International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 Volunteer Spotlight - Dundalk Outcomers

Meet Outcomers: A Welcome place for Everyone in the Northeast

Some places are more than just a building with a door. They’re somewhere you can walk in as yourself and be met with a smile.

Outcomers is exactly that kind of place. It is both a support service and a community centre for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the Northeast of Ireland. Its mission is simple and big at once: to advance the quality of life for LGBT+ people and their families.

Their reach is wide, too. Outcomers supports people across Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Balbriggan. Whether you’re a teenager looking for a place to belong, an adult looking for friendship, or a family trying to understand and support someone you love, there’s a space waiting for you.

Something for Every Age and Every Family

One of the loveliest things about Outcomers is that nobody is left out. The centre works with people of all ages, and its activities reflect that:

• Youth groups give young people a regular, friendly space to meet.
• Adult groups bring people together for connection and support.
• Family groups make sure parents, siblings and loved ones feel welcome and included.

Outcomers also delivers training for other organisations, helping workplaces and groups across the region become more understanding and inclusive. Alongside the day-to-day support, this work spreads the welcome far beyond the centre’s own walls.

Volunteers are behind all of it . As the manager puts it, Outcomers’ work simply can’t happen without them.

Volunteering at Outcomers, There’s a Role for Everyone

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’d “fit in” as a volunteer, here’s the good news: there really is a role for everyone.

Regular volunteering. Every Friday, volunteers come in to help run the youth group. It’s a steady, rewarding commitment, and young people get to know the friendly faces who show up for them week after week.

Ad hoc opportunities. Not able to commit to every week? No problem. Throughout the year, Outcomers needs hands for events such as:

• Pride events. There are around five or six across the region every year, and each one needs helpers.
• Coffee mornings. Some volunteers are trained up in barista roles and keep the cups full and the conversation flowing.
• Creative, practical jobs. Sometimes the task is as simple as painting furniture ahead of a Pride event. You pick up a brush, and you’re part of the story.

You don’t need a particular skill set to start. Outcomers loves meeting new people and finding out what you would enjoy doing, then matching you with a role that suits you.

Ready to say hello? Getting started is as easy as reaching out:

• Email: info@outcomers.org
• Phone: 042 9329816

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