DONEGAL Youth Service in Letterkenny has been bestowed a major award for inclusion.
The group was awarded the ‘Belong to LBGTQ+ Youth Ireland’s Rainbow Award at a ceremony at The Clarence Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday last.
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 includes the BreakOut group supporting LGBTQ+ young people between the ages of 12 and 24 years old with a variety of services, works with over 80 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.
Megan Rushe, Aspire youth worker at Donegal Youth Service who said: “It’s an absolute privilege for us to receive this reward. Our BreakOut youth group is one of many within the wider Donegal Youth Service family, and – at the risk of sounding slightly biased – one of the very best. The young people who make up the BreakOut project for LGBTQ+ young people are the very best of what Donegal has to offer – clever, bright, funny and above all, kind.
“BreakOut staff would like to express thanks to the ongoing support from our funders, Belong To and the HSE for all their support throughout the process of achieving this award, as well as to the rest of the staff of Donegal Youth Service, whose commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ rights throughout the organisation allows our project to flourish.”
Deputy CEO of Belong To, Sinéad Keane said that their Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland report last year showed that 84 per cent 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.”
She praised Donegal Youth Service.
“It is great to have the opportunity to recognise the work of Donegal Youth Service. 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.”
The initiative is supported by ETBI, City of Dublin ETB and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland is the national organisation supporting LGBTQ+ youth across the country. Applications are now open for youth services and organisations in Donegal and across Ireland which would like to work towards achieving the Rainbow Award in 2026. For more information, visit www.belongto.org.
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