New Youthreach Centre for Clara, Co. Offaly
Clara Youthreach opened its door in October of 2001 and to date have twenty trainees on the programme. Despite just being seven miles from Tullamore, and a community training workshop, Clara a rural town located in the Midlands had a need for further support and training for young early school leavers.
The centre is housed in a 18th Century historical building which has been beautifully redecorated and refurbished. The centre at Clara aims at providing an opportunity for trainees and staff to work together in a safe, fair and friendly environment where programmes are delivered in a caring, patient and respectful atmosphere. The centre is being co-ordinated by Padraig Moran who is no stranger to Youthreach having previously worked in Athy Youthreach as Resource Tutor. All at Clara look forward to inviting you to their official opening in the near future.
Trainees from the new Clara Youthreach Centre
St. Fiachra’s Training Centre Letterkenny involved in a
Cross Border wider Horizons Project
The wider Horizon project was set up as a cross border
association. Its aim is to get young people from both the
Protestant and catholic communities working on projects
together. It was hoped that through group participation, young
people from both communities would build up a trust and
lasting friendship with each other.
This year’s project revolves around the special needs Olympics. Trainees from St. Fiachra’s training centre in Letterkenny and trainees from Limavady college are working together to organise this special event. At the moment the trainees from both centres are preparing banners for each sport. The event will be organised in such a way as to assist individual athletes.
Letterkenny are hosting athletes from Trinidad and Tumbago.
It is their intention to make their visitors stay enjoyable. The
staff and young people of Letterkenny Youthreach are very
much looking forward to the learning experience that the
project will be sure to provide.
Trainees from St. Fiachra’s Training Centre Letterkenny
President McAleese and her husband, Dr Martin McAleese meet
representatives of Youthreach Centres recently.
Message from our Chairperson
Dear colleagues,
A belated new year to you all. Through new initiatives, new programmes, (the Back To Education Initiative) in-services for staff, new staff with new ideas, new trainees with new demands, we face a new year with opportunities to develop and enhance Youthreach. I welcome all these things, it gives me renewed enthusiasm. I hope it does the same for you and your staff. As we draw near to our National Conference and our A.G.M. I want to thank all of you who have supported the N.A.Y.C. over the last ten months. A full report of the work carried out by the association’s executive members and the national representatives will be given at our A.G.M. Ann Murphy our secretary is leaving Ireland and returning home to Australia. Ann and her team have been very successful in setting up the first, Youthreach Youth Support and Training Unit at their facility in Clondalkin. On behalf of our membership, I want to thank Ann for her tremendous work over the last five years and particularly her commitment to the role of secretary on the executive. Ann the very best to you and your family.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - The National Conference of Youthreach Co-ordinators 2002 will take place in Blarney, Co. Cork from February 27th - March 1st.
See the new Youthreach website at www.youthreach.ie. This
site will be launched at the national conference, so could
co-ordinators contact Brendan Sheehan in Pleasants Street
Youthreach regarding individual centre photographs etc.
The National Youth Health Programme invite applications
from Youthreach Centres to participate in a Health Promotion
Initiative tailored for Youthreach personnel.
Breaking Through convenes its third annual conference on
Working with Young People at Risk, ‘In whose Best
Interest’ from 12th - 13th March 2002. Those interested
attending should contact the Breaking Through office on (01)
708 6013.