Youth service projects enlisted in new national funding scheme
Four youth service projects, under the auspices of Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), have been given the green light to enter a new national youth service funding scheme.
This month sees the official introduction of the ‘UBU, Your Place Your Space’, which is being run in conjunction with local service providers who offer young people a dedicated ‘place’ and a ‘space’ in their local community.
CMETB, in partnership with Youth Work Ireland and The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), have entered four youth service projects into the new initiative.
The UBU funding scheme, which was announced by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in December 2019, aims to provide services that support young people to develop their personal and social skills. These include services relating to health, education, employment and social connectedness. The scheme particularly targets young people, aged 10 to 24 years, who may find themselves marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable.
The four projects locally for Cavan and Monaghan will each be facilitated by local youth service providers; Bounce Back West Cavan, Bounce Back South East, Include and Monaghan ISPCC. The initiative provides a diverse range of services such as small/large group activities, outreach, trips away, events, direct support and one to one assistance.
The timely introduction of UBU Your Place Your Space for Cavan and Monaghan comes as many young people find themselves isolated and displaced during the current pandemic.
Maureen McIntyre, youth officer, CMETB, said: “With the introduction of UBU Your Place Your Space we can continue to deliver quality, flexible and responsive local youth services in our region of Cavan and Monaghan.”
Bounce Back projects
Bounce Back West Cavan covers the areas of Belturbet/Ballyconnell/Swanlinbar; while Bounce Back South East takes in Ballyjamesduff/Bailieborough/Kingscourt.
Managed in partnership by Youth Work Ireland and the ISPCC, Bounce Back is a service for young people, aged 10-24 years, who want to improve their confidence, problem-solving skills, resilience, creativity or to meet new people.
As an innovative youth service, Bounce Back offers youth cafes, youth programmes and a one-to-one therapeutic Resilience Programme for young people. It also uses dedicated child and family support workers to support the young person in achieving their goals.
Include Project
This covers the areas of Clones/Ballybay/Castleblayney
Managed by Youth Work Ireland, Include Youth Service targets young people with specific needs and provides a safe space to chat and socialise. The service aims to counteract the problem of early school leaving by identifying young people who are experiencing difficulties, identifying the specific problems they are experiencing, working with those ‘at risk’ young people to overcome the issues they experience within the formal education system. The service also incorporates a Wellbeing Programme, in partnership with the ISPCC, whereby a Wellbeing Officer works with young people on their individual needs on a one to one basis.
Monaghan ISPCC Project
Covering County Monaghan, ISPCC Monaghan provide dedicated outreach and one to one support to meet the complex needs of specified target groups. Young people/groups are consulted on an ongoing basis which is incorporated into programme design thereby prioritising needs of the area. The service will employ one full-time Resilience Support Worker to provide outreach and one to one support.