NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2024
WELCOME TO GISDA’S SUMMER 2024 NEWSLETTER!
Asanotheryearquicklygoesbywe’rekeento takethisopportunitytosharethelatestnews andeventsfromGISDA.Thelastfewmonths havebeenfullofexcitmentandwe’reproudto shareallthewaysthatGISDAhasbeenmaking asignificantdifferencetoyounglivesin Gwynedd
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024
GISDA’sAGMwasheldthisJulyanditwasagreat opportunityforustolookbackatallthehardworkand achievementsoverthepastyear.
We’resogratefultoeveryonewhoattendedandfor yoursupportthroughouttheyear.Abigthankstoall thespeakersfortheircontribution,andtoeveryyoung personwhospokesobrilliantly.Wehadgreat presentationsabouttherecenttripsanditwasgreat tohearhowyoungpeoplebenefittedfromthese opportunities.
Thankstoallourfundersforbelievinginourwork,your supportenablesustomakeatruedifferenceinyoung people’slives.Thankstoourboardmembersfortheir support,ouramazingteamofstafffortheirwork,and toalltheyoungpeoplewesupport.
CAERNARFON PRIDE 2024
ThisJune,GISDAorganizedPrideCaernarfon, thefirstcelebrationforyoungpeoplefromthe LGBTQ+community. Therewasacolorfulparadearoundthetown withthelocalband,BatalaBangorleadingthe way.
LizSavilleRobertsMP,DewiJones,andAnya, oneofGISDA’syoungpeoplegavepowerful speeches Therewasaliveperformanceby50 ShêdsofLleucuLlwydtoclosetheMaesstage LletyArallkindlygaveusthespaceforthe afternoongigforfree,andthereweregreat performancesbyTesniHughes,andMeldaLois andacomedyshowbyBethJones OverinTheOldCourthouse,therewerelocal andnationalorganizationssharinginformation abouttheirworkandthesupporttheyoffer. LlyfrauLliwgarbookclubhostedadiscussion aboutrepresentationinLiteratureinPalasPrint, andinOrielCarnandGaleri,therewasan opportunitytoseeexhibitionsbyLGBTQ+ artists
TofinishthedaytherewasagiginTheOld Courthouse,withamazingperformancesby ConnieOrff,PoisonArches,TheRoyalSerenity, SueDenim,andEadyth.
We’reverygratefultoallthesponsorswho supportedtheday,toallouramazing volunteers,andtoeveryonewhocametoshow theirsupportontheday.
TRANSPORT CAMPAIGN
RecentlymembersofourYoungPeople’sBoardhave beenworkingontheircampaigntogetfreetravel passesforyoungpeopleunder25yearsold
ThemajorityofGISDA’syoungpeoplerelyonpublic transportandmanyhavehadfrustratingexperiences, withmanysayingthatbusticketsaretooexpensiveand thatthebusesarenotreliable.
We’reverygratefultoSiânGwenllianMSforcomingto listentotheirissues,andtoadviseusabouthowtotake ourcampaigntotheSenedd.
TPAS good practice awards
We’resoproudofAnyaforwinningYoungTenant oftheYearattheTPASGoodPracticeAwards. Anya’senthusiasmaboutpromotinginclusivity andparticipation,raisingawarenessaboutyoung people’srights,andsupportingyoungpeoplein needisaninspirationtousall,andweareso proudofhersuccess.
Itwasanhonorforustoreachthefinalroundin theTenant’sVoicecategorytoo Reachingthe finalroundisarecognitionofourdedicationto makeVOICEanintegralpartofourwork,andto ensureeveryyoungperson 'svoiceisheardand appreciated.
TAITH - NEW YORK AND POLAND
NEW YORK
ThisAprilagroupofyoungpeopleandstafffromGISDAwentonavery specialtriptoNewYork.Thetripwaspartofawiderprojectthatcompares theexperiencesofLGBTQ+youngpeopleinWales,NewYork,andPoland. Thetripenabledthemtocomparetheirexperiencesanddevelopadeeper understandingofthelivesandchallengesfacingLGBTQ+youthinNYC.
OneofthehighlightsofthetripwasvisitingtheAliForneyCentre,an institutethatsupportsLGBTQ+youthacrosstheUnitedStates.Thegroup alsovisitedsomefamouslandmarkssuchastheEmpireStateBuildingand learnedmoreaboutthecity’shistorywithatriptotheiconicStonewallInn.
