Lisburn students reach out to achieve

Two years ago, Lisnagarvey staff and students supported the pilot programme which led to the creation of the Community Outreach Challenge. This year Lisnagarvey was involved once again, but this time in partnership with St Patrick’s Academy, with pupils taking part in a week long Community Outreach programme which took them out of their usual home and school environment - and out of their comfort zone.

During a demanding week based at Ballykinler, the teens, working alongside Army Cadets, threw themselves into team building challenges and a range of high octane adventure sports including mountain biking, archery and the dreaded assault course

Mentally and physically demanding, the course helped them to build new friendships as well as self-esteem and a sense of achievement.

Every successful Project Outreach participant earned an Open College Network Certificate and up to five credits towards qualifications from the Qualifications & Credit Framework (QCF).

They also gained basic First Aid qualifications through the British Heart Foundation’s Heart Start initiative which teaches people simple Emergency Life Support skills to help them know what to do in a life-threatening emergency.

Congratulating the young people on completing the course, Colonel Maurice Warnock, Cadet Commandant of Second (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force, said: “Most adults believe that teenagers spend far too much time on their mobiles or behind a computer screen, but we believe that, when they are given an exciting alternative, most young people are up for the challenge.

“These Lisburn students certainly proved us right!

“They embraced and enjoyed the entire Outreach programme, and brought a sense of fun to every activity.

“Providing adventurous, fun challenges is central to the Cadet ethos so it seemed a very natural move for us to share some of those opportunities with the wider community under the ‘Outreach’ banner.”

Outreach was run by the Army Cadet Force Association and managed on the ground (and in the ocean) by experienced Adult Instructors from the Army Cadet Force.

They were supported by senior Cadets who acted as role models, friends and mentors. Colonel Warnock added: “The Project Outreach candidates from Lisnagarvey High School and St Patrick’s Academy were – as we knew they would be - outstanding and we were all extremely impressed at just how much they learnt and achieved within a very short time frame.

“They are already a credit to their schools and families and will no doubt continue to develop and achieve, given the opportunity, the right sort of challenges and the support of people who believe in them.”