Save Rainbow House

We are Rainbow House Newry - a community centre, umbrella group and home to the Newry Rainbow Community, NRC Youth Group, NRC Women’s Group, NRC The Outlaws, Pride in Newry and The Pride in Newry Awards.

We live in one of the most homophobic places in Europe and have a disproportionately high LGBT suicide rate, where LGBT people, their families and their relationships are not recognised via equal marriage. We are also lacking a sexual orientation or gender identity strategy resulting in funding for vital services being at an all time low.

Rainbow House has been a sancurary for the local LGBTQ+ community for 17 years. We have saved and improved lives through our extensive range of services available to everyone in our local community regardless of sexuality, gender nationality or religion. These services include befriending, sexual health screening, counselling, drop in and social events. Rainbow House has been a beacon of hope and valued asset to the entire community...

The sustainability of Rainbow House is now in jeopardy and requires immediate action. As Rainbow House will close in April 2018, we want to ensure essential services are available to those vulnerable members of society who require them on a local level. It is equally vital that organisations exist to campaign for the rights of LGBT people and families to continue the strides that have already been made into the future.

We need to build our own bespoke premises which will secure our survival and growth. We appreciate that this is a large undertaking on our own but with the help of others, our local and global community, the enormity of this task can be tackled. 

We are contacting 2,018 sponsors to ask for a £100 donation each to help us continue to make a positive and meaningful difference to our local and wider community of Newry, Mourne and Down. Our aim is to raise £201,800.00.

All donors will be listed on our website, social media, and “The Rainbow House 2018x100 campaign plaque” that will form a permanent part of the new Rainbow House premises once completed.

If you have any further enquiries (including fundraising packs) or would like to get more involved with the 2018 x100 campaign, please do not hesitate to contact us.