infolink

Further training and education opportunities with Limerick Youth Service, handball fever in King’s Island, detached youth work and more in this week’s Infolink.
  Young people (16-21yrs) who would like to pursue a career in the digital arts, baking or catering industries, work with children, start on the road to being a carpenter or learn new skills that will change their lives, are invited to apply for number of courses at Limerick Youth Service (LYS).

The courses are:

• QQI Level 3 Employability Skills: this programme allows learners an opportunity to experience different parts of the Catering course while also studying horticulture and woodwork

• QQI Level 4 Digital Arts: an exciting programme where learners will develop hands-on techniques using software such as InDesign and Photoshop and other graphic formats.
• QQI Level 4 Bakery Skills: a two year programme where trainees learn about the baking industry such as understanding of ingredients and methods used to produce bread and confectionary products. 
• QQI Level 4 Catering Skills: a multi-disciplined programme of study that introduces young people to the various parts of the catering industry including short order cooking, meal service, kitchen skills and restaurant service.

Both the bakery and catering courses are delivered in industry standard facilities with the produce served to the public in LYS’ restaurant and shop. 

• QQI Level 4 Early Child Care Skills: development, child observation techniques and recognising the diverse needs of children and families, are just some of the many modules covered in this exciting course that is a great base for young people wishing to pursue career in the sector.
• QQI Level 4 Retail Skills: a one year course that equips a young person with the relevant knowledge, skill and experience to pursue a career in the retail sector. 

On enrolling with LYS, young people will spend their time in a supportive and encouraging environment, avail of academic and personal support services and participate in youth work programmes such as leadership skills and mental wellbeing.

LYS’ Community Training Centre is supported by Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board and is based at Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick City.
  The ancient sport of handball enjoyed a renaissance in King’s Island this summer as young people from across ‘The Parish’ took part in an exciting handball programme with Limerick Youth Service.

The teenagers, who are members of LYS’ Nicholas St Youth Space, learned about the many nuances of the game including how to serve, the variety of shots and how to move quickly around the court.
 
‘It was the young people who were eager to learn more about handball as some of them played it while many would have heard about it from their parents and grandparents,’ said Ger Curtin, LYS.

‘There is a great tradition of handball in Limerick with handball alleys located in several areas including the iconic Handball Alley in St. Mary’s Park where this summer’s programme took place,’ added Ger.

For those that grew up in the community the ‘handball alley’ was a local landmark that unfortunately fell into a state of disrepair in recent times and as part of the programme the young people gave the handball alley a makeover as they cleaned it then give it few coats of pain.

‘It was a great summer and the young people took to handball like duck to water!’ said Ger adding with a smile ‘we have some future All Ireland Champions here!’
  Meet LYS is a weekly feature of Infolink that showcases one of the many projects & programmes available with Limerick Youth Service with this week’s feature on detached youth work.  

An exciting development in the profession, detached youth work is an outreach programme that involves youth workers speaking with young people in their time and space-be it outside a shop, park or street corner.

Detached youth workers get to know the community, build relationships with young people and hear about what is important to them.  
 
LYS has a number of detached youth work projects based in Ballycummin-Raheen, Limerick City Centre and Garryowen.

The Ballycummin-Raheen team are out and about on Friday evenings and you can find them from the Crescent Shopping Centre to Mungret and all parts in between.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays the City Centre team engage with young people across Limerick City from the Steamboat Quay and the People’s Park to Arthur’s Quay and the heart of the Treaty City.

Meanwhile the Garryowen Youth Project are out about on various days across the Garryowen area including Pennywell and Killalee.

Members of LYS’ Garrywowen Youth Project are also based at the Garryowen Community Development Project, 23 John St, Limerick with new faces always welcome to drop in.
  Infolink features articles from Limerick Youth Service’s Youth Information team on services of interest to the community with this week’s article focusing on the Bedford Row Family Project. 

The Bedford Row Family Project is a Limerick City based group that provides information, advocacy, counselling and support to the families of people in prison.

The Bedford Row Family Project works with family members of prisoners and ex-prisoners to ease their distress and assist them in making positive life choices in particular with respect to their children.

The project provides leadership and direction in designing and implementing programmes that work effectively with families affected by imprisonment and related matters.

The project also works with other groups in the interest of raising awareness of and addressing the social inclusion that partners, parents, siblings and children of prisoners and ex-prisoners face.