SOUTHILL Hub has been recognised for its work as part of the Rainbow Award initiative which is dedicated to creating LGBTQ+ inclusive youth services.
At Dublin’s Clarence Hotel it was awarded Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland’s Rainbow Award.
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 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 awards ceremony was hosted by newly announced RTÉ 2FM presenter Aisling Bonner and attended by a number of TDs and public sector representatives. The initiative is supported by ETBI, City of Dublin ETB and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
Sign up for the weekly Limerick Post newsletter
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.”
“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.”
Aubrey Kinsella, a youth worker at Southill Hub said they were thrilled to receive the Belong To Rainbow Award, reflecting the positive LGBTQI+ work happening in their 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,” Ms Kinsella commented.
“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.”
