Funding fears for youth support group

Derry Bytes is one of the city’s leading youth projects, with several thousand young people having availed of the range of courses and support services, since its establishment in 1997.

The project provides opportunities - in an informal setting- for young people (16-25) to accelerate their own personal development through a creative and enjoyable use of technology.

But the local Bytes Project is now in jeopardy because its major funders, the Department for Education (DE) and the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) are in the process of administering cuts and transferring financial responsibility to Youth Council NI.

Michelle Nash, project worker with Derry Bytes, said: “Until the Youth Council finds out what their budget is we will not know what is happening with the budget for Derry Bytes.

“We have been here for over 10 years and this is a vital service for the young people of this city and region. There have been several thousand young people who have used Derry Bytes and we have 320 people on the system at the minute.

“It is a vital service, especially for those young people who do not have anything to fall back on. Some of them may not have had the educational opportunities or have done well at school but that doesn’t mean they do not need education and support.

“For the age group we support, 16 to 25, there is not that much assistance in this city.”

Local people have been urged to support Derry Bytes campaign by signing the online petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/u-can-save-bytes/

For further information contact Michelle Nash, Derrybytes on 028 71261114 or e-mail: [email protected].