Cara-Friend has been serving the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland for over 40 years. We provide regional LGBTQ+ youth groups across Northern Ireland, one-to-one support for individuals, LGBTQ+ awareness training for professionals and volunteers working in a variety of different areas, community development, the LGBT Switchboard, and the LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools Programme. We also have a range of resources on this website to help young people, and those supporting young people who are LGBTQ+. Have a look around our website for more information, and feel free to contact us if you have any queries!
WHO WE ARE
LGBTQ+ Youth Groups
We operate LGBTQ+ youth groups for those aged 12-25 in several locations across Northern Ireland. They are fun, safe spaces for LGBTQ+ young people where they can be themselves.
Awareness Training
We offer training for all professionals and volunteers working with young people, that aims to improve their practice so as to make it more inclusive of, and responsive to, the needs of LGBTQ+ young people.
ShoutOut Anti-Bullying
ShoutOut workshops are available to all post-primary schools in Northern Ireland. They aim to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people in all our schools by raising awareness among their peers of what it means to be LGBTQ+
LGBT Switchboard
The LGBT Switchboard is a service for anyone wishing to speak in confidence to someone who will listen. Available 6pm-9pm Wednesdays and 12pm-4pm Monday-Friday.
Community Development
Cara-Friend offers services aimed at supporting and developing our LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland, including outreach, facilitation and events such as LGBT Awareness Week and the Outing the Past History Festival.
Family Ties
Family Ties is a project run between Cara-Friend and The Rainbow Project to support parents and carers of LGBTQ+ young people.
MORE FROM CARA-FRIEND
We offer support through our different services including LGBT Switchboard NI, Cara-Friend LGBT Youth, Family Ties Project and through our free counselling services.
Upcoming Events
Oct
24
Wed
Cara-Friend LGBT Youth Cookstown meets fortnightly in the Cookstown Youth Resource Centre from 7pm-9pm on Wednesdays. The group is open to all LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-25 in the Cookstown and Mid-Ulster region.
For further information please contact Jo McParland on joanne.mcparland@cara-friend.org.uk.
Oct
25
Thu
Cara-Friend LGBT Youth Newry meets fortnightly in the Magnet Centre from 4.30pm-6pm on Thursdays. The group is open to all LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-25 in the Newry region.
For further information please contact Jo McParland on joanne.mcparland@cara-friend.org.uk.
Oct
26
Fri
Cara-Friend LGBT Youth Belfast meets on Fridays in the Belfast LGBT Centre from 6pm-9pm. The Friday night drop-in is for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16 and over with an upper age limit of 25. All are welcome, including new members.
For more information contact Lee Cullen on lee.cullen@cara-friend.org.uk
Oct
28
Sun
Cara-Friend LGBT Youth Belfast meets on Sundays in the Belfast LGBT Centre from 12pm-3pm. The Sunday afternoon drop-in is for LGBTQ+ young people aged 12-16 only. All are welcome, including new members.
For more information contact Lee Cullen on lee.cullen@cara-friend.org.uk
Oct
29
Mon
Cara-Friend LGBT Youth Belfast meets weekly on Mondays for all ages 12-25. All LGBTQ+ young people within that age range are welcome to attend. Monday nights are our workshop nights where youth officers or external facilitators present workshops on a range of issues and topics affecting LGBTQ+ young people.
For more information contact Lee Cullen on lee.cullen@cara-friend.org.uk.
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