ShoutOut Annual Report 2022

ShoutOut Annual Report July 2021– July 2022

Foreword from Executive Director

This year, we celebrate ShoutOut’s 10th birthday. Over the last decade, we have witnessed huge changes in visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ communities in Ireland, and for a long time it felt as though things would only keep improving for the better. That feels a little uncertain in 2022.

The past twelve months have been frightening for LGBTQ+ people in this country. That’s a difficult fact to reckon with. Many of us had hoped that this island might resist the intolerance we’ve seen rising in Europe, the US, the UK, and elsewhere. We hoped that the progress of the past ten years – in particular the joy of Marriage Equality and Gender Recognition in 2015 – might mean that a brighter future for queer youth was guaranteed. As more of our friends, family members, and neighbours began coming out and living happy, visible lives, we began to feel an assurance that the next generation would have the freedom to be themselves.

For many of us in the LGBTQ+ community, that bright, easy future is becoming more and more difficult to envision. We’ve watched in horror as each month has brought news of violence against queer people across the country. Trans and non-binary communities have endured relentless, cowardly attacks in the media, even as they have struggled to access the basic rights and services which would allow them to exist freely and in safety. As an organisation working in schools, we’ve been particularly disappointed to observe an international trend of pushback against LGBTQ+ inclusive education – a sentiment that pulls us back to the bad old days. It can be easy, in the face of what feels like a relentless stream of attacks and negativity, to risk losing hope for a brighter future for our vibrant young queer community.

Despite those fears, despite that pervasive sense that things are getting harder for LGBTQ+ communities, we’re privileged every day in our work to see that the future couldn’t be safer in the hands of those queer young people. The young people we meet in schools are empowered, confident, and proud of who they are. They understand that their identities deserve respect and celebration, and they’re finding the strength to articulate that to their peers and teachers. We’re reassured, every day, by the fierce allyship of those teachers and students, who refuse to accept that LGBTQ+ students will be treated as any way less for who they are.

Our wonderful volunteers, more than ever, emphasise the importance of that celebration – of the need to move beyond tolerance, and to fully embrace the diversity and fluidity of young people today. They continue to work with young people to share their stories, living proof that a queer future is one full of possibility, beauty, and joy, and to help students understand that these journeys can be unpredictable, and daunting, but ultimately, so rewarding. For many of us, being queer is the best gift we’ve ever received; our favourite thing about ourselves.

Everyone we’ve met in this past year has played a role in shaping that brighter future for LGBTQ+ people; social workers, teachers, football coaches, parents, guardians, donors, supporters, funders, and more. All have worked alongside us with the shared goal of promoting inclusion for queer people in education, workplaces, sports, services, and homes.

Our staff team, Board, and Steering Committee selflessly pour time and energy into furthering that mission. This year, we bid farewell to Bella FitzPatrick and Eli Downham Jones, both of whom gave their all to ShoutOut and will continue working to nurture queer community and joy in their futures. We welcomed new team members; Hilary Egan, Tilly Taylor, and Ollie Bell, each of whom came to ShoutOut with the talents, skills, and fierce passion to ensure that LGBTQ+ people would be fully accepted and celebrated in their schools, workplaces, and communities. I am endlessly grateful for the incredible people across our organisation, for their support, expertise, and drive.

Ultimately, what we’ve strived to do in ShoutOut this past decade has been to stand against the divisions that some would seek to carve through Irish society. That work is complex, challenging at times, and exists in many spaces, but ultimately it comes down to conversation, to sharing stories and offering understanding. That understanding is needed now, more than ever, as we work to rebuild our communities in a polarised, postpandemic world. Ultimately, is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. We live in each other’s shadow, we shield each other. LGBTQ+ people and allies alike, we rely on each other; in community.

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin Executive Director

Foreword from Chair

We have completed another successful year of our education programmes, delivering our LGBTQ+ education workshops and promoting allyship and safety for LGBTQ+ people in secondary schools, work places and institutions. Our staff and volunteers have worked hard to adapt our workshops for both in person and online delivery, incorporating in our content the evolving nature of challenges and opportunities for LGBTQ+ people in those environments.

We have grown our ShoutOut board in strength and numbers with the addition of board members with expertise in charity finance, law, HR and governance, social media, inclusive education, strategic planning, trans inclusion and neurodiversity. We also said cheerio to former board members of ShoutOut – Declan Meehan, Paul Behan, Eoin O Liathain, Anna Keogh and Conor Houston who have all moved on to new heights and locations in their own careers. Declan, Paul and Eoin were founding board members of ShoutOut and all of us thank them sincerely for their dedication, determination and leadership that contributed so much to making ShoutOut the dynamic and robust LGBTQ+ organisation we are today. Anna and Conor joined in more recent years and their contributions on youth work, education, fundraising and strategic thinking have been hugely valuable. I have had the honour of serving as Chair of the Board of ShoutOut for the past two years and I will hand over that role to a new Chair at our AGM, continuing into 2023 as a board member.

