The capacity of many LGB organisations to engage with social reform is hindered by a lack of resources. There are large areas of the country where there are few or no LGB-specific support agencies or social outlets especially in parts of the West, Midlands and North-West.
There has also been a limited response from the private and corporate sector which should be fostered and developed as there are wide ranging ways that LGB community needs can be met; for instance by employers and by public services such as libraries contributing to an inclusive infrastructure. The Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána are also examples of national bodies seeking to improve how they engage with the LGB population.
The Director of Gay HIV Strategies has worked with a number of agencies to increase and develop their capacity to respond to the needs of the LGB population. Currently GLEN is recruiting a Director of Community Development Policy.
There have been few facilities for inclusion within mainstream state-led development programmes. As a result the LGB community remains largely unrecognised within a range of programmes aimed at combating exclusion and there is limited interaction between these LGB organisations and the broader community/voluntary sector. This situation is improving however, with some Community Development Programmes, Family Resource Centres and Area Development Boards actively seeking to engage with LGBT people in their respective areas, supported by GHS.
GLEN and the Cork Gay Development Project liaised closely with regional telephone help lines during 2006. A national project, led by GLEN and colleagues at the Cork Gay Development Project is now underway to improve capacity and ultimately provide a better service to LGB people in the whole country. GLEN and Cork Gay Development hosted regional consultation meetings throughout the year achieving 100% buy-in and participation from regional help lines. The project is ongoing and seeking funding to resource the infrastructure. While funding is an ongoing issue the help lines have examined and agreed ways to share and make better use of existing resources.
GLEN is a member of a national network of LGBT organisations throughout Ireland. The LGBT Network seeks to share information, provide peer support to staff and volunteers and facilitate the development of a nation-wide community response to issues affecting the LGBT population.
GLEN Training on Inclusion of LGB People in Community
Davin Roche and Ciarán McKinney provided training for Community Development Projects and Family Resource Centres in the West and Midlands Region on October 1st to develop a code of practice for the inclusion of LGB people.
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