet and a guide about minding your mental health. Youth Work Ireland and BeLonG To Youth Services created this innovative way of celebrating Pride due to the cancellation of the parade and their annual joint pre-parade breakfast which provides a safe, fun community space for LGBTI+ young people.
Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To Youth Services says: “While we cannot march together in Dublin Pride this year, we can come together as a community in a way we will never forget! Working with Youth Work Ireland, we are #BringingPrideHome for 500 LGBTI+ people across the country. We have created an incredible Pride Self Care Pack so they can mark Pride 2020 at home and know that around Ireland, their LGBTI+ friends will be wearing the same t-shirt, masks and badges from their homes.
Many LGBTI+ young people experience ongoing mental health challenges and as the results of our LGBTI+ Life in Lockdown survey show, these have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Now more than ever, LGBTI+ young people need access to a wide range of supports and to know they are part of a community. The #BringingPrideHome campaign sends a powerful messaging letting LGBTI+ youth know that they are not alone. We are in this together.”
Dr Patrick Burke, CEO of Youth Work Ireland, says: “Pride is about celebrating our identity as LGBTI+ people. We are delighted that we have found a creative way to do this this year as we stay apart. Pride however is also about campaigning and advocating for change. Many young LGBTI+ people still do not feel supported and affirmed in their communities and nation.
We take this opportunity to call on the new government to affirm its commitment to LGBTI+ young people by fully resourcing and implementing the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018-2020.
Throughout COVID-19 our local youth services have continued to provide safe and welcoming spaces for young LGBTI+ people online in which they can connect with professional youth workers and continue to be supported.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- A panel of LGBTI+ young people, CEO of BeLonG To Youth Service, Moninne Griffith, and CEO of Youth Work Ireland, Dr Patrick Burke are available for interview. To arrange an interview, please contact:
Sinead Keane, BeLonG To Youth Services | 087 768 0389 or sinead@belongto.org
Michael McLoughlin, Youth Work Ireland |087 667 7499 mmcloughlin@youthworkireland.ie - LGBTI+ young people will be sharing their Pride Self Care packs online using #BringingPrideHome.
- BeLonG To Youth Services is an organisation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people. Since 2003, BeLonG To has worked with LGBTI+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. The organisation advocates and campaigns on behalf of young LGBTI+ people and offers a specialised LGBTI+ youth service including information, support, crisis counselling in partnership with Pieta House and the provision of LGBTI+ youth groups across Ireland.
- Youth Work Ireland is the largest youth work organisation in Ireland. Across the country our 21 Member Youth Services work with local communities to deliver quality supports and services with and for over 100,000 young people every week. We do this with the support of 900+ staff and 7,000 volunteers who deliver programmes, youth clubs, youth projects, one-to-one services, information centres and targeted youth work. We provide safe spaces where young people are listened to, can make a difference, reach their potential, have their voices heard and have fun!
