GLYNI is a relaxed youth setting, specifically for the LGBT community. We are a group that caters for 14-25 year olds, the youth arm of the Cara-Friend network. GLYNI runs on Monday from 7:30pm – 9:30pm (doors open from 6pm) and Friday nights from 5:30pm – 7:30pm (14-16 year olds inclusive) and 7.30pm – 9.30pm (for 16 and over), and involves self-development sessions, arts and crafts, Pride workshops, residentials, guest speakers and other various events. It’s for young people who identify as non-heterosexual, eg lesbian, gay, bisexual. We also provide befriending and e-mail support service to young people aged 25 years and under throughout Northern Ireland.
Our usual routine would be that Monday nights are devoted to ‘session work’, which generally takes the form of some sort of structured activity, discussion, planning or training. In the past, we have used these nights for things such as training and education on ‘Drugs and Alcohol Awareness’, the development of our ‘What’s in your Closet?’ coming out resource, and organisation and planning of GLYNI itself. There is always something happening on these nights!
Our Friday nights are known as our ‘drop-in’ nights, and these nights are usually more casual, with activities such as computer or board games, arts and crafts, outings to cinema, swimming, or simply just relaxing and having social chat with a cup of tea, coffee or juice for a few hours. We encourage our members to help with the organisation of these nights, so if you have an idea or something you want to do, this is the perfect chance to do it! Recently, we held a ‘GLYNI Gameshow’ night, with teams, a quiz, minigames, and prizes! Nothing is impossible at our drop-in!
Besides our normal activities, GLYNI offers email support and befriending to anyone who requires it. We also get involved in the community where we can, linking with other groups and raising awareness, or fighting on behalf of the community for rights and equality. We have trips and residentials, both educational and fun. Recently, we organised and hosted the first, annual heyNIgh! residential weekend, where LGBT groups from all over Ireland joined us for a weekend in Enniskillen for lots of fun activities, games, discussion, and just making a whole bunch of new friends!
With GLYNI, there really isn’t much we can’t do!
Help & Support
GLYNI exists to provide information and support to any and all young people who are questioning their sexuality. If you feel attracted to other boys or girls, or both, and aren’t sure what to do, have no-one to talk to and just need a listening ear, then we are here to help you. Please email us using the link, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. GLYNI are currently making arrangements to set up a helpline, which will be run by LGBT young people for LGBT young people, and will deal with sexual orientation, as well as issues around sexual health, drink and drugs etc. We appreciate your patience while we get this up and running. To help you get the support you need, we have contacts with other groups who provide services to LGBT young people in different areas around N. Ireland, and will be happy to help you make contact with them.
is a part of Cara-Friend 