infolink

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 a Youth Conference for teenagers, the countdown to the Feast of All Hallow’s, a Youth Wave for youth clubs, a presentation to Milford Care Centre and lots more.  
  Limerick Comhairle na nÓg will host a Youth Conference at Istabraq Hall, Limerick City & County Council, Merchant’s Quay, Limerick on Thursday, October 20^th  from 9:45-2:30pm and inviting young people to take part.

The Youth Conference  is a great opportunity for young people (13-17yrs) to find out more about Comhairle na nÓg, voice their opinions of issues that are important to them and potentially become a member.
 
The Youth Conference will be opened by the Mayor of the City & County of Limerick, Cllr. Francis Foley and will include several interactive workshops.

Limerick Comhairle na nÓg is a youth council that advocates for young people, raise awareness of issues of importance to them and participate in the development of polices that are relevant to them.

In the past Comhairle na nÓg has addressed issues such as gender equality, youth homelessness, living in the Direct Provision system, cyberbullying and the teaching of sexual education in the secondary schools.

Young people, teachers, parents or youth workers who would like more information about the AGM or Comhairle na nÓg can contact John at johnr@limerickyouthservice.org or click HERE
  Teenagers were born in 2004 and have or will celebrate their 18^th birthday this year, are invited to explore Europe from Iberia to the Baltic, as part of the European Union’s #DiscoverEU initiative.

#DiscoverEU offers eighteen-year-olds the opportunity to explore the diversity of Europe, learn about European culture, heritage and history and connect with people across the continent.

The journey through the diverse continent will also give teenagers the opportunity to develop life skills such as independence, confidence and openness to other cultures.

Travelling predominantly by rail (there are exceptions to allow those living on islands or in remote areas), participants will discover Europe’s stunning landscapes and its variety of cities and towns.

Young people who are interested will need to apply via www.europa.eu portal that will remain open until October 25^th at 11am.   
    Eurodesk has launched it continental wide Time To Move Campaign and is inviting people of all ages to explore the many opportunities that Europe has to offer.

Time To Move promotes opportunities to study, work, travel and volunteer across the continent that include:

Study:   students can study overseas via the Erasmus+ exchange programme
Volunteer: spend time in youth or community groups with the European Solidarity Corps
Work:    EURES is a great starting point for those interested in working in Europe
Travel:  Inter-railing is a great way of exploring Europe

Throughout October specialists Youth Information Officers, including the team at LYS, will be available online to chat with young people and parents who would like to learn more.

Youth Information Officers will be online each weekday evening from 4-8pm via www.limerickyouthservice.com/got-a-question to offer advice on how to access European opportunities.
  Facepainting, music, fun and plenty of traditional Halloween themed games await young people & families at the Garryowen Halloween Fair at Geraldine’s AFC, Garryowen, Limerick on Friday, October 28^th (4-7pm).

Organised by young people from Limerick Youth Service and Garryowen Community Development Project, the Halloween Fair promises to be great fun and with plenty of spooktacular surprises!

For more details, please contact Jonathan at jonathan.collins@limerickyouthservice.org.

The young people who are organising the Halloween Fair are from LYS’ respective Garryowen Youth Together Project and the Irishtown hub of the Garda Youth Diversion Project, who worked in partnership with St. John’s Youth Club. Ghosts, goblins, witches and many more creatures of the night await revellers at this year’s Castleconnell Fright Fest at the Riverside on Sunday, October 30^th



Planning is well underway for the annual spooktacular with young people from Limerick Youth Service’s Castleconnell Youth Group busy preparing for the event (see photo above)

For more details on Castleconnell Fright Fest, please click HERE
  Learners with Limerick Youth Service (LYS) raised funds for Milford Care Centre after hosting a coffee morning as part of the recent Big Social Coffee Morning for Hospice campaign with Bewley’s and Irish Hospice Foundation.

Held at LYS’ Community Training Centre, the coffee morning was a great success with a close to €1,000 raised for Milford Care Centre.

The coffee morning was led by learners at the Community Training Centre who worked together in preparing for and hosting the event.

‘It was very much as team evert and a great example of integrated youth organisation at work,’ said Shelia Walsh, LYS Instructor, who was full of praise for the leaners.
 
‘From baking cakes and buns, serving customers, promoting the event and holding a raffle, the young people (learners) did a great job and such be very proud of themselves,’ said Shelia.

Shelia also thanked patrons and the public for the generosity in supporting the coffee morning and is looking forward to welcoming them back to the Community Training Centre in the near future.
  Limerick Youth Service is delighted to confirm that several volunteer youth clubs have or will reopen in the coming weeks.

Volunteer led youth clubs play a key part in the lives of young people and with many forced to close their doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, their return is welcomed by all.

Ahead of their reopening, LYS has details of volunteer induction training and Child Safeguarding Training on the following dates:

• Volunteer Induction Training (Tue, Oct 25^th 7-8:30pm via Zoom)
• Child Safeguarding Training (Tue, Oct 25^th 6:30-9:30pm at the Northside Youth Space)
• Volunteer Induction Training (Tue, Nov 1^st 7-8:30pm via Zoom)
• Child Safeguarding Training (Tue, Nov 8^th  6:30-9:30pm at the Northside Youth Space)
• Volunteer Induction Training (Tue, Nov 9^th 7-8:30pm via Zoom)
• Child Safeguarding Training (Tue, Nov 22^nd via Zoom)

For more information on the above training sessions, please contact Amanda at amandab@limerickyouthservice.org
  In more great news for youth clubs, Youth Work Ireland’s annual celebration of youth clubs is taking place on Saturday 22nd October in National Office, Dominick St, Dublin.

Youth Wave is a chance for youth club participants, workers and volunteers to come together at a national level to take part in fun, educational and interactive workshops where they can learn new skills, be entertained and have fun!

For more information on Youth Wave, please click HERE To mark this year’s Limerick Mental Health Awareness Week, ‘Meet LYS’ features the Be Well team  

Limerick Youth Service’s Be Well Youth Mental Health Project provides counselling and support to young people, while it also works with youth groups in the promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing.

Losing a loved one, low self-esteem, alcohol misuse, peer pressure, challenges at school, employment or relationships, are just some of the many issues that the Be Well Team can help you with.

The Be Well team consists of psychotherapists/councillors, youth mental health workers with a Youth Advisory Panels (YAP) offering their support and input. 
 
The young people with the YAP are a key part of the Be Well team and have been to the fore in identifying issues, raising concerns and promoting a culture of ‘asking for help’ among their peers.

The YAP were awarded an Investing in Children award in 2019 for their role in promoting positive mental wellbeing, produced a short film titled ‘What Is Counselling?’ and led the Break the Silence campaign.
  Infolink features articles about organisation of importance to young people and the wider community.

Limerick Mental Health Association (LMHA) promotes positive mental health and oversees several projects, awareness weeks and initiatives, such as the Le Chéile Project.

The annual Limerick Mental Health Awareness Week raises awareness of mental health supports and challenges the stigma that is sometimes associated with mental wellbeing.

Established in 2005, the week has grown in popularity and features different organisations and initiatives that all encourage positive mental health.

Limerick Mental Health Association employ several programmes to deliver their project, with one example the WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) proving extremely popular with many.
    In the next edition, Infolink will have details of an international youth mental health conference, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg, Halloween festivities, the Fittest Youth Club Challenge and more!