So what is a Personal Development Programme?

Personal development is many things and has many traditions and methods, but can be best summed up by the notions of improving self-awareness and self-knowledge, developing potential talents and strengths, and the building or renewing of identity. For LGBT individuals, it may prove more difficult for us to self-develop due to the additional obstacles we face as a sexual minority, and the discrimination and prejudice we often face in our daily lives.

The Rainbow Project’s courses are for LGBT individuals who are 18 years plus and there is a maximum of 15 participants on each programme. These courses run over a six week period and there is usually a celebratory event at the end. The sessions are delivered in an informal group work setting through a variety of methods. These would be large group and small group discussions, role-plays, individual work, multi-media presentations and lots more. The facilitators are kept on their toes to keep these sessions interesting and fun but with the right pitch of challenge for the participants.

The issues that we address are determined by the participants in week one, but in the past these have included issues such as; mental and sexual health, relationships and intimacy, assertiveness and communication, body image and flirting, parenthood and coming out, homophobia and the law, to name but a few.

If this sounds like the type of challenge that you would like to be involved in then please contact Nuala at Rainbow on nuala@rainbow-project.org or call 02890 319030.