We also had important transitions in our staff team with former Executive Director Bella FitzPatrick and Education Coordinator Eli Downham Jones moving on to new career opportunities. We were very pleased to recruit Ruadhán Ó Críodáin into the role of Executive Director after a competitive process. Ruadhán’s former role as Development Manager were big shoes to fill and we were very pleased to recruit Tilly Taylor to that role. Ollie Bell will join ShoutOut in September as our new Education Coordinator. This year we have been fortunate to have Hilary Egan working with us on developing the Proud Schools programme, a quality assurance framework, resource and training portal for schools. We are delighted with this renewed staff team and are very excited about where they will lead ShoutOut to in the next year. Our volunteer team has continued to grow and adapt to the changing nature of our workshops being delivered across different physical and online platforms. Innovative projects such as the Parents Guide, developed by Domhnaill Harkin, and the

ShoutOut – ListenIn podcast, led by Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh, add significantly to ShoutOut’s offerings, to support LGBTQ+ young people in living fulfilled and safe lives.

We have continued to strengthen our governance infrastructure and compliance particularly in relation to human resources, financial planning and reporting. We began the work of preparing a 3 year strategic plan for ShoutOut, to articulate and build on the immense potential in the ShoutOut vision – one of tolerance and respect for LGBTQ+ young people across Ireland.

We will continue this important work with the dynamic support and hard work of our volunteers, clients, funders and staff and we are grateful to you all.

Maria McLaughlin Chairperson

Governance

ShoutOut is governed by the Board of Directors, led by chairperson Maria McLaughlin. The Board of Directors provide oversight and support risk management for ShoutOut’s operations and growth, as well as overseeing the financial activities and audits of the organisation. Financial oversight and checks are provided by the Treasurer, Katrina Enros. The charity’s records and minutes are maintained and updated by the Secretary, Seán Henry.

ShoutOut has three core members of staff – an Executive Director, Training & Development Manager, and an Education Coordinator. For 2021–22 ShoutOut also employed a part time Project Coordinator to develop the Proud Schools Programme.

ShoutOut is supported in its daily activities by a voluntary Steering Committee, who bring their skills and experience to projects and activities under ShoutOut’s remit.

ShoutOut is supported by a broader network of volunteers, working to deliver LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools, youth groups and other youth centres on the charity’s behalf.

ShoutOut produces an Annual Report each year in August to look back on the achievements the charity has made in the previous year. This annual report also provides an overview of the finances and organisational output of the charity.

Board of Directors

Maria McLaughlin (Chairperson)

Katrina Enros (Treasurer)

Seán Henry (Secretary) Anna Keogh (departed April ’22) Clare Ní Cheallaigh Craig Dwyer

Declan Meehan (departed April ’22) Fiona Ferris

Paul Behan (departed February ’22) Sean O’Sullivan Shane O’Brien Toryn Glavin

ShoutOut thanks Declan Meehan, Anna Keogh, and Paul Behan for their longtime support and contributions as Directors of ShoutOut.

Staff Team Ruadhán Ó Críodáin Tilly Taylor Hilary Egan

Bella FitzPatrick (departed Jan ’22) Eli Downham Jones (departed April ’22)

Steering Committee

Clara Barry Conn McCarrick Domhnaill Harkin Ed O’Brien Hogan

Lisa Nic an Bhreithimh Spencer Christie

Meet the Team

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin Executive Director (he/him)

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin has been involved with ShoutOut since its foundation, first as a volunteer and then as Development Manager. Now, as Executive Director, Ruadhán works to lead and grow the charity and to manage and deliver its LGBTQ+ awareness programmes in schools, services, and workplaces in service of the charity’s mission: LGBTQ+ inclusion through education. Outside of ShoutOut, Ruadhán serves as a Board Director of GAZE International LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Tilly Taylor Training & Development Manager

(she/her)

Tilly recently joined ShoutOut as Training & Development Manager, having previously worked across a range of arts, culture and community development contexts both in Ireland and internationally. She works to manage, deliver and grow the organisation’s workplace LGBTQ+ inclusion programmes and capacity building projects, as well as supporting the Executive Director in fundraising and strategic development.

Ollie Bell Education Coordinator (they/them)

Ollie Bell first got involved with ShoutOut as a volunteer in 2016. They have now recently joined ShoutOut as their Education Coordinator, after completing their Masters in Community and Youth Work at Maynooth University. They work with ShoutOut’s many amazing volunteers and liaise with schools interested in having LGBTQ+ educational workshops. Outside of ShoutOut, they are a passionate LGBTQ+ rights activist and feminist.

Hilary Egan

Proud Schools Project Coordinator (she/her)

Hilary joined the team as Project Coordinator for our new Proud Schools Pilot Programme. She has been teaching in both primary and postprimary education, in Ireland, Australia and the UK and has also worked in the community development sector for a number of years. Hilary has been working on our Proud Schools Programme, designing our 8 step model, writing our online training programme, developing support material and creating resources to accompany it.

Highlights of the Year

August

AGM

We held our AGM and welcomed new Board members Craig Dwyer, Fiona Ferris, Katrina Enros, Séan Henry, Sean O’Sullivan, Shane O’Brien, and Toryn Glavin to the team!

