Through discussion and facilitated activities we will explore ideas and imagine possibilities for a more inclusive housing system for LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland. We want to hear your ideas, perspectives and insights on what inclusion is, what it looks like, and how it feels. 

The focus group is part of a research project which seeks to understand how housing and homelessness support for LGBTQIA+ people can be improved. Engagement in the focus group provides an opportunity to have an impact on developing inclusivity within existing housing support providers, as well as to consider the possibility of introducing LGBTQIA+ specific provisions.

*Please note: The Rainbow Project does not provide housing support services at present. This focus group is a space to explore ideas, and will not be able to provide support or advice.

Who can attend

Anyone from the LGBTQIA+ community, who lives or has lived in Northern Ireland can attend. You do not need experience of housing insecurity or homelessness to take part.

Access needs

Unfortunately this project does not have a budget to accommodate access needs which require additional resources. Nonetheless, we are happy to discuss ways which can facilitate attendance and engagement. If you have sensory needs, require particular seating, require larger print text, additional communication supports, need a support worker to attend or anything else, please feel free to get in touch by emailing hannah@rainbow-project.org, and we will endeavour to meet those accommodations.

The room we will be using is on the third floor which is accessible by lift or stairs. The front door has a temporary ramp which can be put in place upon entrance. There is one step and then another three at the entrance. The room is large, has a table, chairs and sofas, and the option of different lighting.

When accessing the building, you will press a buzzer which someone will answer and buzz you in.

Cancellation

Due to limited capacity, if you are no longer able to make it we ask that you cancel the booking, or email hannah@rainbow-project.org.

The post Focus Group: Dreaming LGBTQIA+ Housing Provisions appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

The workshop will be an opportunity to share experiences, barriers and needs with providers across the sector and to discuss what support and preparation housing providers need in developing LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices. Engagement in the workshop will inform recommendations for a research project conducted by The Rainbow Project on LGBTQIA+ inclusion within the housing and homelessness sector in Northern Ireland.

Who can attend

This workshop is for employees within the housing and homelessness sector. We invite participation from managers, frontline staff and staff working in policy, research or strategy roles. We are interested to hear from temporary accommodation providers, housing associations and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Both statutory and VCSE organisations are invited to join. We welcome organisations with varying levels of experience in supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Aims

Through facilitated discussion and interactive exercises, we will:

• Map current inclusive practices, training, policies, outreach and cultural competence across the sector
• Understand the specific needs, support and competencies organisations require to develop and implement inclusive practices
• Discuss potential strategies and approaches which are viable to implement in the Northern Irish homelessness sector
• Foster dialogue across the sector to develop collaborative approaches to LGBTQIA+ inclusion

Participation

Places are limited so we ask that 1-2 people per organisation participate. If you register but are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket so the place can be offered to another organisation. If you would like to learn more information about the research project, or your organisation cannot attend but would like to contribute to the research, please contact:

hannah@rainbow-project.org

Location: The Works, 4th Floor,  The MAC, 10 Exchange Street, Belfast.

The post Housing Provider Workshop: LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practices appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

It involves a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes, as opposed to a grief support or counselling session.

The objective is to increase awareness around death, help encourage people to make the most of their lives and support individuals who are going through loss or have lost someone.

Why is it important?
Death, dying and bereavement are a part of life, but this is often a taboo subject and can be difficult to talk about.
Death Cafés offer connection, friendship, friendship, kinship. We know from our previous cafe’s that there are things that come up for LGBTQIA+ folks in a safe space around end of life care, complex grief, funerals, partners, family…we are here to share and to listen.

They are a great way to connect with new people who can understand what you’re thinking, feeling and going through. This allows you to validate your own experiences and remind you that you aren’t alone!

Do I need to have come to a Death Café before?

Not at all, everyone LGBTQIA+ is welcome to attend, regardless of your experiences with death, dying and bereavement. You might be curious about the topic, or just want a dedicated space to discuss it.

Who runs the event?

This event will be externally facilitated by Patricia Lübeck, Birth and Death Doula. It is hosted by the Cancer Champions, a partnership pilot project between The Rainbow Project and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event will be in Belfast city centre, held in Paperxclips new venue, 162 North Street, from 6-8pm.

