Equality and Diversity

Gender Equality

Our gender equality work challenges traditional expectations of young women which deny the potential of and the opportunities for young women. 

It works with young women who are most excluded from resources and society, to improve their expectations of what the world has to offer then and generate skills to achieve and succeed. 

Equality work encourages young women to value themselves, develop their abilities and help them to understand and challenge prejudice and inequalities they may encounter in daily life. We work strategically to redress imbalances and inequalities facing young women, through the development of training, networking, and developing models of effective practice, research and influencing policy.

Out & About

Out & About is a project for young women aged 16-25, who identify other than heterosexual. It addresses the severe issues still faced in Northern Ireland today, while also celebrating community and connection. 

Out & About is based on having an informal, supportive relationship with a youth worker and the benefits that can arise from this. Out & About meets weekly from 7pm-9pm at the YouthAction hub in Belfast. Every week is different, with cooking classes, skill sharing, game playing or outings to the cinema or exhibitions. For many young LGBTQ+ women, the difficulties that they face can be almost overwhelming. Out & About also offers a mentoring programme. It matches a young women with a youth worker to meet up on a regular basis. 

This one-to-one model offers professional, informal support, with the aim of identifying barriers and practicing positive approaches to change.

Still Shouting

Still Shouting is a body of research published by YouthAction NI and LGBT support group Cara-friend, focusing on the needs and experiences of young people in Northern Ireland who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT).
Download the report

Steeper Steps

The Steeper Steps programme funded through Comic Relief will engage marginalised and excluded young women through a ‘Steeper Steps’ model. 

The model consists of five progressive ‘steps’ whereby young women will take part in an emotional/psychological step through youth work practice and a physical step provided by our partner organisation Far and Wild. Sport will be embedded in their lives more creatively, vulnerable young women (16 - 25 yrs) living with the risk of violence in their everyday lives, will have developed strategies & skills for keeping safe.

They will have access to new support networks and be more included in society; inspired to overcome and achieve the steeper steps they face to reach their full potential. Beneficiaries will be those most vulnerable, marginalised young women (16-25 yrs), including young mothers, young travellers, LGBT young women, involved with social services (living in sheltered accommodation, homeless, estranged from families) and those living with mental health issues.

BEACON

BEACON is a peace building peer leadership development programme (‘Leadership: Marginialised Young Adults’) funded through EU Peace 1V through Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) targeting young people aged 16 – 25 years living in the DCSDC and immediate cross-border area. 

The programme will reach out to and engage young people who are marginalised/invisible in their community and/at risk of engaging in anti-social behaviour, inspiring and supporting them to contribute to peace building in the DCSDC and immediate cross-border area.
 
BEACON will contribute to young people’s;
  • Knowledge: understanding of cultural traditions and diversity 
  • Attitudes: respect for difference and willingness to build relationships with those from different backgrounds .
  • Behaviours: integration with others and increased capacity for participation and contribution in local communities. 
  • Skills: problem solving; advocacy; compromise, communication; team work; decision making; leadership; planning; representation; money management and employability. 

The Beacon project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) project. 

International Women’s Day

YouthAction NI is committed to driving positive change for women in the global workplace and in each community they work with. 

We support empowerment, equality and opportunity by creating an environment where all young women can reach their full potential. International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality. It has been observed since the early 1900s and is now recognised each year on this day, March 8. 

It is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women's organisations, corporations and charities. The day is being marked around the world with arts performances, talks, and rallies, networking events, conferences and marches. 
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