Foroige Youghal is seeking adult volunteers to spend time in one-to-one support roles with young people. Open to both sexes, each volunteer will be matched with a young person of similar gender, aged between 12 and 17, with a view to sharing social or educational pursuits for one to two hours weekly. Participating adults must be over 21 but there is no upper age limit applied. A year-long commitment is expected.

The initiative represents a nationwide community programme called the Big Brother Big Sister Youth Monitoring Programme. It aims to forge friendships, by which it is hoped the young person would benefit “through increased support, confidence and general enjoyment,” according to Youghal Foroige Youth officer Nicola Lucey.

Naturally, each volunteer must undergo a Garda vetting procedure. Successful applicants will be subsequently trained before being matched with their young charges. Those of similar interests will be paired together.

Once matched both the adult volunteer and his or her new friend can decide on the type of activities they would like to pursue. For that matter, they can espouse football, cinema, beach or library and just go chill in a restaurant and chat over coffee. “It’s a very welcome idea and I’m sure the benefits will be equally shared by both parties,” says Nicola.

 

Interested parties may contact Nicola on: (024) 90793; 0861702347

See also www.bbbsireland.ie and www.foroige.ie

The Hot Spot Music group single & album was launched at the Hot Spot Cafe, Nagle House, Youghal, on Thursday 16th September 2010 with guest speaker David Stanton T.D. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com email: news@youghalonline.com

“MIRROR MIRROR” The ‘Hot New Single’ by THE HOT SPOT MUSIC GROUP

available now for download @  http://www.sacred-root.com

Taken From ‘Roots ‘

A Brilliant 19 Track Cd Compilation Of 13 Original Songs & 6 Cover Versions Featuring 30 Young Musicians From The Hot Spot Music Group In Youghal Co.Cork

The Hot Spot Music Group A Voluntary Run Club For 12 To 18 Years  Based In Youghal Co Cork Has Been In Existence For The Past 2 Years .  Its A Place Where Every Thursday The Young And Inspired Can Go To Write A Song , Learn An Instrument, Play A Tune, Jam Out Or Hang Out In The Hot Spot Youth Cafe, Nothing Too Serious But A Whole Lotta Fun And Freedom To Learn.

The Group Is Facilitated By National Youth Organisation Foroige Who Provide A Safe And Warm Envoirment For The Club To Happen

Roots Was  Recorded Mixed And Mastered Over The Past Year And A Half In Claycastle Recording Studio In Youghal And Produced & Arranged Through Bobby Lee A Well Respected Musician Producer And The Driving Force Behind The Sacred Roots Projects .

Roots The Album Has Heart And An Old Soul With A Young Voice ,Covering A Wide Range Of Genres Reaching Across All Ages And Musical Tastes, Acoustic Pop /folk /balledy /funky/souly ,Groovy Its Got It All !!

‘Roots’ Is About Giving A Voice To Youth Through Music And Bears Witness To The Depth,Talent And Enthusiasim In Our Young Aspiring Writers And Musicians Today.

The Sacred Roots Project Has Many Facets To Its Work To Help Support Its Projects Hosting Concerts In A Beautiful 12th Century Church In Youghal And Providing A Platform For Young Musicians To Support Some Prolific Names Like Declan O Rourke,John Spillane, Luka Bloom , Kila ,Liam O’maonlai , Mary Coughlan ,The Four Of Us To Name A Few And Running Regular Talent Shows  Busking Expos And Other Musical Activities And Events To Support Community And International Aid Projects.

The Sacred Roots Project Is A Non-Profit Voluntary Run Project Dedicated To Helping And Encouraging People Develop And Realise They’re Potential Through The Form Of Music.

‘Roots’ The Album Is On Sale At Scotts Music Shop 137 North Main Street Youghal ,Crees Card Shop Youghal And On

On  Sacred Roots Site

FOR MORE INFO ON THE SACRED ROOTS PROJECTS GO TO http://www.sacred-root.com

BUY ONE SET ONE FREE!!! GODBLESS

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It desperately needed doing. The County Council apparently didn’t have the resources but the people from Foróige just donned their red shirts and did it. About 20 members of the Nagle House based youth club, plus a dozen or so parents and volunteers, cleaned Youghal beach on a sponsor card initiative last Saturday. They cleaned the Claycastle car park too. Thank God. Report: Christy Parker | Photos: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com and Emer Power (Foróige)

Problems

There had been problems leading up to the event. One county council employee had objected to them doing it at all, on the grounds of taking someone’s overtime or something. Then the county council wanted to manage the project, as previous experience had seemingly taught them that household waste and heavens-know-what could be unscrupulously added to the mix if there was a lapse in responsibility. That authority was reluctant to issue a waiver and instead had suggested that the waste be ‘coralled’ over the weekend at Claycastle, to be collected by its employees in due course. The gardai weren’t too keen on that scenario, given the potential for fire, scattering and a lure towards lawlessness that a mountain of rubbish-laden plastic bags provided. Neither were the Foróige people and so a sort of ominous impasse was reached.