Redevelopment of school workshop materials

Our Volunteer Subcommittee worked to redevelop our school workshop content under the guidance of our Education Coordinator, Eli Downham Jones.

September

IMMA Queer History Workshop

Alongside Queer Culture Ireland, we held the next in our series of workshops at IMMA with panellists Domhnaill Harkin, Cathal Kerrigan, Sara Phillips, and Kate Drinane.

Virtual School Workshops

We kicked off our school workshops using our brand new materials developed by the Volunteer Subcommittee!

Queer Decolonisation

Sponsored by Fulbright Ireland-USA, we held an online event on Queer Decolonisation with speakers from across the globe including Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile, Timothy R. Bussey, and Alber Saborío.

Transition Year Show, Naas Bella and Eli spent the day out in Naas, meeting Transition Year students and their teachers and advertising our ShoutOut workshops.

October

Volunteer Training

We welcomed volunteers to ShoutOut from across the country at a virtual volunteer training session.

Online workshop with IMMA

We hosted a workshop for young people on Art and Activism: Tools for Social Change with Donal Talbot, Alber Saborío, and Han Tiernan.

November

National Foster Carers’ Conference

We hosted a roundtable discussion at the National Foster Carers’ Conference on supporting LGBTQ+ young people in foster care.

Larkin Community College’s LGBTQ+ theatre project

We worked with students at Larkin Community College to support their development of an LGBTQ+ theatre piece at their school.

December

Together Conference

We worked with IGLYO, ILGA, The Global Center, Feminita, Global Queer Youth Network, and Kyrgyz Indigo to host an online conference for young LGBTQ+ activists focusing on youth engagement and decision-making practices.

January

Midlands LGBT+ Partnership & Training

We kicked off a partnership with the wonderful staff and volunteers at Midlands LGBT+ to deliver ShoutOut workshops in the Midlands region!

Hilary Egan joins the team!

We welcomed Hilary Egan to the team to work with us as our Proud Schools Programme Coordinator.

February

LGBTQ+ History Month

To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, we launched a Queer History 101 video and exploration pack for schools, alongside a workshop on Irish LGBTQ+ History! March

GIEDT Champions Network Launch

We marked Trans Day of Visibility with the launch of a Champions’ Network for Higher Education professionals seeking to promote awareness and acceptance of gender diversity in their institutions.

New Executive Director

Ruadhán Ó Críodáin was appointed as Executive Director of ShoutOut. April

Board Strategy Day and Social Staff and Board came together for a strategy evening, conversation, and social event.

Probation Service Training

We rolled out a series of training sessions for staff at the Irish Probation Service to help them support LGBTQ+ clients and service users.

May

New Training & Development Manager

Our team grew as Tilly Taylor started working with ShoutOut as Training & Development Manager, overseeing and delivering our training and education in workplaces and services.

Bohemian F.C. – Training Partnership

We began working with Bohemian F.C. and GayBohs to deliver training to their coaches, staff and volunteers on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport as part of their ongoing commitment to making football more inclusive.

Queer Disobedience

ShoutOut volunteer David McGovern led in-person and online sessions on the theme of Queer Disobedience, bringing our volunteers together for a day of creatively exploring queerness, disobedience and the joy in bending the rules.

June

End of the School Year

We delivered 254 school workshops this year!

Inishowen Pride

ShoutOut attended Donegal’s first ever Pride Parade, in Inishowen.

Pinky Promise at Mink

We launched year 2 of our #PinkyPromise campaign with Image Now at Mink in Ballsbridge with our supporters and Ambassador, Stephen Byrne.

Corporate & Workplace

Workshops

We delivered workshops in a range of workplaces on The ABCs of LGBT+, advice for Parents & Guardians on creating inclusive homes, and Pride 101.

Dublin Pride

We marched with our volunteers in Dublin Pride for the first time in 3 years!

Parents & Guardians Guide

We launched our guide for Parents & Guardians of LGBTQ+ young people, developed by ShoutOut’s steering committee member Domhnaill Harkin. The launch took place in Outhouse and speakers included Katherine Zappone and Dr. Lydia Foy.

ShoutOut, ListenIn – Podcast Launch

We launched the ShoutOut podcast, created by a team of our volunteers and led by Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh!

July

Trans & Intersex Pride

We attended Dublin’s biggest ever Trans & Intersex Pride with our staff and volunteers.

What We Do: Educational Programmes for LGBTQ+ Inclusion

ShoutOut started in 2012 with a question; “Why was school so difficult for us?” The “us” in this case were a group of LGBTQ+ friends in college, thinking back to just a few years previous and discussing how we had all experienced bullying and exclusion in secondary school. The second question was “What can we do about it?”

This is when we started our school workshops as volunteers; going into schools and talking directly with students about the LGBTQ+ community and how to be an ally. This is still the foundation of the work we do, 10 years later.

We have now developed several programmes with the aim of creating a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ issues. We provide workshops under the following headings:

– Youth Workshops

– Capacity Building Workshops

– Workplace Workshops

– Community Workshops

– Sports Workshops

The vast majority of our youth workshops take place in secondary schools, the rest taking place in other settings such as youth groups or Comhairle Na nÓg. Capacity building workshops are those that increase a service’s ability to include and support LGBTQ+ people. Workplace workshops are to create inclusive workplaces and Community workshops are open events we hold for anyone to attend.

