Two local groups are among 39 schools and youth centres to be awarded the National LGBTQ+ Quality Mark.
Belong To, set up by south Kilkenny native Michael Barron, has been celebrating such bases for their leadership in creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ young people.
Those awarded, which include Tyndall College Carlow and Kilkenny City Vocational School, share key achievements of:
- Policy Reform: Implementation of robust, LGBTQ+-inclusive anti-bullying policies.
- Student Voice: Establishment of ‘LGBTQ+ and Allies’ clubs to foster peer support.
- Community Engagement: Direct outreach to parents and the wider school community to build a culture of belonging.
Belong To’s new CEO, Kieran O’Donovan commented: “Today’s event highlighted the extraordinary work happening in schools and youth centres across the country to support LGBTQ+ young people. Staff and students have shown real dedication to building environments where every young person feels safe, valued, and able to be themselves. While we know from our 2022 School Climate Survey that 76% of LGBTQ+ youth still do not feel safe at school, the schools recognised today are taking meaningful action to change that.
These schools and centres are leading the way. Their work shows what is possible when inclusion is prioritised, resourced, and embedded across school culture. We are proud to recognise their achievements and look forward to supporting many more schools on this journey.”