Sorted…

So it looked for a while on Friday that the venture might be cancelled. Then County and Town Councillor Barbara Murray sought the ear of Town Manager Patricia Power, explaining he Community Garda Peter Queally and youth worker Emer Power were, to say the least, responsible and capable co-ordinators. Ms. Power in turn consulted higher office in County Hall. It was agreed the landfill would allow a waiver after all, with the waste delivered by trailer on the day.

Cold

It was a cold day for the beach, with a strong, cold wind whipping in relentlessly from Capel Island. Armed with gloves, black bags and pickers provided by the county council, the crew tackled their task in two shifts from 10 am to 2pm and from 2pm to the finish, about two hours later. Out in desolate Redbarn at about 3pm, a rosy-cheeked Rian McSweeney from Bunscoil was both resolute and rueful. He was filling his second bag and, no, he wasn’t particularly enjoying cleaning the beach, he declared with uncompromising honestly! (That boy is sure to get a job with the county council –probably in the higher echelons!)

Nearby, Foróige café  volunteer Patricia Delaney was less disillusioned. Patricia hails from Laois where beaches are scarce, so she was happy to be on any bit of sand, no matter how grotty. Not that the scenery had lured her here, in the first place. She was in Youghal, “because of a man,” she informed, as she merrily dumped another beer can into a bag.

Bottles, boxes and Barbie!

Youghal beach delivered over 100 bin bags across two trailer loads of rubbish. Of prime presence were a huge number of butter boxes from a load lost overboard at sea late last year. “We picked an awful lot of beer cans and bottles too,” says Emer, “along various items including an old camera tripod.”

Ultimately, the day’s work was notable on several fronts; it produced a cleaner beach, demonstrated the worth of community self-help and served a reminder that Youghal’s younger generations are more enterprising than headlines about underage drinking, vandalism and graveyard desecration might suggest.

By no means least, it enabled Foroige, in a time of cruel cutbacks to raise money for their Nagle House home. “All the sponsorship money raised will go towards the our youth services,” says Emer, in reference to the youth club, café and the various projects that quietly and efficiently help nurture the youth and the future of Youghal. Further community-enhancing initiatives are likely.

Congratulations are merited all round.

FOROIGE:  Founded 58 years ago, Foroige provides a range of youth work services though the operation of Foroige clubs, local youth development projects and youth information centres. In this way it meets the developmental needs of young people generally and also focuses on vulnerable young people as affected by poverty, marginalisation, social exclusion, school issues, crime, substance abuse and family difficulties. By Christy Parker

Foroige’s services are primarily directed at adolescents and membership is confined to 12-18 year olds. However, it also operates local youth services and local youth development projects involving 10-20 year-olds. In helping members to become confident, caring individuals, it reaches some 50,000 young people annually, through 5,000 volunteers and 300 paid staff.

The organisation describes its purpose as enabling young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their own and society’s development through developing their character and talents; thinking for themselves; having fun and making friends; building positive relationships, acquiring skills and knowledge and improving the community.

The Youghal Youth Project and Café

The Youghal Youth Project and Café provides such activities as: one-to-one support; after school groups; Junior and Leaving Cert support; youth music groups; First Cut film project; East Cork Youth Council; Focus groups for targeted young people; summer programmes; annual youth events.

The newly opened Hot Spot youth café is available to any person 13-17 from the Youghal area. It aims to provide a safe recreational space for young people to socialise, develop their lives and personalities and access services when required. It is managed by one full-time worker, who is supported by trained, adult volunteers. Opening hours are 7.30pm-9.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 7.30pm-10.00pm Fridays.

Co-ordinator: Nicola Lucey: Tele: 086-1702347.

Youghal Community Based Drugs Initiative

The initiative aims to enable young people who misuse or are at high risk of misusing alcohol or drugs to involve themselves in their own development, including taking positive steps to overcome problems due to drug and alcohol issues.

The project also operates family support groups for those whose lives are affected by alcohol or drug abuse in their homes.