Some of our work encompasses more than one of these categories. For example, we often work with Higher Education Institutions. Here we may be advising on how the HEI can be more inclusive in the services it provides its students such as counselling and sports services. HEIs are also workplaces, so we are also trying to create a welcoming work environment for anyone who works in the HEI.

We also provide workshops to sporting associations and clubs, with the aim of making sports a more inclusive arena for LGBTQ+ people. This is more important than ever, given the high levels of homophobia and transphobia in many sports. This year, too, we’ve been lucky to work with a number of Ireland’s best-known cultural institutions and organisations, to make their work more inclusive of their LGBTQ+ visitors and employees alike.

Regardless of the purpose of our programmes, they are always built upon three key pillars:

– Empathy

– Education

– Empowerment

These pillars are bidirectional: we wish to instil empathy by sharing our own stories, and we extend our empathy to those in our workshops who may have never heard these stories before; we wish to educate participants by exploring complex concepts, and we are educated by participants who share their perspectives with us; we want to empower participants to see the difference they can make in their own environment and we are empowered by them to continue our work.

ShoutOut Volunteers

This year we had 25 active volunteers who delivered workshops in secondary schools across Ireland. Our wonderful volunteers delivered workshops in a brand new format with videos on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Intersex Identity developed by our volunteer subcommittee – more on that on the next page!

This year our volunteers spoke to some 7,600 students in classrooms all across the country, answering their questions and guiding conversations on allyship, queer identity, and the particular struggles faced by LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Our volunteers also worked to support young people in other environments including youth groups, drama projects, and other community settings. We’re immensely grateful for their shared work in delivering tailored content to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ young people and their allies.

Our workshops are still, at their heart, all about storytelling and education, and our volunteers come from all walks of life and parts of the LGBTQ+ community to tell their stories of growing up, coming out, and finding joy in who they are.

ShoutOut is nothing without our volunteers – we’re so grateful to every volunteer who delivered a workshop this year, and especially to those new volunteers from all across the country who signed up to be a part of our virtual workshops. In June, for the first time in 3 years, we had the chance to be together in person for Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride, and then again in July for Dublin’s biggest ever Trans and Intersex Pride!

Volunteer Testimonials

I’ve had an excellent experience volunteering with ShoutOut. The staff have been supportive and welcoming from the first night of training onwards. It has been a wonderful way to practice active allyship, while also developing my own facilitation skills. Seeing students engage in the material and respond with empathy and understanding has been so heartening.

It is important for me to stay connected (in touch) with what is happening in the youth educational environment, it gives us an insight to what is going on that sometimes these children’s parents don’t even get. It’s a privilege and gifted opportunity to make an impact on the overriding attitudes to our community. The environment set by the people who run ShoutOut is a caring, supportive one that embraces all shades of Queer, I love feeling at home here.

Steering Committee

ShoutOut’s work is supported by our voluntary Steering Committee of longtime volunteers and experts who support on specific projects as well as content development and school workshops. The Steering Committee is vital to ShoutOut’s work and we couldn’t run without them!

Projects developed by members of the Steering Committee this year included the ShoutOut, ListenIn podcast (led by Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh), the Parents & Guardians Guide (developed by Domhnaill Harkin), and expert input to our volunteer subcommittee on redeveloping the school workshop content.

Special thank you to longtime volunteer and Steering Committee member Spencer Christie, who this year finishes up with ShoutOut to move to Canada.

2021—22 ShoutOut Steering Committee Members: Clara Barry, Conn McCarrick, Domhnaill Harkin, Ed O’Brien Hogan, Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh, Spencer Christie

ShoutOut Volunteer Subcommittee

Our volunteers represent a range of identities, experiences, and backgrounds, coming together with a shared mission to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ young people in schools and communities. As such they are uniquely positioned to drive and reshape the material we deliver in school workshops.

Last summer, we began working with a subcommittee of experienced volunteers to review and reshape the material for our virtual school workshops. Supported by the Community Foundation’s Adapt & Respond programme under the Comic Relief fund, the committee developed a series of videos and supporting documents explaining LGBTQ+ identities and terminology in detail for our online workshops. Animated by Thomas Heising, the videos clearly and helpfully explain topics including gender identity, sexual orientation, intersex identity, and LGBTQ+ history for a secondary school audience. These videos will be an asset for years to come.

Special thanks to our wonderful volunteer subcommittee for their expertise, lived experience, and generosity in developing this material, and for their dedication in this work alongside their time spent delivering school workshops and supporting ShoutOut’s mission.

2021—22 ShoutOut Volunteer Subcommittee Members: David McGovern, Aimée Doyle, Mark Holland, Stephen Turner, Clara Barry, Roisin Sheridan, Kat Clinch, Jacqui Wantuch, Ciaran Gaffney

The videos have really helped me in facilitating the workshops. I would never be able to explain such complex topics in such a succinct and clear way. I think the format is really wonderful too – the cartoons, music are really engaging and I think resonate with a young audience in a better way than if we were just speaking. Compared to workshops I have done without video, we get through the topics a lot more efficiently with the new wonderful videos!

