Youth organisation going from strength to strength

GREATER Ballyclare Youth for Christ (GBYFC) is a voluntary youth organisation based in Ballyclare, delivering youth work in the town and surrounding areas.

The organisation's roots were put down some ten years ago when the Ministers' Fellowship in the town recognised the need to enhance the churches' existing outreach. In 2000, a committee was formed to establish GBYFC and in September 2004 they began youth outreach alongside a developing schools' work programme.

Since 2004, the organisation has been continually growing and in September 2006 they employed their first full-time member of staff - Jonny Farrell. The organisation continues to have schools and youth outreach work at its heart, and in 2008 this was greatly enhanced through the opening of the youth drop-in centre at 1 Granges Street (above Mauds). The drop-in centre is a hub of activity with many programmes taking place during the week, providing young people with a safe and welcoming environment where they can enjoy each others company and engage with programmes and supportive workers that help them along their teenage journey.

During the year the centre is open for 'drop-in' where young people can simply come and hang-out, relax or play some pool/table tennis etc. The centre also has programmes that young people can engage with specifically for guys and girls which are aimed at helping them to explore issues that they might face growing up in Ballyclare.

Read the full story in this week's Times...

Related topics: