Reprieve forClooney classes

KIDS’ cycling, swimming and cooking classes in Clooney have been saved from the axe after the Department of Social Development (DSD) agreed to fund a full-time youth worker position for the next two years.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 21st Apr 2013, 12:10 BST
Committee members pictured at the meeting to discuss the cuts in funding at Clooney Community Centre. Included, are Alderman Drew Thompson and Alderman Mary Hamilton. (0702SL39)Committee members pictured at the meeting to discuss the cuts in funding at Clooney Community Centre. Included, are Alderman Drew Thompson and Alderman Mary Hamilton. (0702SL39)
Committee members pictured at the meeting to discuss the cuts in funding at Clooney Community Centre. Included, are Alderman Drew Thompson and Alderman Mary Hamilton. (0702SL39)

The Clooney Estate Residents Association had feared the number of youth intervention workers in the Waterside would be reduced.

They even held a public meeting in the local community centre back in February to discuss the potential impact of the cuts.

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Amongst the programmes the under-threat youth intervention worker Christopher Cooper had helped deliver were swimming classes, Kids Can Cook programmes, a healthy Tuesdays initiative and cycling proficiency courses.

A spokesperson told the Sentinel, Mr Cooper had levered in an additional £30,000 for programmes for the project this financial year alone.

Mr Cooper has now told the Sentinel, Clooney has secured a fulltime youth work post for 2 years funded by the DSD and administered by the Western Education and Library Board (WELB).

He says this will enable the Community Centre to provide youth provision in the estate to young people aged 5-25years old.

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Mr Cooper re-applied for his old position and was successfully awarded the post on Friday (April 12).

He stated: “We would like to thanks all the residents, young people, local representatives and the committee who provided support, attended the public meeting and expressed the need for a full time youth worker in Clooney.

“Without them this may not have been possible, it is great to see what can happen when a community works together.”

Mr Cooper has been employed for two years but the Clooney Youth Intervention Project has been running for eight years now and is subsequently embedded in the life of the local community.