– Brian Donnelly, 2022

Number of Workshops

2012 — 2022

Year Number of Workshops

Year Number of Workshops

2017/18 378 2018/19 462 2019/20 383 2020/21 390 2021/22 376 500 400 300 200 100 0 ’11/12 ’12/13 ’13/14 ’14/15 ’15/16 ’16/17 ’17/18 ’18/19 ’19/20 ’20/21 ’21/22

2012 10 2012/13 33 2013/14 57 2014/15 97 2015/16 152 2016/17 171

School Workshops

In the face of fluctuating COVID-19 case numbers, school workshops remained virtual throughout 2021 and in early 2022. This allowed us to continue consistently delivering workshops as the situation around the pandemic developed over the past year.

Virtual workshops gave us the opportunity to reach a range of schools across Ireland and reduced risk to volunteers and students alike. They also allowed us to engage volunteers who may not have been in a position to deliver workshops in-person for various reasons.

This year ShoutOut’s team and volunteers met with 7,590 students across 254 workshops in classrooms all across the country, answering their questions and guiding conversations on allyship, queer identity, and the particular struggles faced by LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Our volunteers also worked to support young people in other environments including youth groups, drama projects, and other settings.

In summer 2021, our volunteer subcommittee worked with videographer Thomas Heising to redevelop our school workshop content for a virtual setting, directing a number of animated videos on sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex identities. The subcommittee adapted workshop content and approach to ensure students continued to receive LGBTQ+ inclusive education which was up-to-date, accurate, and inclusive of a range of identities.

We continued to engage students through in-classroom activities and a pre-workshop questionnaire which helped us understand the nature of LGBTQ+ inclusion at their school.

2,238 students completed the questionnaire. The results are below.

How do people speak about LGBTQ+ issues in your school?

(2238 Responses)

They speak positively about LGBTQ+ issues in my school

They never speak about LGBTQ+ issues in my school

They speak negatively about LGBTQ+ issues in my school

Unsure

Teachers

My Classmates

Other Students in the School

Check the boxes for the identities you want to learn more about. (1617 Responses)

27.4% Lesbian 443 26.1% Gay 443 33.3% Bisexual 539 38.8% Transgender 628 52.5% Non-Binary 849 54.7% Queer 885 65.9% Intersex 1065 58.7% Asexual 949 55.5% Pansexual 898

Your school has invited ShoutOut to give your class a workshop about LGBTQ+ issues. Do you think this workshop will be beneficial for your class? (2238 Responses)

59.5 Yes, I do not think this workshop will be beneficial for my class 10 No, I do not think this workshop will be beneficial for my class 30.5 Unsure

Do you think your school is a supportive place for LGBTQ+ students? (2228 Responses)

70.1 Yes, my school is supportive 6.3 No, my school is not supportive 23.6 Unsure

Do you consider yourself an LGBTQ+ Ally? (2183 Responses)

58.4 Yes 18.3 I’m not sure 14.3 No, I’m not an ally 4.5 I am LGBTQ+ 4.4 Other

Some great questions were submitted via the questionnaire which we had a chance to answer in our workshop. Please note, to protect the anonymity of the students we have presented only questions which contain no identifying information.

– Why do people speak badly about the LGBTQIA+ community?

– I struggle a lot to remember things like pronouns and names. Do you have any advice or help on how to apologise or ways to help?

– How do we solve some people’s misunderstandings about bisexuality?

– What does gender fluid mean?

– How do you survive having to wear a skirt in your school uniform when it goes against your gender expression?

– How do you have a relationship with someone if you are asexual, dating an allosexual?

– What’s the best way to deal with everyday homophobia e. g. “That’s so gay” and the f slur being used in everyday conversation?

– What should I do if I think someone is part of the LGBTQIA+ community but they haven’t told me?

– Why don’t we learn about LGBTQ sex education?

– How can the school be better?

We are hugely grateful to the teachers and school staff who made our virtual workshops possible and facilitated these conversations with students.

254 7,590

We delivered 254 workshops We spoke directly to 7,590 students

70 25

We worked with 70 schools across 15 counties Midlands LGBT Partnership

25 volunteers made this possible!

This year, ShoutOut worked with Midlands LGBT to create a workshop-delivery partnership – expanding our services to schools, students, and teachers in the Midlands region and training volunteers and staff from Midlands LGBT.

Teacher Testimonials:

Many thanks to all involved. The workshops were so valuable to the students and very educational, delivered in a professional and matter of fact way.

Thanks so much for such a great workshop. Students gained a lot from it and it got the conversation started in our school.

Special thanks to our incredible volunteers and to our outgoing Education Coordinator, Eli Downham Jones, for their hard work in making these workshops possible.

Proud Schools Programme

ShoutOut’s newly developed Proud Schools Programme is specially designed to bring schools on a step by step journey towards greater acceptance and inclusion of LGBTI+ students, staff and the wider community. This is a brilliant opportunity for schools to work closely with the team at ShoutOut to become a safer, more welcoming environment where LGBTI+ students and staff can flourish and achieve their full potential.

