Volunteer and Support LGBTI+ People
Being able to talk to someone who will listen without judgement can be a lifeline for people who are confused or struggling with their sexual orientation, sexuality, gender expression and gender identity.
The National LGBT+ Helpline and Transgender Family Support Line is run through a network of trained volunteers based in five local helplines across the country. They are based in Cork, Mayo, Kilkenny, Dundalk and Dublin.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life, with one thing in common, we all identify as LGBTI+ and want to give something back to our community.
We currently have over 66+ volunteers around the country, who work together to provide confidential listening, support and information to LGBTI+ people, their families and friends, seven days a week.
The Volunteer role is very rewarding and requires a commitment of six hours per month (evenings and weekends).
Our Recruitment Process
If you are interested in volunteering with our service we would be delighted to hear from you. There are four steps to our recruitment process:
Step 1: Fill-in the online application form to express your interest.
Step 2: Once we have received your application form and are accepting new volunteers, our Volunteer Coordinator will get in touch to arrange a volunteer information session and follow-up interview. The interview is a way for you to find out more about what is involved in volunteering and for us to assess your skills and capacity for volunteering with our support service(s), which includes a garda vetting process.
Step 3: Following the outcome of the interview, the next step is to take part in our training programme, which normally runs over 2 full Saturdays and 3 evenings.
Step 4: Following successful completion of the training programme, you will work with an experienced Helpline Volunteer for the first four shifts through shadowing and mentoring on evenings and weekends.
We offer ongoing training and support to provide the skills and knowledge that you’ll need in your volunteer role.
Simply complete the Online Volunteer Application Form. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact info@lgbt.ie for more information.
Volunteering at LGBT Ireland is aimed at individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-Binary, Intersex (LGBTI+). We seek volunteers over 21 years of age due to the sensitive nature of the calls we receive.
Want to Volunteer?
we are actively recruiting for volunteers
please apply by following the steps in ‘our recruitment process’ section.
Thank you for your interest!
A Message from our CEO, Paula Fagan
Every time the phone rings, you wonder who is going to be on the other end. You wonder about the voice you will hear, where they are calling from, the reason they dialled the number. Every time it is different, but every time you are ready to do the most important thing you can do in that moment. You are ready to listen, and to give them the space to be heard, sometimes for the first time in their lives.
That is the role of an LGBT Helpline Volunteer, and it has been for 10 years now, to listen to the wide range of experiences the members of our community across Ireland have had, and to provide them with a compassionate response in a moment that can be so vulnerable.
The phone lines have existed for decades. Even back when it was illegal to be gay, there were people there to help, to lean on their own experience to guide others on their journey. But the problem was these important services were scattered around the country, often operating one evening a week, and not giving the accessibility to those who really needed them. That is why in 2010 all these groups came together to form the National LGBT Helpline.
With some great determination from staff and volunteers of various services, and some critical investment from the Community Foundation of Ireland, we were able to create a listening service that was truly responsive, operating every evening when people really needed it.
Highlights from our Volunteers
LGBT Helpline Service
In 2020, the National LGBT Helpline and Online Chat Service responded to 2,003 contacts.
Online Chat Service
In 2020, volunteers spent a total of 367.83 hours responding to online chats.
Email Support
In 2020, 309 people were supported through email contact.
LGBTI+ Peer Support Groups
In 2020, we adapted during Covid-19 restrictions to deliver peer support groups online. We provided 60 peer support group meetings.
Visits to LGBT.ie
In 2020, 119,531 people visited our website www.lgbt.ie.
Volunteer Reflection
The helpline itself is there to allow you to be heard, to give yourself a voice, to allow yourself to be listened to. To know that people out there care about you and you’re part of a much larger community.
Volunteer Reflection
If someone is struggling and wondering whether to phone the helpline, I would say that dialing the number is definitely the hardest and the bravest part but it’s well worth it.
Volunteer Reflection
It’s the only fully LGBT+ staffed helpline in the country so all the volunteers will be able to identify in some way with what you’re going through.
Volunteer Reflection
The volunteering with LGBT Ireland has been rewarding, its nice to be connected with volunteers from around the country as part of a national network. The Annual Volunteer Conference in October is always a great opportunity to meet everyone and build lasting friendships and connections.