Note: This event is strictly for LGBTQIA+ (18+) attendees to ensure that it remains a safe space for service users. 

Register for free below so we can contact you with any changes or updates to the event.

The post LGBTQIA+ Death Café – Belfast appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

What’s included?

Free health checks, and information sessions on how to reduce your risk to cancer with some tips around nutrition, self-care products, alcohol, and smoking – plus refreshments.

Who’s it for?

LGBTQIA+ folks, allies and friends/family aged 50+. Come along and enjoy an empowering afternoon focusing on looking after your health!

The post Health and Wellbeing Day (50+) appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

Hosted by the inimitable Pure Bent, EUPHORIA will showcase some of the finest drag and cabaret Derry and Northern Ireland have to offer – with act announcements to come over the next month.

Doors are at 8, show starts at 8:30 and we’ll round the night off with a DJ set – keep an eye on our socials to find out who!

Come along, have a ball and support Rainbow’s work to deliver equality for LGBTQIA+ people and their families across Northern Ireland. This event is strictly over 18s.

The post Maiden City Tease x Rainbow Project Presents: EUPHORIA appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

You will learn about how the guide was created, its content and how you can use it to raise awareness amongst your colleagues, patients and their loved ones.

From healthcare planning to thinking ahead, post-death practicalities and what to consider when honoring a life, this guide was made alongside a group of LGBTQIA+ volunteers invested in end of life care.

With Speakers:

• James O’Hagan, Head of Health Equity and Inclusion Programmes, LGBT Ireland
• Joe Henson, Cancer Champions Manager, The Rainbow Project
• Kathleen Quinlan, Lecturer/Tutor, St Francis Hospice
• Bettina Korn, Coordinator of the End-of-Life Care programme at St James’s Hospital, Dublin.

Sep 12, 2025 12:00 PM

Find the Zoom link to register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8C1fjckxS8q_hUugsf3IIg#/registration

The post Ember Webinar with LGBT Ireland appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

We would love for you to join us in the morning of Belfast Pride, when we’ll be having a Pride breakfast in the Belfast LGBTQIA+ Centre from 9am before making our way to the Green Zone behind the Kremlin/Union St float for 11am.

You can join us for the breakfast or just for the parade, pick up one of our placards or bring your own! Either way, we’d love for you to join us on Pride day.

In order to join, we would advise you to pick up a green wristband from the Belfast LGBTQIA+ Centre either during the Pride Breakfast the morning of Pride, or in the weeks leading up to it. This will ensure you’re able to get to the green zone where we’ll be lining up for the parade. Register below to keep up-to-date, and call the office if you need to arrange to pick up a wristband.

The post Belfast Pride – Rally With Rainbow! appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

You’ll hear from ourselves and colleagues on what the judgment, and the Equality Commission’s paper, might mean for trans people in Northern Ireland, what we’ve been doing to defend the rights of trans communities, our plans for the future, and how you can get involved.

The post Trans Rights & the Supreme Court – What Does it Mean and What Next? appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

To inform our campaigns, and the development of new services, we’re holding engagement sessions for trans people and their families, exploring what best practice care looks like and how to ensure trans healthcare services work for trans people.

Come along, hear about our work on trans healthcare and share your views on what future care should look like.

The post Have Your Say – The Future of Trans Healthcare appeared first on The Rainbow Project.

If you need some inspiration and ideas for your patches, we’ll have plenty of materials and samples on the day. You might want to pick a cancer ribbon for a certain type of cancer, you might want to make a patch for a friend or family member, or a patch for your own cancer experiences, or pick a famous LGBTQIA+ person with cancer experiences present or in the past.

The workshop is open to everyone – if you want to make your own patch for Pride that isn’t related to cancer, you are also very welcome to come for a day of queer crafting and take your patch home with you to sew on.

Do I need to be able to sew?

Not at all – we’ll have plenty of fabric glue, paint and other bits and bobs. Crafters of all abilities welcome!

Please sign up below to attend.

Access Information: The MAC is an accessible venue. Email info@rainbow-project.org for any queries relating to this event.

Note: this event is limited to members of the LGBTQIA+ community to ensure a safe space. 

The post Cancer Champions Patch Making Workshop appeared first on The Rainbow Project.