infolink

Welcome to Infolink, Limerick Youth Service’s weekly newsletter/e-zine that promotes the positive contribution of young people to our communities and keeps you up to date with the latest news from Limerick Youth Service (LYS).

In this week’s edition Infolink has news of a LGTBI+ at Lava Javas, details of National Care Day and the launch of study on growing up in rural Ireland!
  A new study from Limerick Youth Service (LYS) on the experiences of young people growing up in rural County Limerick was launched by the Deputy Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Adam Teskey, at Rathkeale Youth Space, Limerick on Thursday last, January 30^th.

The report, Baseline Study & Needs Analysis of Young People (10-18yrs) in Rural County Limerick, was commission by LYS to get chronicle the experiences of young people in rural communities.
 
Welcoming guests to packed Rathkeale Youth Space, LYS Chairperson Patrick Lynch, congratulated LYS and the researchers, Sue Targett and Neil Haran, on producing an excellent piece of work ‘that captures the voice of young people in rural areas.’

‘We (LYS) undertook this research to address a gap in terms of the knowledge available in the profile, needs, interests and concerns of young people in rural County Limerick,’ said Patrick. 

‘The findings show that while many young people in rural areas are doing very well there are those who are not enjoying their educational experience while others are enduring financial hardship,’ said Patrick. 

‘There are also areas of concern with respect the experiences of marginalised young people such as ethnic and cultural minorities and members of the LGTBI+ community,’ added Patrick.


The report, which can be accessed at www.limerickyouthservice.com, also highlights the importance of youth clubs in rural areas, the increase of stress in older teenagers and the challenges some young people face in accessing information and support on issues such as sexual health.

‘This report will be of great use as we work with the relevant local and national stakeholders to ensure the delivery of high quality youth work activities, supports and services across rural communities, said Fiona O’Grady, LYS CEO adding ‘we now need to ensure the findings and recommendations become actions.’

Fiona thanked the young people, schools and training centres for their participation with the project and in supporting the researchers.

Fiona also thanked the staff at LYS, the members of the Research Advisory Committee and the respective funders for their support in producing this ground-breaking study.
  Lava Javas was awash with colour last week as the youth café hosted a LGBTI+ Awareness Week that celebrated LGTBI+ culture with music, arts, workshops and more!

Organised by the Lava Javas Youth Committee, the youth café was transformed with posters and banners which set the tone for the festivities.

As part of the Awareness Week there were a number of creative workshops including a ‘Tie Dye’ workshop where they transformed their plain white t-shirts to colourful rainbow t-shirts.
 
The teenagers also had to opportunity to create badges as they made ‘pronoun pins’ which was part of a workshop on gender and gender identity.

‘The pronoun workshop focused on gender and is particularly relevant to Transgender young people and those who identify as other than male or female,’ said Shelly Goggin, Limerick Youth Service.

‘The workshop helped to create discussion among the young people about gender, its different types and what it means to a young person to be described as their chosen gender or pronoun such as he/she/they,’ said Shelly, youth worker with Lava Javas.

Away from the workshops and information sessions there was plenty to keep the young people entertained with games, music and a brand new pool table which proved extremely popular!

‘The LGBTI+ Awareness Week was a great success and the young people really enjoyed it with one young person confessing it was the happiest he has been in the youth café!’ laughed Shelly who thanked the youth committee organising the event.

‘Lava Javas is an open and inclusive space and with young people from diverse backgrounds we try our best to make them feel as welcome as possible,’ said Shelly adding ‘throughout the year we’ll have other themed events and celebrations so watch this space!’

For more on Lava Javas please click HERE or follow the youth café on Facebook & Instagram Young people from across Ireland will join their peers from the United Kingdom as they celebrate National Care Day on Friday, February 21^st.

The day aims to reduce the stigma associated with the living in the care system and promote a positive identity for those who are/have been in care.

‘National Care Day is an opportunity to unite in celebrating the rights and resilience of care experienced children and young people, their stories and their achievements,’ said Joe Walsh, an advocate with EPIC (see below for more on EPIC). 
 
To coincide with National Care Day, EPIC in conjunction with Tusla will host a performance of the play ‘Removed’ at the LIT’s Millennium Theatre on Monday, February 17^th at 11:30am.

The play is opportunities for families, professionals and members of the public to learn more about the care system and speak with those who have experience of it.

‘Removed is a collaboration between Prime Cut Productions, writer Fionnuala Kennedy and VOYPIC, a charity working with children in care in Northern Ireland,’ said Joe.

‘It is not the story of any one individual person, but rather an amalgam of the many various stories heard, some sad, funny, terrifying, all very real and important,’ added Joe.

A trailer of the play can be viewed HERE while those who wish to register for the play which also includes workshop and discussion are asked to click HERE or contact Joe at joew@epiconline.ie.

Now it its fifth year, National Care Day is run in partnership with the ‘5 Nations 1 Voice Alliance’- the five nations being Éire/Ireland, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
  Each week, Infolink features articles about an organisation of importance to young people and the wider community, with this week’s article featuring EPIC.

EPIC (Empowering People in Care) is a national child rights based organisation that works with and for children and young people who are currently living in care or who have experience of living in care.  This includes those in residential care, foster care, relative care, hostel, high support and special care. 

EPIC also works with children and young people preparing to leave care, those in aftercare and adults with care experience.

EPIC provides direct 1:1 advocacy support to children and young people in care with the aim of enabling them to have their views and concerns heard.

EPIC empowers them to speak for themselves, to resolve the issues and problems they raise, to help them get the services and resources they need and bring about positive change in their lives.
  East week, ‘Meet LYS’ features different groups, projects, programmes and youth spaces that are part of Limerick Youth Service.  This week we focus on the Southside Youth Space known as The Factory.
  The Factory Southside Youth Space is an activity space where young people, youth & community groups can spend their free time & take part in a variety of activities ranging from creative arts and sports to education & employment opportunities.

Facilities include

• Two indoor pitches which can be used for soccer, badminton, basketball, hockey, handball or any sport you like!
• Four Handball walls.
• A fully equipped dance studio and audio visual room
• Gym
• Youth & community café
• Meeting rooms for training or one to ones
• Music recording studio & band rehearsal space with music equipment available to hire

The Factory is located at the Galvone Business Park with groups and clubs who wish to use this excellent facility asked to contact the team at thefactory@limerickyouthservice.org or 061-422385.
  As the people of Ireland go the polls on Saturday, February 8^th Limerick Youth Service is challenging young adults who ‘give a shXt… to give a vote!’

The right to vote is a cornerstone of democracy and on an early spring day in February the young people of Ireland have an opportunity to elect representatives who will be their voice in the national parliament and/or government.,

For voters, particularly first time voters, it is important to note the following:  

• Polling stations open at 7:00am and will remain open until 22:00hrs. 
• Voter registration cards are being distributed nationwide and will have the location and booth where you can cast your vote. 
• If you have not received your card and recently registered with the Supplement to the Register of Electors, you are entitled to vote.  
• You will need to have identification with you such as a passport, student card, driving licence or birth certificate.
• On arrival at the voting station you will get a voting sheet that will have photos of all the candidates in it.  
• As Ireland uses the proportional representation system you simply mark rank the candidates in order of preference, e.g. 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second etc.