POLAND
InMayagroupofyoungpeopleandstaffwentonatriptoPoland, andover5daystheytravelledacrossPolandvisitingKraków,Łódźand Warsaw.WerunanLGBTQ+projectacrossourhubsinGwynedd,and thetripwasanopportunityforyoungpeopletolearnmoreabout projectsinPolandthatsupportLGBTQ+youth.
Theysawhistoricalsites,tastedtraditionalPolishfood,andvisited famouslandmarks InŁódźtheymetAnnaandMariuszfromthe EducationalSciencesfacultyinŁódźUniversitytolearnmoreabout theirworkwithyoungpeople Theyalsovisitedorganizationssuchas PoDrugieandWarsawHousethatofferspecializedsupportto homelessLGBTQ+youngpeople.
WAITING FOR A TRAIN in koluszki
We’reverygratefultoalltheorganizations thathavewelcomedandinspiredouryoung peopleandtotheWelshGovernment’sTaith programmeforfundingthetripsandgiving youngpeopleunforgettableexperiences
OUTSIDE THE STONEWALL INN
celebrating our volunteers
ThroughtheOpportunitiesAcademy,youngpeoplecan accessavarietyofvolunteeringopportunities,andit’sa greatopportunityforthemtodevelopskills,boosttheir confidence,andprepareforwork.AspartofVolunteers Weekcelebrations,wehostedapartytocelebrateandthank ouramazingvolunteers Itgaveusthechancetoreflecton theirworkthroughouttheyearandhandoutawardsto recognizetheirhardwork.Congratulationstoyouall!
GWYNEDD volunteering awards
WewereveryproudtoseeJem,oneofouryoung volunteersreceivinganawardintheGwynedd VolunteeringAwardsinPortmeirion.Weareso proudofJem’shardworkanddeterminationand ithasbeenapleasuretoseehimdeveloping newskillsandbecomingmoreconfidentoverthe lastfewmonths.WelldoneJem!
A DAY AT MOEL FAMAU
DONKEY SANCTUARY
Recentlyagroupofyoungpeopleand stafffromGISDAwenttoMoelFamau DonkeySanctuaryfortheday They learnedmoreaboutthecenterand theirwork,andtheyhadhands-on experiencewiththeanimals.Manyof ouryoungpeopleareinterestedin workingwithanimalssoitwasa valuablevolunteeringopportunityfor them.
GISDA And FRÂN WEN’s partnership
NABODisalong-termpartnershipbetweenGISDAand FrânWen.Theprojectstartedin2022andsincethenour youngpeoplehavebeenattendingweeklysessionsto developtheshow
Overthelastfewmonths,theNabodgrouphasbeen developingtheNabod/Olionstory.Theywillbeshadowing Olion’sproductionteam,andtakepartintheResearch andDevelopmentprocess.It’saveryexcitingopportunity andtheyhaveenjoyedbeingpartofdesigningtheset, scriptwriting,producing,andchoosingmusicforthe show
ART IN NATURE/ORIEL YSBYTY GWYNEDD
GISDA’screativeteamhasjoinedtheICANprojectfortheir latestproject;‘ArtinNature:OrielYsbytyGwynedd’ This projectinvitesyoungpeoplewhofacementalhealth difficultiestouseartasacreativeoutlet,byfocusingon natureasamaintheme. Theprojectaimstoshowhowartcanhaveapositiveeffect onpeople’smentalhealthandwell-being Thefinalproduct willbeanexhibitionoftheirworkinanorielinYsbyty Gwynedd.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT GISDA:
‘GIVEASYOULIVE’
RaisemoneyforGISDAwithyoureveryday shoppingatnoextracost!ScantheQRcode formoreinformation:
DONATEBYTEXT
Text:GISD41£Xto70070 (e.g.GISD41£5to70070) ustGiving
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OTHER WAYS
TO SUPPORT
Volunteer:Wewelcomevolunteerstohelpuswithour programmeofactivites.
RaiseMoney:Organizeamoneyraisingeventorchallenge yourselfwithapersonalmoneyraisingchallenge
Spreadtheword:TellyourfriendsandfamilyaboutGISDA’swork.
Followusonsocialmedia:Followusonsocialmediatohear aboutourlatestnews,eventsandopportunites