Through funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under the National LGBTI+ Strategy, we have structured our programme to meet the criteria of a Quality Assurance Framework and addressed the 4 pillars of Policy, Training, Visibility, and Support.

Our 8 Step Proud Schools Programme is tailored to guide schools through the journey of creating LGBTI+ inclusive policies, lesson plans, daily work practices and a positive school environment for LGBTI+ students and staff.

ShoutOut will work with schools to establish a Proud Schools Committee with an appointed Coordinator, and identify other key staff as Proud School Leaders. Working together through the 8 Steps we will help schools:

– Complete our unique online training for all staff, senior leadership and management

– Conduct surveys and consultations with staff, students and other school stakeholders

– Review data to create a Self-Evaluation Report

– Identify a wide range of suitable actions based on the needs identified in the Self-Evaluation Report

– Design an effective, evidence based Proud Schools Action Plan (School Improvement Plan)

– Implement the actions agreed in the school’s action plan

– Review school policies to ensure they safeguard and support LGBTI+ Students

– Celebrate achievements and moments of change throughout the school year

Schools will also have access to our Proud Schools templates, samples of best practice, policy guides, tailor made resources, lesson plans, ‘how to’ guides, information handbooks and much more.

This year we are launching a pilot of the Proud Schools Programme, working with a number of diverse post-primary schools: rural and urban, large and small, mixed and single-sex, religious patronage and community colleges. We will be engaging in significant consultation with schools so that we can make any necessary changes and ensure that we have the best possible programme to roll out nationally the following year.

Capacity Building Training

Capacity Building training programmes are for adults who work in an organisation which provides a service. This training is designed to leave the people who work in such an organisation with an expanded ability to provide services for LGBTQ+ people. We work with professionals such as teachers, youth workers, coaches, and healthcare professionals. We also offer dedicated sessions to staff in sporting organisations, arts and cultural organisations, higher education institutions, and those working in advocacy.

These programmes are tailored to the specific group we are working with. We also expand our service beyond training to assist with policy writing and reviewals to ensure long lasting impact.

Teacher Training

One of the most important strands in ShoutOut’s capacity building offering is our teacher training programmes, offered to staff in primary and secondary schools alike. This year, we trained staff in schools across Ireland in LGBTQ+ terminology and strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ students in their care. In particular, we work with schools who may need support in dealing with an instance of anti LGBTQ+ bullying or supporting LGBTQ+ students in specific cases of need. Teacher training has long been identified by students in our workshops as a priority for LGBTQ+ student inclusion.

Visit our website shoutout.ie for more information or to book a teacher training session for your school.

Gender Identity, Expression and Diversity Training for Irish Higher Education Institutions

In 2021/22, ShoutOut expanded and embedded its training programme in Gender Identity, Expression and Diversity for Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through further delivery of workshops for higher education staff, leaders, and HR professionals. The Gender Identity, Expression and Diversity training programme is developed in partnership with South East Technological University, Mary Immaculate College, Carlow College, Technological University of the Shannon-Midwest, and NUI Galway, with the support of the Higher Education Authority.

The programme has also seen the establishment of a Gender Identity & Expression Equality Champion Network across partner institutions. The Gender Identity & Expression Equality Champion Network represents a voluntary community of individuals working in relevant roles within HEIs to establish gender equality in a number of higher education institutions across Ireland.

In late 2022, the Network and programme will develop a Train the Trainer programme and resource for individuals seeking to promote gender equality in higher education institutions.

Clients

Charities & NGOs

Charities Institute Development Perspectives Outhouse

Creative Sector

Dublin Theatre Festival The National Gallery of Ireland

Education

Blackhall Place (The Law Society of Ireland)

Cabra Community College

Carlow College

DCU Nursing East Glendalough School Holywell ETNS

Edmund Rice College

IT Carlow

Mary Immaculate College Nagle Community College

NUI Galway

Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School

Patrician Secondary Newbridge

Ratoath College

Science Foundation Ireland

South East Technological University

Technological University of the Shannon-Midwest

Trinity College Dublin ITE programme

The Lír

UCD Policy & Projects

UCD Tutors

UCD Women in STEM Society

USI

Waterford Institute of Technology

Worldwise Global Schools

Service Providers

Foster Parents

The Probation Service

Swan Youth Service

Sports Organisations

Badminton Ireland

Bohemian Football Club

Horse Racing Ireland

Quotes

We are incredibly grateful to ShoutOut for all the support and advice we have received from them this year. The workshops they created for our staff and coaches has been invaluable. They have a great ability of understanding the crowd and people they are speaking to and tailoring their work accordingly. Their work has been of phenomenal benefit across the club already and ultimately will benefit the young people in our club for years to come. We are very excited to continue to work alongside ShoutOut in the future.

– Jimmy Dignan, Bohemian F.C.

Bella delivered a one-off session to foster carers as part of our online national conference in 2021. She gave very generously of her time and provided sound information and reassurance to one foster carer in particular who was struggling with how best to support her LGBTQI child. We’re extremely grateful to Aifric and ShoutOut for a wonderful session!

