LGBTQ+ Support
Spirasi is committed to providing inclusive spaces, opportunities and specialised rehabilitative services for our clients who identify within the LGBTQ+ community.
Rehabilitative Services
LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group
Approximately 17%-20% of Spirasi's clients identify within the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to the supports other clients within Spirasi may avail of like individual therapy, psychosocial support, education services and group therapies. Spirasi's LGBTQ+ clients can attend the LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group, a group of LGBTQ+ clients who meet weekly. The LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group originated as a passion project of the therapy coordinator in 2018 and has offered that inclusive space to approximately 40 clients since.
Here's what some of our clients said about being part of the LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group:
"This is home to me."
"I was affected by the way society looked at me before I got to Spirasi."
"I now fit in the society without being judged by my sexuality."
"I feel safe. At least to me, it feels like my own community sort of, and I know the people in the group understand me better than any other people who are not from the LGBTQ+ family/community."
"Our information and personality remain safe, and we all feel important in the society too."
LGBTQ+ Befriending Programme
In 2021, Spirasi applied to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for additional funding to pilot a project under the scheme of supporting LGBTI+ Community Services. Upon the success of Spirasi's funding application, one of the project's deliverables is piloting a more LGBTQ+ Specific Befriending Programme.
The purpose of this LGBTQ+ Specific Befriending Programme is to offer more inclusivity and integration to LGBTQ+ clients who may be harder to reach, for example, by their geographical location. Targeting those who may feel most isolated to improve their wellbeing and quality of life within Ireland through the compassionate support of Spirasi's LGBTQ+ volunteer befrienders so that our LGBTQ+ clients can participate fully in Irish society.
Opportunities
Pride March 2019
Marking Spirasi's first Pride in 2019 at the Dublin Pride march, we proudly celebrated the diversity of our clients with hundreds of others on the streets of Dublin.
Spirasi is committed to supplying inclusive spaces; by donating to our cause, you are directly bringing more opportunities and inclusive spaces to our clients within the LGBTQ+ community.
If you would like any more information about the LGBTQ+ Services we offer, please contact our LGBTQ+ Inclusion Worker Keith Judge - keith[AT]spirasi.ie