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THERE’S BEEN AN overall increase of 264 per cent in young people accessing the BeLongTo services between 2008 and 2011.
BeLongTo, a national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people delivers youth work services, awareness campaigns and training for people who work with young people.
The launch of the group’s annual report for 2011 has revealed that there was an increase of 28 per cent in young people accessing its services last year, while the age profile of those seeking its services has also dropped with youth workers now providing support to LGBT people and their families at 12-13 years of age.
New LGBT youth groups opened in Sligo, Mayo, Tallaght, Kilkenny, Tralee and Wexford in 2011 bringing the number of groups in BeLongTo’s national network to 14.
In Dublin 20 per cent more young people accessed services last year, while outside that capital that figure grew to 53 per cent.
Launching the Annual Review, Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs said:
No young person should be made suffer because of who they are and for this reason my Department is very proud to support BeLonG To’s important work.
BeLongTo has worked with the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention and the One Foundation in an effort to address the issue of homophobic bullying and brought an awareness campaign to every secondary school in Ireland.
The campaign also received international recognition by UNESCO and was translated into seven different languages.
The review also found that there was a shift in online engagement by young LGBT people.
Historically, online engagement had been informal once- off interactions, but in 2011 the online engagement shifted dramatically to a more regular and in-depth use of online resources and tools for support.
In 2011, 51% of online visitors returned to the site more than once and spent on average 25% more time engaging with the organisation online.
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Marched with belongto at pride Yay! :)
Mrs Cat has nothing better to do everyone her comments are always the same!!!
If ever there was a cat that needed drowning…….
Yeah…. Because since the ‘recession’ hit all those idle THIRTEEN YEAR OLDS find themselves out of work and with nothing to do but question their sexuality online…
It all ties in with the recession. Idle hands are the devil’s work.
Are you serious?!
No shes not serious. she is a relatively new troll on the journal.
There is not enough facepalm in the world for Kilkenny Cat
It’s people like this that make the rest of us laugh, entertainment gold!
How exactly does it tie in with recession?? And will you please stop posting deliberately antagonistic remarks involving your religious beliefs….or if you have to do it, at least pick a cool fictional god to go on about….
Jesus promised the end of all wicked people.
Odin promised the end of all ice giants.
…I don’t see many ice giants around these days
I don’t see how trying to work to save the lives of young gay people can be linked to money. Stop trolling, it’s really pathetic.
It seems so. Your idle hands are certainly working overtime. Why don’t you play with some wool or something, Mrs Cat.
Crazy cat lady
@Kilkenny Cat……….I hate Cat’s – but I LURRRRRRRRRRRRRRVE PUSSY !! Go back into your cave woman we dont need backward peeps like you on this planet – there was an error made in your production chart upstairs thats for sure….
I bet you would not like her pussy.
Kilkenny cat is just angry that no hot lesbians have been using their idle hands to rub her up and down!
@ Kilkenny Cat
You are a moral disgrace.
I would have stronger words for what you are but I am sure it would be removed. You are actually picking on kids now. A lot of which have mental health issues as a result of PEOPLE LIKE YOU. You’re an embarrassment to your county and country.
Well said, Joey.
Kilkenny cat looks a bit like a tranny/troll
@Mark Larson – she probably doesnt even know she has one ;-)
LOL
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