On March 22nd we were delighted to launch ‘Building Blocks Toolkit for LGBTI+ Inclusion in Youth & Family Services’. Produced by New Leaf Consultancy, this project was a collaboration between Seeding the County/Cumann na Daoine, Youghal Library/County Cork Library Inclusion Commmittee and Youghal Family Resource Initiative.
The Toolkit includes a research report into the needs of LGBTI + people and their families, along with the Toolkit Guidelines to assist Family Resource Centres and other community resources to sign up to best practice in supporting LGBTI+ people of all ages in all family services.
Building Blocks was funded by the LGBTI+ Youth & Communities Fund through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, supported by Cork County Council.
Launching the report on March 22nd Julie O’Donnell (Youghal Library & Cork Libraries Inclusion Committee); Hayley Fox-Roberts (Cumann na Daoine,/ Seeding the County) and Valerie Bannerman, representing Youghal Family Resource Initiative.
Parents who were consulted as part of the research expressed their relief that a useable tool has been provided to help support young LGBTI+ people. With the Toolkit in hand, members of the County Cork Interagency LGBTI+ Network feel strengthened in their commitment to supporting LGBTI+ people of all ages, and copies have been sent to all members along with all branch libraries in the county. Copies will also be made available to other services, with some workshops on best delivery planned for early summer.
At the launch in Youghal Library, speakers outlined the aims of the Toolkit as well as providing an overview of the work of the Seeding the County LGBT+ Development Project. Julie O’Donnell, Youghal Library & County Cork Libraries Inclusion Committee, said “Cork County Library is delighted to come on board with the Building Blocks toolkit. We in the library are committed to supporting everyone in the community and it is important for us to reflect and support the LGBT+ experience in our collections and holdings. We are pleased to be able to assist in the rollout of the toolkit across Cork County – all 25 branches and 4 mobile libraries will now hold a copy of the toolkit which will make it available to communities across the county from Sherkin to Youghal and everywhere in between!”
Hayley Fox-Roberts, Development Worker with Cumann na Daoine / Seeding the County LGBT+ Development congratulated all involved in the consultations and production, stating “We’re delighted to see this Toolkit come to fruition, giving family services the means to increase their awareness and target their services most effectively. The Toolkit gives these services clear and achievable guidelines as well as background information on the challenges faced by LGBTI+ people and their families. Our thanks to the parents, young people and staff who contributed to the consultation involved, and to New Leaf Consultancy for delivering a readable, relevant report. ‘Building Blocks’ will be delivered to all Family Resource & Community Centres over the coming week, with the potential for further learning workshops to facilitate commitment to the actions specified. As part of our wider remit in Seeding the County, targeted training is delivered on an ongoing basis, and we are delighted that so many FRCs have joined the County Cork Interagency LGBT+ Network. We aim to make things better for LGBT+ people outside the city, and to help them access activities and supports that will benefit both them and the wider community”.
The Toolkit is available here: Building Blocks Toolkit for LGBTI+ Youth and Family Inclusion
or by emailing seedingthecounty@gmail.com
Celebrating the launch of this valuable resource for LGBTI+ inclusion in family services: left to right Julie O’Donnell, Youghal Library; Maria Power, Youghal Blue & Green Community Network; Hayley Fox-Roberts, Cumann na Daoine / Seeding the County; Lorraine Hogan, Cork County Council; Marielle Xuereb, Project Worker Seeding the County; Valerie Bannerman, Barnardos representing Youghal Family Resource Initiative and Stephanie Whyte, Barnardos.
