BeLonG To
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| Predecessor | OutYouth |
|---|---|
| Formation | March 2003 |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | LGBT youth service |
| Headquarters | Parliament House, 13 Parliament Street, Dublin 2 |
Region served | Ireland |
| Membership | Anyone from the ages of 14-23 |
Executive Director | Michael Barron (2003-2015) Moninne Griffith (2015-) |
Director of Services | David Carroll |
Advocacy Coordinator | Carol-Anne O' Brien |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Affiliations | ILGA, ILGYO |
| Staff | 12 |
| Volunteers | 1 (temporary) |
| Website | belongto |
BeLonG To is an LGBT youth organisation in Ireland which caters for young people aged between 14–23 years.[1] It is a registered charity and is supported by the Irish Department of Education. The service was set up in March 2003.
The group received funding from the European Refugee Fund in June 2011 to provide support to young refugees who seek asylum in Ireland due to persecution because of their sexual orientation.[2] In January 2012, the group was praised by the Head of Office of the UN High Commission for Refugees in Ireland for its work with LGBT refugees and was described as a "global model for best practice".[3]
History
BeLonG To has its origins in an earlier Dublin-based youth group called OutYouth, which was run by youth volunteers in conjunction with the Gay Switchboard Dublin. Due to the voluntary nature of the group its operation was sometimes sporadic. In the final years of OutYouth, the group met with other LGBT organisations in Dublin and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board to seek funding for a new youth service project. The project secured funding from the Irish Department of Education and BeLonG To was formed in March 2003.[4]
Groups
Dublin
- BeLonG To Sunday for 14- to 23-year-olds. Meets 3pm every second Sunday, apart from bank holiday weekends.
- Drop In for 14- to 23-year-olds. Meets every second Wednesday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
- IndividualiTy for 14 to 23-year-olds who are Trans identified or questioning youth. Meets every second Wednesday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
- Over 18's for 18- to 23-year-olds. Meets every second Tuesday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
- Ladybirds for 14- to 23-year-old women who identify as Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans or non-binary. Meets every second Thursday from 6pm to 8pm
See also
References
- ^ "About us: What is BeLonG To". BeLonG To. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ Burke-Kennedy, Eoin (21 June 2011). "Group wins funding for LGBT refugees". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ Holland, Kitty (31 January 2012). "UN praises work of LGBT group". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ "History of BeLonG To". BeLonG To. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
External links
- BeLonG To — official website
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