Listowel Family Resource Centre is happy to announce a new project aimed at the LGBT community.

The LGBT Mentoring Programme is available to all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community over the age of 18, those questioning their sexuality or gender identity, or parents of LGBT+/questioning children, who require information and support in their local community.

The Mentoring Programme is accessible across the county ensuring that those living rurally or without access to transport can avail of support in their local community, at a time and place that suits them. The programme will match up trained volunteer mentors with interested mentees. The focus will be on personal development, confidence-building, and social activities, with the aim to increase well-being and quality of life for those involved. Mentors and mentees will meet weekly to set personal and life goals, and work towards achieving them together.

The Mentoring Programme will be overseen by the dedicated LGBT+ Community Support Worker, ensuring that mentors and mentees benefit from the experience. Supervision will also be provided to support mentors. All volunteers are assessed for suitability, trained, and Garda vetted to ensure that mentees are receiving a high quality of service delivered by knowledgeable and experienced mentors in a safe, accessible, and confidential manner. To ensure that all those who would benefit from mentoring can avail of it, this service is offered free of charge, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth under the Supporting LGBTI+ Community Services Scheme.

Listowel Family Resource Centre (FRC) is one of 121 FRCs nationwide under the Family Resource Centre Programme and is responsible to the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA). The FRC programme is Ireland’s largest family support programme, delivering universal and targeted services and supports to all individuals, families, and communities. Listowel Family Resource Centre is one of 12 family resource centres in Kerry in this programme, along with two others that are locally funded. The LGBT+ Mentoring Programme will utilise this network to offer support to those in each local community.