MAKE THE CALL: BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY!
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Why Volunteer? Volunteering with LGBT Ireland not only provides you with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our callers, it also provides an opportunity to meet fellow volunteers within your community. Once a volunteer has been with LGBT Ireland for six months, they can attend the Annual LGBT Ireland Conference, a free overnight event that gives volunteers a chance to socialise with each other, to discuss any issues that arise from the Helpline and to refresh their training skills. How Do I Volunteer? Volunteering with LGBT Ireland is aimed at individuals who identify as Lesbtian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, Intersex or Queer (LGBTQI+). We seek volunteers over 21 years of age due to the sensitive nature of the calls we receive. Volunteers are asked to commit to six hours per month (evenings and weekends) and will need to take part in the LGBT Ireland volunteer training (two full Saturdays and three evenings) in advance of commencing the role. If you are interested in applying, please visit www.lgbt.ie , select the option for volunteering at the top of the page and follow the recruitment process steps
What Our Volunteers Say
Michael, Cork volunteer: “The helpline provides an invaluable service to LGBT community members. It’s a resource that needs volunteers to keep it viable. Which is why it’s so important to have volunteers to answer the phone. So this service remains and is in place when we as a community need help. Before starting I really didn’t know what answering the line would be like. I decided to join the Helpline as a way to support the community. I’ve gotten the chance to listen, talk to and provide support to so many different people. I’ve found it to be worthwhile and rewarding. It’s given me a greater perspective on life.” Kevin, Cork volunteer: “I joined the Helpline after finishing college as a mature student and wanted to give something back to our community. I came from a small town and was lucky to have found a great friend early after coming out. I realised that is not afforded to everyone and the difficulties in our community are vast. My training with LGBT Ireland and my ability to listen without judgement has made the experience rewarding and pleasurable. We have a network of diverse volunteers nationwide from all backgrounds which helps our group grow in understanding and knowledge.” Eileen, Kilkenny volunteer “I’m very humble to listen to people’s stories and hopefully have supported callers through some very difficult times. I’ve also had first time callers who braved their coming out stories, people from the trans community and so many calls from people just thankful that they have had someone to listen.
By LGBT Ireland
At Pride each year, we all know there are members of our community who can’t be a part of it – who are watching from a distance and hoping, wondering if maybe next year they might be able to step in from the sidelines. And when they do, we all know that, as a community, we will be ready to welcome them. Every member of our community has struggled at some point with coming out, articulating to themselves and others this profound part of themselves. For some, contacting a helpline was the first step in really understanding that being who we are is not only accepted, but celebrated. Since 2010, LGBT Ireland has offered a National Helpline to provide support for LGBTQI+ people around the country. The Helpline is open seven days a week (evenings
A typical Helpline shift lasts two hours and might include four to five interactions from callers at different stages of their journey. Some are just coming out; some have been out for a while and need information on available resources and support across the country. Occasionally, family members will ring looking for guidance on supporting a loved one. LGBT Ireland volunteers receive comprehensive training and mentoring to ensure that they can confidently and compassionately support this wide range of callers.
For some, contacting a helpline was the first step in really understanding that being who we are is not only accepted, but celebrated.
and weekends) and is staffed solely by volunteers from the LGBTQI+ community. The majority of volunteers provide the service from hubs in Cork, Dublin, Mayo and Dundalk. Volunteering with LGBT Ireland gives
you the opportunity to be that person on the other end of the phone, ready to support those who are coming out for the first time, who are concerned about what this might mean for them and who are seeking support, resources and – perhaps most importantly – a space to be heard. For many callers, having someone listen to and understand them is a profound relief as they realise there is
There wasn’t really anything like the LGBT helpline when I was growing up and if there was I think I might have been too shy to talk, I wish I did as life might not have
been so isolating. The helpline is a brilliant service to our community. It gives such a sense of belonging and I’m so proud to be part of it.” Adam, Dublin volunteer: “Volunteering helps me feel that I am doing something to support my community, especially with the rise of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric in recent years.”
a community out there who cares about them
and wants to support them.
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www.corkpride.com
#CorkPride2023
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