Above: Melissa Bones, LYS Rural Youth Mental Health Worker with students at Scoil Pól, Kilfinane
Welcome to
Infolink, Limerick Youth Service’s 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 one of Ireland’s leading youth organisations.
Inside this week’s edition,
Infolink has details of St. Valentine’s Day preparation in West Limerick, fitness courses aplenty, National Care Day, a new mental health initiative for young people in rural areas and more.
Voice for Rural Youth Mental Health
A new rural Youth Mental Health Advisory Panel has been established by Limerick Youth Service, with a view to raising awareness of the challenges facing young people in rural communities.
The mental health Youth Advisory Panel will give rural young people an opportunity to participate in mental health programmes, run campaigns and raise awareness of unique challenges facing young people in isolated areas.
The Youth Advisory Panel met recently at
Croom Enterprise Centre where they got to know each other, planned the year ahead and took part in mental health programme with LYS’ Melissa Bones.
‘Previous studies and the Covid-19 pandemic have highlighted the subtle challenges faced by young people in rural communities,’ explained Melissa, Rural Youth Mental Health Worker.
Above: Be Rural Youth Advisory Panel hard at work
‘Although they face the same pressures and challenges of their city peers, many young people in rural areas also face the social and physical isolation that accompanies living in a rural setting,’ said Melissa.
The Youth Advisory Panel identified poor broadband and a limited public transport as some of the difficulties they face in accessing mental health supports.
‘Throughout the year, the Youth Advisory Panel will consult with young people with the aim to raising awareness of these challenges and developing workable solutions,’ said Melissa.
The Rural Youth Mental Health Project is funded by the
RTE Late Late Toy Show Appeal and supported by
The Community Foundation for Ireland.
For more on LYS’ Rural Youth Mental Health Project please click HERE
Equine Care in Garryowen
Limerick Youth Service is seeking expressions of interest from teenagers and young adults (over 17yrs) who would like to take part in a Horse Care programme with the
Garryowen Youth Together Project.
As part of the programme, participants will learn about the many aspects of equine care such as hoof care, grooming, correct use of equipment, riding skills veterinary care.
For more information, please contact Jonathan at
Jonathan.collins@limerickyouthservice.org or call/text 087-7447024.
Below: The Garryowen/Irishtown boys enjoying a fitness session with instructor, John Ryan
Youth Club Cluster Meeting
Volunteers with Limerick Youth Service’s youth clubs are invited to a cluster meeting at the
Woodlands Hotel, Adare on Tuesday, February 15
th at 7pm.
The meeting is an opportunity for volunteers to learn about updates concerning the safe reopening of youth clubs.
LYS understands that the lack of ‘physical’ youth clubs has had an adverse effect on some young people, with many missing spending times with their friends and attending events such as variety shows and discos.
LYS will continue to liaise with Youth Work Ireland, the HSE and the Department of Children (DCEDIY) on the vital role of youth clubs and their phased reopening in the future.
For more on the cluster meeting and to reserve your place, please email Amanda at
amandab@limerickyouthservice.org
Discover Europe
As Europe slowly reopens and thoughts turn to travelling, Limerick Youth Service is encouraging you to learn more about the many opportunities available across the continent.
To assist you,
‘Discover Europe’ is a weekly section will have information about the opportunities and services of interest to young people, youth work practitioners, teachers and the wider public, particularly twentysomethings!
European Youth Portal
The European Youth Portal is a website that gives young people information on opportunities in Europe and beyond such as working, travelling, studying and volunteering.
The European Youth Portal also has details on cross border initiatives such as the Erasmus+ Programme, Eures, #DiscoverEU, traineeships and more.
The voice of young people is a key feature of the European Youth Portal with testimonies from teenagers and young adults on their experiences of various EU programmes and initiatives.
The portal, which can be accessed at
www.europa.eu/youth, also has all the latest news on developments for young people across Europe, including information on the Coronavirus and virtual projects/programmes.
Next week: Eures
Above: The Rathkeale Junior Girls get warmed up at Rathkeale Youth Space
National Care Day 2022
This year’s National Care Day, which will take place on Friday, 18
th February, will be a global celebration of the rights of children and young people with experience of care.
Organised by EPIC (Empowering People in Care), National Care 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.
Now in its seventh year, this year’s theme ‘It takes a village’ focuses on how different people in communities can have a positive influence on children and young people who are/have been in care.
‘We can all recall people in our lives who had or continue to have a significant impact on our outlook and sense of self-worth. They can be relatives, teachers, coaches, neighbours – all of whom hail from our community or ‘village,’ said a spokesperson for EPIC.
‘Most of the time we ourselves don’t even realise the significant and direct impact we have on others, however, even the simple acts of listening, encouraging, or understanding can have profound, direct, and lifelong effects,’ added the spokesperson.
This year EPIC is asking people to be, or realise their potential to be, a
#CareAware champion and ally, with the following some helpful suggestions:
There are a few different ways you can do this to show your support on the day:
- Share a photo of yourself (or just your hands if you are camera shy) on social media with #CareDay22 and/or #CareAware written on the palm of your hands.
- Share a video selfie to wish children in care, those with care experience, and EPIC a very happy care day, or any other messages of solidarity and celebration you may have.
- Change your social media profile picture to #CareDay profile to show you’re standing with children and young people all over the world who have care experience.
For more information on National Care Day, please click HERE
Above: Tug-of-War at Rathkeale Youth Space
Youth Information
EPIC -Empowering People in Care
Infolink features articles about an organisation of importance to young people and the wider community, with this week’s article raising awareness of 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.
For more information, please click HERE
Below: Preparing for St. Valentine's Day with LYS' Askeaton Youth Group
Meet LYS 2022
‘Meet LYS’ features different groups, projects, programmes and youth spaces that are part of Limerick Youth Service with this edition featuring our Community Training Centre.
Limerick Youth Service’s Community Training Centre is in the heart of the Treaty City and home to several further education, training and youth work opportunities for young people.
The Community Training Centre, which consists of a training centre and administration building is home to the following:
Education & Training:
- QQI Level 3 Construction Skills
- QQI Level 4 Catering Course
- QQI Level 4 Professional Bakery Skills
- QQI Level 4 Pathways to Progression
- QQI Level 4 Retail Sales Skills
- ESOL (English for the Speakers of Other Languages)
- Leaving Certificate Applied
These courses are for teenagers and young adults (16-20yrs), who may have left school early or are unemployed.
Youth Projects
Several other youth programmes/projects are located at the Community Training Centre including:
- Ability+ Programme
- Blackberry Park Youth Club
- Lava Javas Youth Project
- Youth & Family Support Project
- Youth Information Centre
- Volunteer Information & Support
For more details on the above and more, please click HERE
Above: Human Bingo with the Junior Girls at Rathkeale Youth Space
Coming Next Week
In next week’s edition, Infolink will meet details of a women’s walking group, midterm activities and more.
Please send your views to LYS’ Youth Information team at yib@limerickyouthservice.com or call 061-412444/083-1726898.
