ShoutOut: Invitation to Tender

Strategic Plan 2024 - 2027

Introduction to ShoutOut:

ShoutOut’s Mission & Purpose:

To end the exclusion of LGBTQIA+ people.

Our charitable objectives/aims are to promote inclusion for LGBTQIA+ students in Irish schools and among young people in Ireland generally, to provide young people with knowledge about LGBTQIA+ issues, to help young people to understand the effects of homophobia and transphobia, to build awareness of how to support their LGBTQIA+ peers, and to promote inclusion and acceptance within Irish schools and Irish society.

Our values are education, inclusion, and allyship.

Key modes of delivering that Mission:

• School Workshops

• Other Youth Workshops

• Capacity Building Workshops - service providers

• Resource Development

• Information Sharing - advocacy, sectoral campaigning, comms materials

ShoutOut is a registered charity committed to improving life for LGBTI+ people by sharing personal stories and providing educational programmes. We work with school students, teachers, youth workers, social workers, and workplaces on LGBTI+ issues.

We envision a culture which is accepting and celebratory of diversity, where no one is excluded based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual characteristics. ShoutOut is committed to providing a fair, equitable place of work for all our employees as well as the volunteers who give so generously of their time and expertise. 

ShoutOut started in 2012 as a group of friends who wanted to make a difference in their community by working with young people to promote LGBTI+ inclusion through educational workshops in secondary schools, with the goal of sparking empathy, promoting allyship, and combating homophobic and transphobic attitudes.

Since 2012 it has grown to offer these educational services to organisations in the public and private sector, providing training and resources to service providers, sporting bodies, and workplaces to foster improved LGBTI+ inclusion in those services and workplaces for clients and employees alike. 

The services provided by ShoutOut in secondary schools continue to be a core focus of the organisation’s charitable activities, primarily working directly with school students. We are the island of Ireland’s largest provider of secondary school workshops on LGBTI+ identities.  

ShoutOut also provides policy guidance and educational resources to organisations seeking to develop LGBTI+ inclusion in their services or workplace.

ShoutOut’s work is overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors, who manage and guide the staff team of three. ShoutOut’s staff, in turn, support a national network of volunteers and a voluntary Steering Committee to deliver educational activities and dedicated projects. 

Purpose and objective

This is ShoutOut’s first strategic planning process and represents an opportunity for the organisation to take stock of our work over the past decade, connect with our stakeholders, and plan effectively for our future. 
This process will work to develop the organisation’s vision by defining strategic priorities and goals which further our charitable mission and align to our organisational values. This process will also act to test and future-proof the organisation’s current vision and goals. 

The planning process will include an attempt to learn or engage with the relevant experience and thinking of other similar associations to help frame ShoutOut’s future and strengthen links for that future. 

An external consultant is sought to work closely with the Board of Directors and staff to design and undertake a review and consultation process, analyse findings, and produce an outcome document (a 3-year strategic plan). The successful tenderer (hereafter referred to as “the consultant”) may apply as an individual, or on behalf of a tendering organisation. 

The consultant will facilitate a review of ShoutOut’s achievements and challenges, and prospective opportunities for development as well as potential risks to the organisation’s future. They will lead the preparation and development of a comprehensive and concise 3 year strategic plan to commence 2024 - including the writing of same to final stage, taking into account feedback and suggested changes from ShoutOut.  

Please see tender document attached below.

How to submit a tender:

Enquiries should be directed to Ruadhán Ó Críodáin director@shoutout.ie 

Tenders should be submitted by email to info@shoutout.ie with ‘Strategic Plan Tender’ in the subject line. 

The Tender should be submitted include the following details: 

• Technical proposal outlining the understanding of the ToR, the proposed approach to complete all deliverables within the scope, timeline and budget available; 

• Financial proposal outlining the proposed costings to produce on the deliverables including consultant daily rate, travel, communications etc;

• Cover letter summarising how the consultant experience meets the selection criteria;

• Detailed curriculum vitae of the consultant/organisation’s strategic planning work to date, with specific reference to projects undertaken by the proposed personnel nominated for this tender; 

• Two references from previous clients for whom the consultant/organisation has carried out similar work;

• Examples of recent previous Strategic Plans developed.

• Identification of any relevant conflicts of interest. 

The deadline for the receipt of tenders is 16th June 2023. Tenders that are delivered late will not be considered. The tendering organisation is fully responsible for safe and timely delivery of the tender. Confirmation that the tender holds good for twelve (12) calendar months after the closing date for receipt of tenders.