Just last year Aviva participated in Pride celebrations across the country to celebrate the LGBTI+ community. This June, lockdown restrictions in Ireland meant that we had to celebrate Pride a little differently. However, lighting up Aviva Stadium in rainbow colours, and donating to BeLonG To meant we were able to ensure that the occasion was marked with Pride.
BeLonG To Youth Services is the national charity organisation supporting LGBTI+ young people in Ireland. Since 2003, they have focused on mental and sexual health, alongside drug and alcohol support. They respond to the needs of LGBTI+ young people and help them thrive.
In an effort to support the evolving needs of the young LGBTI+ community during the pandemic, BeLonG To conducted research to see where they should place funds at this time. They published their findings with some stark figures that remind us, there is still a long way to go for the LGBTI+ community to feel completely free and accepted in their own homes and further afield.
Recent findings from a national survey LGBTI+ Life in Lockdown, conducted by BeLonG To Youth Services, revealed:
93% of LGBTI+ youth are struggling with anxiety, stress or depression during Covid-19 in comparison to 53% of the general youth population, showing the need for increased digital youth work during this unprecedented time.
With this in mind, Aviva has donated €50,000 to BeLonG To LGBTI+ Youth Services to help fund the increased levels of digital youth work and online group support, which allows LGBTI+ young people to be who they truly are.
To celebrate Pride this year and spread our message that it is safe to dream, Irish Football stars and couple Katie McCabe and Ruesha Littlejohn returned to launch Aviva’s #LightUp4Pride campaign, a unique collaboration between two valued Aviva partners, BeLonG To Youth Services and Aviva Stadium. Katie and Ruesha spoke to us about the response they received last year after speaking of their relationship publicly for the first time.
As lockdown continued during Pride month, this year’s campaign focused on inviting homes around Ireland to #LightUp4Pride in tandem with Aviva Stadium on June 26. Windows throughout the country were lit up with candles, fairy lights and flags to echo Aviva’s support for Pride.
This year’s circumstances meant that there was no Pride parade, but we made sure celebrations continued, and support systems were strengthened for LGBTI+ youth regardless.