Each Community Drugs Initiative has a local management committee comprised of local residents, professionals, an employing agency and the Regional Drug Taskforce. The age group is flexible but generally targets those between 14 and 21 who may have developed drug or alcohol addictions, or who are considered at serious risk of doing so.

Referrals to the initiative come from such sources as GP’s, social workers, gardai, the probation service and the general community. Thereafter the aim is to support the young person to change their substance use habits, either through harm reduction methods or encouraging total abstinence. The person may be also encouraged to take up education, participate in local youth activities or be referred for treatment.

Presently, a home detox support service is being developed in Youghal, piloted by a local GP. This programme is partly a response to the dearth of detox facilities, the difficulty in accessing treatment programmes and to accommodate those seeking to get clean without treatment.

Co-ordinator: Eric Trihy. Tele: 096-3842183

Garda Youth Diversion Project

The Garda Youth Diversion Project is a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative that seeks to divert 12-17 year-olds from anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. The service seeks to help young people understand the consequences of crime and stay out of the justice system. There are almost 100 Garda Youth Diversion projects running nationally.

The Youghal Garda Youth Diversion Project seeks to help young people who a) have been involved in crime and are deemed at risk of remaining within the justice system; b) have not been referred by the juvenile liaison officer but have come to the attention of gardai, community or local agencies and are at risk of entering the system eventually.

Participation is voluntary but the Youghal project strives to provide suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic and personally responsibility and work towards improving the long-term prospects of the participants.

Types of activities being promoted under the project fall under such following categories as: group and individual work; life-skills; family support; health initiatives; outdoor pursuits; seasonal prpgrammes’ day trips; youth information.

Co-ordinators: Catherine Ryan (tele: 086-0481956) and Kieran McCarthy (tele: 0867814849).

* The general, landline number for services based in Nagle House is (024) 90793.

The exemplary work being conducted through Foroige at Nagle House continues with a new youth club now being added to the many projects and programmes being conducted at the venue. Nagle House Youth Club caters for 12-15 year-olds and is being co-ordinated principally by Foroige Youth leader Emer Power, assisted by fellow-leader and Community Garda, Peter Queally. Both leaders have attained Module 5 –the highest on Foroige’s youth leadership training programmes. By Christy Parker

The club meets ever Wednesday night and held its inaugural meeting three weeks ago. The young members are currently in the process of electing its officers from their ranks. “They nominated and seconded their candidates and will be electing them by secret ballot next week,” says Emer. “So three weeks in, they’ll have learned one of the basics of democracy!”

Rules:

That they have embraced that admirable concept well is further evident from the mix of ‘negotiable and non-negotiable’ rules and sanctions they have installed thus far. Much thought and debate went into the process and the resultant examples include alcohol/drug use or smoking -or evidence of having done so in the building- resulting in suspension from a subsequent meeting. Mobile phone interruptions during a meeting will also bring sanction. Failure to wash one’s own utensils in the Hot Spot café will result in on washing everyone else’s ware subsequently.

Adherence to such regulations may be essential if, as expected, membership demand exceeds availability. “We’ve had about 20 attending so far and I’d say the maximum we can cater for will be about 30,” says Peter. “And at that we may need some parents to assist. But basically, there won’t be much room for molly-coddling if someone misbehaves too much, with others wanting to replace them.”

Emer’s energy

Who can tell what terrible sins Emer Power committed in a previous life, for the girl’s role in this one would seem to entail perpetual immersion in the affairs of those high-velocity, wise-cracking, optimistic, ambitious, argumentative, indefatigable, fearless creatures known ‘the youth!’ Everyone loves them but it’s an exhausting kind of love after the first 20 minutes!

A native of Youghal, Emer is a national schoolteacher in Killeagh and previously ran the ‘Youghal Youth Club, which ended about twelve months after ago two successful years. It catered for a slightly older age group and ended primarily due, eventually, to a dearth of adult leaders.

New home

A major advantage of the new club is that, unlike its predecessor it has a permanent, purposely-constructed base. “We used to meet in Bru na Si and other places but Nagle House is now very much developed towards youth facilities,” says Emer. “It’s a safe, familiar meeting place and provides everyone with a comfort zone.”

The club has began life relatively late in the year and may or may not continue through the summer. In any case, its tenure thereafter will run from September to June. The club’s functions evolve around a three-point structure: a) formal meeting; b) projects/plans for an event/outing; c) recreation.

Yeah right…principles.

