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Project Background

In the Spring of 1999 a number of women met informally to explore the possibility of establishing an organisation that might be broadly supportive of the lesbian and bisexual women’s community throughout the North of Ireland. The group, which became known as the Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative (LASI) received funding from NLCB to undertake a feasibility study focused on the needs of lesbian and bisexual women.
 
LASI commissioned a report which detailed the experience of Lesbian and bisexual women in the North and made recommendations in relation to the type of organisation that might meet their needs.  The report “A Mighty Silence” was published, and launched at Stormont in 2002.

In 2004, LASI was awarded a grant from the Community Fund to employ a worker for three years.  This very successful project has led to securing a further 5 year funding from Big Lottery's Reaching Communities Fund to employ three staff; co-ordinator, development worker and part-time administrator.

The main outcomes of the grant will be:

  • An increase in the social inclusion of lesbian and bisexual women in NI.
  • That the views, aspirations perspectives and experiences of lesbian and bisexual women will be communicated to statutory and voluntary bodies, resulting in improved services through more relevant policies, planning, legislation and practice.
  • That training will be provided to other agencies and groups around better lesbian and bisexual woman’s inclusion.
  • That the project will develop the leadership capacity of individual lesbian and bisexual women and facilitate development of community groups for lesbian and bisexual women, to positively impact on service provision.
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