New youth club for teenagers in Kinnegad this autumn
Open night and registration for Unique Youth Clubs is today
An open night and registration for Unique Youth Clubs, a new youth club for 30-40 young people from first year to third year in the Kinnegad area, takes place today, Thursday September 28, at 7-8pm.
Parents and guardians have to attend to have membership and consent forms completed. Eileen McArdle from Youth Work Ireland Midlands (YWIM) will be present to answer questions.
The adult Unique youth club committee and trained youth leaders will also attend so parents and guardians and their teenagers can meet them.
Youth club programmes include recreational and educational activities and give young people experience of organising their own activities in a democratic way.
Typical activities include: indoor and outdoor fun games, arts and crafts, drama, music, cinema nights, bowling, swimming, cooking.
In Ireland, youth clubs are usually run by Youth Work Ireland (YWI), formerly known as the National Youth Federation, a national voluntary organisation.
YWIM is the regional branch, and they support communities to set up clubs catering for young people aged eight to 18 years.
Junior clubs work with eight-11-year-olds (fourth to sixth classes) and senior clubs with 12-18-year-olds (first years to Leaving Cert).
All YWIM affiliated clubs work within a code of practice that sets basic standards that ensure the welfare of the young people and leaders in the club.
Services provided to affiliated clubs include:
• Induction, leadership and child safeguarding training
• Club insurance
• Ongoing support and training
• Events / competition
• Interclub contacts and activities
Currently there are eight committee members who are trained and garda-vetted through YWIM.
They are ready to open the club, but they will need more volunteers if the club is to remain in existence long term.
Full training will be provided free of charge by YWIM and volunteers will never be on their own.
Contact Eileen McArdle on 086 3294763 for further information about the project.
There is currently a youth club in Kinnegad, who are also affiliated to YWIM. They cater for the primary school age group and it’s envisaged that members will progress to Unique Youth Club.
If you would like to receive more information about Youth Work Ireland Midlands or you would like to set up a youth club in your area, use the contact details above or see the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/youthworkirelandmidlands or see the YWIM website.