BeLonG To Launches New National Quality Standard for LGBT Youth Work in Ireland
BeLonG To, the national organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) young people today launches a new National Quality Standard for LGBT Youth Work which will be applied to the over 20 LGBT youth groups across the country. The 'Start Up and Accreditation Pack' is a step-by-step guide to starting an LGBT youth group.
The pack centres on BeLonG To’s National Quality Standard for LGBT Youth Work, which ensures that LGBT youth groups are safe education focused spaces, in which young people’s needs are at the centre of these youth groups.
Speaking at the launch today, John Duffy, National Network Manager with BeLonG To said; “The success our of national development programme since its launch in 2007 has astonished us and now boasts over 20 LGBT youth groups as members. This update to the pack and introduction of a new National Quality Standard for LGBT Youth Work was needed to reflect the significant changes which have taken place in youth work practice since the first iteration was released. The standard and pack will further enhance our capacity in BeLonG To, to sustain and support an increased infrastructure of LGBT youth groups across the country.”
The new Quality Standards set out by this resource will ensure that stakeholders embarking on developing and improving services for LGBT young people have a clear pathway to build safe, effective and sustainable LGBT youth groups.
Speaking at the launch Thursday January 29, Gerry Raleigh, Director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) in the HSE said, “I’m delighted to launch these new National Quality Standards for LGBT Youth Work. We in NOSP have been long standing supporters of BeLonG To’s vision and have been supporting BeLonG To in dismantling the barriers to LGBT young people enjoying good mental health. These new standards set the bar for supports to be offered to LGBT young people and we look forward to working with BeLonG To in their implementation”.