Shoppers and neighbours are joining a growing movement , The Rainbow Project hosts an LGBTQIA+ Community Conference in Derry on 14 August to celebrate and reflect on a major awareness programme across Northern Ireland, share learning, and plan how inclusion work continues locally and cross‑border.

Essential Takeaways

  • Event details: The conference runs 10.30am–3.30pm on Friday 14 August at The Rainbow Project’s Foyle Centre, Waterloo House, Magazine Street.
  • Who’s coming: Community members, public sector reps, organisations, guest speakers and allies will gather to reflect and plan.
  • Programme impact: Hundreds took part in workshops, accredited training and community events aimed at building inclusion and practical ally skills.
  • Tone and feedback: Participants described sessions as welcoming, knowledgeable and useful , even LGBTQIA+ attendees said they learned new perspectives.
  • Next steps: PEACEPLUS funding ends this strand, but The Rainbow Project will keep delivering awareness training across Northern Ireland.

A clear gathering with a warm, human heartbeat

The most striking thing about this conference is how ordinary it promises to feel , a room of people who’ve learned together, swapped stories and come away more curious than defensive. According to The Rainbow Project, the event marks the end of a funded awareness programme that reached hundreds across Derry City and Strabane and neighbouring areas, and it’s deliberately shaped to be conversational and practical. Expect friendly faces, useful resources and the sort of low‑key optimism that follows shared learning.

Why the training mattered , practical skills, not just theory

Organisers say the workshops weren’t just about definitions; they focused on real‑world inclusion skills for workplaces and community settings. Hundreds completed a mix of accredited training, workshops and events designed to improve understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities and build allyship. That practical angle is important: people leave with checklists, signposting and confidence to act, not just good intentions.

Real feedback, small but telling moments

Participants told organisers the sessions felt safe and welcoming, encouraging questions rather than shutting them down. One participant said the trainers were knowledgeable and created space to learn; another , who’s a member of the LGBTQIA+ community , said the course still broadened their perspective. Those sorts of responses matter because they show the programme reached both people seeking basic awareness and those wanting deeper nuance.

Funding ends, but momentum doesn’t have to

This strand of work was funded through the PEACEPLUS Local Co‑Designed Action Plan and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. While that specific funding stream concludes with the conference, The Rainbow Project has said it will continue offering awareness training across Northern Ireland. That continuity matters: sustained, local training helps embed inclusive practice in schools, health services and workplaces rather than making it a one‑off box to tick.

Who should go and how to join

The conference is open to people who completed the programme and to the wider public , a useful mix for networking, idea‑sharing and partnership building. If you want to attend, you can register by emailing [email protected]. Bring an open mind, some questions and, if you like, a notepad; sessions are designed to be practical and resource‑rich.

It's a small change that can make everyday life a bit more welcoming.

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