– Niamh Barrett, The Irish Foster Care Association

We benefited hugely from the training received by ShoutOut, both within our organisation and in the work we do with schools. The training helped to demystify some of the terminology and supported team members’ confidence in using respectful language and building more inclusive work spaces. The bespoke training which incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals also helped team members to connect LGBTQIA+ issues with Global Issues which is of huge importance to our work and the work of our schools. We couldn’t recommend them more highly!

– Sinéad Hayes, WorldWise Global Schools

I have sat in on several workshops facilitated by ShoutOut both at the institute level and faculty level. The workshops were superbly organised – even over the COVID period when all workshops had to be online. Ruadhán is an excellent facilitator and is very approachable, the training is informative and insightful.

– Dr David Allen, Lecturer, SETU

Workplace Workshops

As ShoutOut has grown over the past 10 years, we have encountered an ambition to create inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people in workplaces across an array of sectors. We have expanded our educational workshop offerings across these contexts and in 2022 we continued to work with some long standing partners as well as forging new relationships with companies and organisations, both here in Ireland and internationally. Much of this work moved online due to Pandemic restrictions. As a result we have been working with teams across the globe and have had the opportunity to expand our workplace training with an international lens.

At the heart of our workplace offering, is a chance for employees to ask questions and engage in dialogue around LGBTQ+ issues in a safe and informed environment. In a year that has been marked by a rise in homophobic and transphobic attacks here in Ireland it feels increasingly important that we open up pathways for communication and understanding, to build strong networks of informed allies who are informed, empowered, and prepared to stand up for their LGBTQ+ peers. We have met with employees and teams who are openminded and eager to learn, but sometimes hesitant to ask questions amidst an ever increasing environment of misinformation. Our workshops are a space to cut through the noise, ask questions that otherwise feel daunting, and engage in open conversation.

Our workplace programmes cover a range of topics – everything from a 101 on LGBTQ+ identities, to the history of the queer community around the world, advice for parents and guardians, and support for leadership and HR. These workshops advance a company’s inclusion efforts and programmes, but crucially, too, they support our work providing LGBTQ+ education in schools.

We’re incredibly grateful to the individuals, employee resource groups, and teams who have mobilised in their workplaces to engage ShoutOut, to deliver these educational pieces. By bringing us into their organisations, these people have advocated for us, supported our charitable work, and played a key role in shifting culture towards one of inclusivity and LGBTQ+ empowerment.

If you brought us to your workplace, organised a fundraiser or donation, or offered your services – thank you! Your contributions go a long way at a small charity like ours, and play a crucial part in continuing the work for LGBTQ+ inclusion and empowerment.

Our Workshops

The ABCs of LGBTQ+

Our most popular workshop, a fun and interactive learning session which offers a comprehensive overview of LGBTQ+ identity, terminology, and allyship. Everyone can learn something here. Topics addressed by this session include:

– Introduction to ShoutOut and our mission promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion through education

– A personal story about our own experiences of being LGBTQ+ at work

– A detailed overview of LGBTQ+ terminology and theory, including gender identity and sexual orientation

– Further explanation on trans, non-binary, and intersex identities

– Simple steps we can all take as allies

– “Ask anything” Q&A

Allied Leaders

For those in leadership positions, this workshop explores creating inclusive team cultures, resilience, best practice and leadership. This session is crucial for management who want to lead by example in their workplace. Demonstrate your company’s proven commitment to inclusion and diversity and learn how those qualities can make your teams stronger, more creative, and more collaborative in their work. Topics covered include:

– Implicit vs. explicit bias: recognising our biases, confronting them, and being accountable

– LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion: perspectives from employment and human rights law

– An exploration of the ways in which our professional and personal lives overlap

– The facts and figures around LGBTQ+ employment, locally and globally

– Proactive and reactive approaches to LGBTQ+ inclusion

– Practical steps towards a more inclusive workplace

– “Ask anything” Q&A

HR Professionals: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplaces

This session is specifically for those working in HR and/or involved in recruitment processes. Participants will receive guidance around supporting LGBTQ+ employees as well as building more inclusive recruitment practices. All participants will have the option of ongoing support with regards to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Topics covered here include:

– An overview of how LGBTQ+ employees can be better covered by broader company policy

– Best practice in terms of dress code, name changes, leave, complaints, and policy development

– Simple steps to build a more welcoming recruitment process

– Strategies for attracting LGBTQ+ talent

– Optional: Breakout room scenarios around LGBTQ+ inclusion

– “Ask anything” Q&A

Inclusive Homes: Parents & Guardians Session

Perfect for parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, and grandparents at your workplace, this session draws directly on our work with young people in schools. Participants will learn how small steps can make their home more inclusive, and leave feeling fluent in the language young people use to capture their identity today. They will discuss why it can still be difficult for young people to come out in a more accepting world, and together find practical solutions to support anyone who may be struggling. Topics covered include:

– About ShoutOut and the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive education

– The Life Cycle of Assumptions: assumptions we make about each other and how they affect young LGBTQ+ people

– Coming out timelines: average ages and those who fall outside the average

– They/them pronouns: a quick explainer and what to do when you make mistakes!

