Protest over cuts to youth projects

MEMBERS of Brownlow area youth project protested over funding cuts on the steps of Stormont.

Over 20 members of the group travelled to Belfast to make their voices heard to the province's power brokers.

The group's exchange project to Italy has had to be dropped and funding for a trip to Bavaria has had to be found from other sources.

The successful Extreme FM radio project, which has spanned 10 years with thousands of young people taking part has escaped the cull.

"The education minister made the cuts and, at the time, said front line services would not be affected," said Marie Conway, team leader with the SELB Youth Services in Brownlow.

"But the reality is that the work we have been doing in Craigavon to bring together the two communities and promote a shared future have been affected.

"We realise it is not just us, there have been many more schools, youth organisations and voluntary groups that have been affected."

Thousands of young people have benefited from the Extreme FM project and many more have travelled to parts of Europe to experience different cultures.

The Bavarian exchange project has been running for four years.

Young Germans would visit the area and sample our culture and then a group of Craigavon youths would follow them home for a stay in their homeland.

Marie continued: "Extreme FM will continue, although at one stage it was up in the air as to where we would get the funding.

"The Bavarian exchange project will continue, but it can't work the same way it did before. And the exchange to Italy, that has only been going for six months, has had to be cancelled."

She continued: "The projects can be a real life saver for those involved by diverting them away from drugs or alcohol problems or even help them cope with mental health issues.

"It can really help to give stability to young people. The exchange programme has been an overwhelming success - it is just a phenomenal project.

"Bavaria has been affected by global conflict and it's still something that is very relevant in the young people's lives.

"Our group is given perspective on what is happening across the world - it shows them there is more to the world outside the north of Ireland.

"We recruit on a 50:50 basis from some of the most deprived areas - some have never been in an airport before.

"It helps them to contrast other people's experiences with their own - some may have never sat in the same room as those from another religion.

"Extreme FM has been on the go for the past 10 years with some 350 young people having gone through the project and thousands of others contributing to the station - it has been a huge success.

"Our aim is to promote and develop a shared shared future for all in the community and hopefully young people can live together."

Recently a group of young people involved with the Brownlow Area Project travelled to Belfast to protest over the funding cuts.

Marie added: "This is another way of promoting the development of the young people - it gives them a real sense of citizenship.

"Around 30 MLAs from all the parties - except the minister, Catriona Ruane's own, Sinn Fein - came out to talk to us.

"They were very supportive of our cause it was just a shame we did not get to hear from the minister or any of her representatives."

Related topics: