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.