Reaching out to youth

It’s news that may come as a surprise to those who think young people in the area are being allowed to run wild.

Recent stories in the ‘MAIL’ have focused on underage drinking and antisocial behaviour in the town.

According to a local youth worker, who did not wish to be named, it’s a small minority who are giving teenagers a bad name.

He said: “The majority of teenagers are involved in arts and sports. Youth organisations are working tirelessly to keep young people off the streets.

“There’s a certain number who will engage in antisocial behaviour and underage drinking, but the picture painted by the front page article (on February 4) is that they are all at it.”

The ‘MAIL’ spoke with Roisin McConville, SELB’s Divisional Youth Officer, who told how there are plenty of clubs and organisations striving to give children and teenagers in Lurgan somewhere to go and something to do.

“There are three full time clubs at Lurgan Youth Annexe, Taghnevan Youth and Community Centre, jointly funding by the council, and Clann Eireann Youth Club,” she explained.

“Each full time unit submits a three year development plan to the SELB with a yearly action plan. The three full time clubs in Lurgan would also have a management structure that they would report to. Each of these units has a full time worker and budget to assist with the delivery of their unit development plan.

“Support comes from a senior youth worker in Craigavon, youth officer team and inclusion unit.”

The SELB Youth Service work in partnership with South Lurgan Advisory Forum, North Lurgan Youth Advisory Group, Craigavon Borough Council, Craigavon Community Safety, North Lurgan Stakeholders Group, Neighbourhood Renewal, Southern Area Trust, Co-Operation Ireland, Enable NI and Youth Justice.

As well as the SELB youth units in the town, 11 youth intervention projects are delivered in the area during July and August.

Many organisations with a Christian ethos have also set up projects to engage Lurgan’s youth, often with the help of the SELB and its partner organisations. These include the YMCA and the Links Project. One of the most recently launched groups was the Youth Reach Project at the Jethro Centre.