Award-winning LGBT youth service, GenQ, loses its funding for 2013.

They may have won an HONOUR Award last week, but the celebrations were short-lived for Central Coast LGBTIQ youth service group GenQ with the news that they had lost their funding for 2013.

Regional Youth Support Services Inc are not funded for the GenQ program in 2013. The primary source of funding for GenQ has come from private donations and small grants funding. They now call upon private local businesses, to donate to the GenQ trivia fundraiser to keep this ‘one of a kind’ program on the Central Coast. The GenQ program receives no government funding.

Regional Youth Support Services Inc has provided GLBTQI (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Queer and Intersexed)  Support, Information, Referral and casework on the Central Coast for the past 26 years, GenQ has been in existence for the last 16 of those years. This program is the program specialising in helping young GLBTQI Young People on the Central Coast, the loss of which will be devastating to the Young People and community on the Coast.

But GenQ is not going down without a fight. They are planning a fundraising event. The funds provided by this event will be used for running the monthly support group plus in school advice and referral to teachers, students and family, and the continuation of community development of the Band Against Bullying Campaign.

“This trivia night really is our last resort to help assure the continuation of this vital service on the Coast, without it we don’t how we will be able to keep GenQ going”. Jamie McKenzie GenQ Facilitator

Regional Youth Support Services Inc, is a registered charity with DGR (deductible gift recipient tax) status. Sponsorship packages are available to help businesses decide what they are able to donate, and what they get for their sponsorship.