Emer charges the venture with installing confidence, while channelling a sense of responsibility and social and community awareness amongst its members, but in tandem with fun and fulfilment. So while the rules and rigours of democracy contribute an educational aspect, the laughs and freedom that are synonymous with youthful exuberance are no less paramount. The members do not lack for aspiration. “They want to go camping,” says Peter. “In Oakwood preferably!” he adds, in reference to a renowned Welsh theme park.

That may or may not transpire but Peter is insistent that the club members realise that what might come from the Youghal community goes back into it in some way too. “I want them to realise that if, for example, we run a fundraising event, that it’s the people who are giving the money. So, in return turn we may run a graveyard or beach cleaning day or something like that. Those principles are important.”

Meanwhile the general run of things will see much opening of a book of about a thousand things to do in a youth club that fills half Emer’s bag. There are ideas for warm-up games and games to serve creativity, concentration, imagination, co-operation, chair and circle games, sports games and so on. Add in the various other projects, plans, programmes, inter-club events, café times and workshops and hey, its 16th birthday time before they know it! Oh to be starting shaving again…..

Some Nagle House Youth Club guidelines:

In tandem with the club’s recruiting scheme, the following guidelines are made known: The club meets ever Wednesday from 8pm-9.30 pm.

Parents’ responsibility:

The leaders’ responsibility begins when the club starts and ends when it finishes. The members are the parents responsibility outside these times.

Please inform a leader if a your child cannot attend.

If a child is frequently absent or late, the family will be contacted.

If there are activities outside club time, parents will be given a letter and a parent permission form to complete.

If a signed parent permission form is not received for a scheduled activity/outing, the child cannot attend.

Foroige have a number of policies on:

Recruitment of volunteers; child protection guidelines, tobacco, alcohol and drugs; insurance (public/product liability cover); inter club events; organisation constitution.

Club fees: €15per member annually or €25 per family.

Voluntary club leaders: Emer Power, Peter Queally, Barry Storran, Jason Goggin and Eoin Hodnett.

Further details on: Nagle House Facebook: naglehouse.foroige.com; Tele: (024) 90793.

Drugs Awareness Week, which runs from the 5th to the 9th of October, will see the Youghal Community Drugs Initiative, in conjunction with Foróige, host two evenings to help public awareness with all aspects of drug and alcohol mis-use. Report: Michael Twomey

Development Worker for the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force (SRDTF), Gordon Kingsley explained. “There will be different activities within 8 towns in the region. These activities will involve information evenings, workshops, launching of projects, and will involve family members highlighting work they have done,” he said.
Part of the awareness week will also see the local agency try to raise its profile in a town that has a growing drug problem, while highlighting the role the SRDTF can play in affecting positive change.
The Youghal project will hold information evenings on the specific work of the project in various locations throughout the town. This will include information around substance misuse and the developments within the project. There will be two evenings; Monday 5th at the Holy Family church hall and Wednesday 7th Oct. at Nagle House, South Abbey, Youghal. Both events start at 8pm. and are open to the general public.

A piece of work developed by the family support group will be on display. This work highlights how the person, family and wider community are affected by drugs and alcohol. The piece will be on display at the Southern Regional Drugs taskforce conference in conjunction with Kerry-life education on the 8th of Oct in Killarney called the ‘Getting A Grip Conference’.
Meanwhile, in Colbh, the Cobh community drugs Initiative and the local management group will present the findings of an internal evaluation of the project to the wider community on Tuesday 6th 0ct 2009 at 7.30pm. The YMCA building on main street Cobh will host the event and it is open to the general public. A formal launch of the project will happen on the evening with various speakers having an input with information on other developments that are currently in the pipeline.

For further information in Youghal contact Eric Trihy Youghal community Drugs worker on 086-3842183 and for Cobh contact Cobh Drugs worker Gemma Turner on 086-8283760

Photo: Michael Hussey ( YoughalOnline.com)

The “Message in a bottle” campaign will be launched by cork hurlers Niall McCarthy and Leigh Desmond in “The Usual Place” Bar in Youghal on the 15th August 2008 @ 8:00pm. A night of fun is promised with a selection of non-alcoholic refreshments being served and a number of up and coming local young bands performing. The event, which has lots of surprises in store, will show that it is possible to have a great night without drugs or alcohol.
The aim of the campaign is to enable pub-goers, aged between 18 and 23, to be more informed about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and also to highlight the support that is available for the young people of Youghal through local drug and alcohol services.
One element of the campaign includes key messages about the harmful effects of both illegal and legal drugs (including alcohol) being placed on Read more