– How to make a safe space for a young person to come out, and how to react when they do

– The best LGBTQ+ inclusive books and films for all ages

– “Ask anything” Q&A

Pride 101

This session looks at the history and meaning behind Pride, and seeks to capture why it is still such an important movement for LGBTQ+ communities in every corner of the world. Here, too, we’ll look at how we can play a meaningful role in the celebrations as allies, and how we can continue to use Pride as a springboard for change and progress.

– The history of Pride around the world

– Histories of queer culture and expression

– Allyship at Pride: holding a meaningful role in the celebrations

– Party, protest, or both?

– Pride as a global movement for change by LGBTQ+ communities.

– Pride as protest: examining the pressing community issues of today

Empowered Allies

In a post-marriage equality world, the LGBTQ+ community is still fighting several battles on several fronts. How, as allies, can we get involved, and how can we support some of the most marginalised in the community? This workshop will also give you an insight into the landscape for young people in schools based on our direct experience.

– The importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools

– An Irish and global timeline of equality and the role played by allies in the struggle

– How to navigate pronouns and gender neutral language, and what to do when you make mistakes

– How to support someone who comes out to you

– A global overview of ongoing LGBTQ+ rights rollbacks, insight into the Irish context

– Why allyship is more crucial than ever: ongoing fights for equality and how to get involved

– “Ask anything” Q&A

Workplace Testimonials

We chose ShoutOut because of their fundamental operational pillars which are to inform, encourage and contribute. Their workshops provide important knowledge and insight around LGBTQ+ issues and create a safe space that encourages people to ask questions. In addition to this, ShoutOut use funds from corporate workshops to provide workshops to schools – educating young people within our local communities to be inclusive and celebrate diversity which we feel is particularly important. ShoutOut is a wonderful organisation which we highly recommend, and we will definitely be hosting more workshops with ShoutOut in the near future.

Saffron O’Sullivan, IDA Ireland

MongoDB has partnered with ShoutOut for the last 3 years to deliver a series of different workshops to help educate our LGBTQIA+ community and allies internally. Their sessions have driven thoughtful and meaningful conversations amongst employees and we have received incredibly positive feedback from all involved.

As a department that embraces inclusivity, we were delighted to have an opportunity to work with ShoutOut. The Inclusive Homes: Parents & Guardians workshop was an informative and enlightening experience for all of our staff. The session helped to prepare staff for future LGBTQ+ conversations with the young people in our lives and the fact that the session was delivered virtually did not take away from a safe, confidential space in which our participants could raise questions.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit, Department of Social Protection

Thanks to ShoutOut for leading us through an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking workshop! Everyone in attendance learnt a lot about the nuances of identity and language. Moreover, the relaxed and safe environment that the facilitators created led to very honest and valuable conversations amongst employees. Fully recommend!

Seán Carroll & Robson Gomes, MongoDB

Ruth McMahon, SoundCloud

Finances

Our annual income has risen from €122,128.38 in July 2020—2021 to €171,302.18 in August 2021—July 2022.

In a year that has been marked by uncertainty across all sectors, we are incredibly grateful that a large proportion of our income stems from workplace and capacity building workshops, as well as individual and group donations. This ongoing support directly funds our work with young people across Ireland.

The most significant increase in income over the past year has been through grants from government bodies and philanthropic organisations for resource building projects at ShoutOut. These have provided financial backing for us to revise and improve our workshop content for young people and teacher training, as well as develop the Proud Schools Programme.

Likewise, our annual expenditure increased from €77,539.92 in July 2020—2021 to €162,572.50 in August 2021—July 2022.

This reflects a substantial increase in staffing for both our core operations and additional resources building projects, which have increased the quality and sustainability of our work significantly. Additionally, the move to a hybrid working model since Summer 2022, as we move out of lockdowns, has seen our operating costs increase as we have returned to in person workshop delivery, office working and events.

We are planning a return to in person workshops in schools from September 2022 onwards, as such we expect to see a rise in costs for Youth Workshops & Volunteers.

Income: €171,302.18 Expenditure: €162,572.50

We have boundless gratitude for everyone who has supported ShoutOut over the past year, and that community of supporters is a vast and far reaching one. If you volunteered with us, delivered a school workshop, brought us in to speak at your organisation, donated to a fundraiser, joined us at the Pride march, or contributed in any way in between, then you played an integral role in ensuring that we can continue the work of fighting for a more equitable future for LGBTQ+ young people, one that is marked not by fear or bullying, but is instead expansive in its possibilities.

Our on the ground experience tells us that the landscape for LGBTQ+ youth has come a long way, but that there is still a critical need for safe spaces where young people can have conversations about LGBTQ+ identity. Your support ensures that we can carve out meaningful spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to do this in a way that is exploratory, and facilitated by the experience of other LGBTQ+ people and their allies.

We are a small core team, but the ShoutOut community continues to grow with a generosity of spirit that is both energising and optimistic. Thank you all for your support, in its many forms.