Meath schools sign up to national LGBTI project to support students

O’Carolan College and St Peters College have become two of the first schools in Meath to sign up to participate in a new national LGBTI+ Safe & Supportive Schools Project.

O’Carolan College, St Peters College and 18 other schools nationwide are leading the way by partnering with BeLonGTo Youth Services to undertake its LGBTI+ Safe & Supportive Schools Project, a ground-breaking whole-school approach to creating a school environment that is fully inclusive of LGBTI+ students, thus changing the lives of thousands of young people across Ireland.

BeLonG To Youth Services is the national organisation supporting LGBTI+ young people in Ireland. Findings from its Schools Climate Survey 2019 indicate that an alarming 73% of LGBTI+ students feel unsafe at school.

While 68% of LGBTI+ students stated they hear anti-LGBTI+ remarks from other students, a shocking 48% reported hearing homophobic remarks – and a further 55% reported hearing transphobic remarks – from teachers and staff members.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Cathal Rogers, O’Carolan College Principal says: “In a world where it can be hard to feel like you belong, O’Carolan College embraces the safety and wellbeing of LGBTI+ students & staff. We hope that through this project we embed a culture in which all LGBTI+ feel safe, supported and proud by our whole school community.”

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Deirdre Maye, St Peter’s College Principal says: “All schools should prioritise the safety and wellbeing of LGBTI+ students. We hope that in adopting this programme we can create an environment in which LGBTI+ feel safe and supported by all of our staff and their classmates.

The Safe & Supportive Schools Project spans people, policies and practices; its pioneering holistic approach means systematic positive supports are put in place across six key areas;

Staff Organisation & Development

Policy & Planning

Curriculum

Safe & Supportive Environment

Community Partnership

Direct Support To Young People

This project is supported by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and funding has been made available by Google.org through the 2019 Impact Challenge on Safety and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Moninne Griffith CEO, BeLonG To Youth Services says: “Our school years help to shape who we are and who we can become. We are proud to support O’Carolan College as they begin their journey towards becoming a school that is fully inclusive of LGBTI+ students."

Learn more about the BelonG To LGBTI+ Safe and Supportive Schools Project. T: 01 670 6223 E: training@belongto.org