Supporting a wider age range to meet growing demand

Donegal Youth Service’s LGBT project is extending its age range to support young people from age 12 – 30.  Demand for the service has been growing consistently year on year, since its inception not even a decade ago.  What started as a small group with only 4 young people, has since grown into a countywide project with weekly drop-in groups in Letterkenny and Ballybofey, with options for LGBT support in other areas depending on need.

DYS Youth Worker, Sinead Murray-Lynch has been at the helm of BreakOut since 2009 and shared why expanding the age range is so important “With young people coming out younger and younger expanding the age range to support them is the only thing that makes sense.  Likewise with young people over 25, we wanted to make sure that their support doesn’t disappear and they can transition into another service later on.”  and “BreakOut has changed the lives of so many young people and will continue to do so for many years to come.  To any young person out there who is reading this, who feels different, or is questioning these things I would invite you to come along to a drop-in group and see what it’s all about!”

BreakOut Reunion

BreakOUT is a project for young lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender people, but also welcomes people who aren’t sure what their sexuality or gender identity is yet, or young people who have not yet come out.  It offers a friendly peer support space, as well as one-to-one work. Young people are always welcome to bring a friend along to the group for some extra support.

The group recently had a reunion day where past attendees shared their stories and memories with current BreakOut members.  Now that the age range has been expanded there will be two groups.  The 12-18 age group will meet at DYS on Saturdays from 2-4pm, with the 18-30 group taking place right after from 4-6pm.

For more information about BreakOut please contact us.  We look forward to hearing from you!