

LGBTQ+
Limerick youth service receives award for LGBTQ+ inclusion
Limerick youth service receives award for LGBTQ+ inclusion. Pictured at the Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland Rainbow Award ceremony on Wednesday, 29 January at a ceremony at The Clarence Hotel, Dublin 2, are members of Southill Hub with National Network Coordinator at Belong To Kate Cummins. Pic: Marc O’Sullivan
Limerick youth service receives Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland’s Rainbow Award for inclusion
Southill Hub, based in Southill, Limerick City was awarded Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland’s Rainbow Award on Wednesday, 30 January at a ceremony at The Clarence Hotel, Dublin 2.
The youth service was recognised for its work as part of the Rainbow Award initiative which is dedicated to creating LGBTQ+ inclusive youth services. The organisation, which is a community centre providing services such as youth work, family support, youth employability services, a community café and sports facility, works with over 128 young people.
The event was hosted by newly announced RTÉ 2FM presenter Aisling Bonner and attended by a number of TDs and public sector representatives.
The Rainbow Award initiative was established by Belong To in 2023 to support and accredit LGBTQ+ safe and supportive youth services. Over the course of 12 to 18 months, youth services are supported in implementing evidence-based actions across a number of key areas, which research shows improve the wellbeing and safety of LGBTQ+ youth.
The initiative is supported by ETBI, City of Dublin ETB and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
Speaking about the awards, Deputy CEO of Belong To Sinéad Keane said, “There are LGBTQ+ young people in every part of Ireland, including Limerick. As a society, we owe these young people an adolescence that not only accepts their identities but celebrates the diversity of their experiences and lives. That is what the Rainbow Award is all about – providing LGBTQ+ young people with a space to feel safe and welcome. Last year, our Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland report showed that 84% of LGBTQ+ people indicated that having a connection with the LGBTQI+ community through groups is one of the most important positive factors for their mental health. This work can have a huge impact on the life and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people.
“It is great to have the opportunity to recognise the work of Southill Hub. The team there have done amazing work to make their services inclusive for all young people – and we’re delighted to have been able to support them on that journey. The impact of their work is being felt by the people already in their services and will be felt by the many thousands that will come through their doors in the future.”
Also commenting was Aubrey Kinsella, Youth Worker at Southill Hub who said: “We are thrilled to receive the Belong To Rainbow Award, reflecting the positive LGBTQI+ work happening in our community. The team here have put in a tremendous amount of work in youth work programmes and wider initiative to make the space more inclusive, building to this accolade. We are so proud of the learning and sharing which has taken place throughout our service during the last number of years.
“The young people and wider community of Southill have taken to this journey in such a receptive way and have been open to new perspectives and ways of thinking. We are so delighted with their response to the work, we couldn’t have done it without them!”