Community Based Youth Initiatives Measure C

1. Community BasedYouth Initiatives Measure C Maria Lindell – Co-ordinator

2. Priority Areas 2008 • Child Wellbeing • Preventative Early School Leaving • Actual Early School Leavers • Access to 3rd Level • Developmental Youth Work • Research, Information & Dissemination

3. Education Disadvantage

4. Headstart • WESLIN • Education Intervention Task Group • School Completion Programme • XLC Project • Grants to assist with further training & Education • COSAN – Applied Employment Skills

5. Headstart • This is an early intervention initiative which focuses on those families who have not engaged with pre-school services. • This Project targets young children who have not had the benefit of pre school education. • It provides educational materials to disadvantaged children and builds on pre-reading and writing skills. • It allows parents the opportunity to interact with their child in the school setting and promotes the parent as the prime educator. • It provides the opportunity to establish communication between parents and the school. • An average of 65 children a year have been identified as needing this programme. • Going forward this project requires funding to give 3 months free pre-school education to those young children identified as at risk of under achieving.

6. WESLIN – Waterford Early School Leaving Integrated Network • Network of seven schools and six community groups supported by WAP for 7yrs as they were not included in DES Ed Disadvantage Strategy • Four strands of in school and after school supports developed over this time – Counselling/Family Therapy, Home school liaison service, Learning Support, CBES • Funding obtained from WAP, DSFA and Dormant Accounts while mainstream funding was sought. • Now disbanded as five of the schools were included in the expansion of School Completion Programme 2007 • Two remaining Primary School and six Community Based Education Supports still supported by WAP.

7. Education Intervention Task Group • Development work ongoing with this newly established group – WAP Lead Agency • The schools/CBES here are not linked to School Support Programme/DEIS • Expanding membership from two to four primary schools – taking in two Ferrybank primary schools • Monies will be used for both in school and after school supports – Learning support, HSL, Counselling, homework support.

8. Waterford School Completion Programme • CBYI Co-ordinator Chairperson – for last 3 years now voted in for another term of 2yrs • WAP providing the administration support required to allow the BOM to focus on Programme Development • Ongoing developmental work and a recent review process has allowed the opportunity to effect change in the programme delivery • New programmes include Family Support Element, Family Therapist, Art/Play Therapy, Homework Clubs, Primary School Early Intervention Programme • Good links established with DES – increased funding may be forthcoming following review and changes.

9. For 10yrs now this Community Based Project allows young people who have left school early the opportunity to study and sit state examinations This year 51 young people sat their Leaving Certificate Exams and 7 young people sat their Junior Certificate Exams – all of whom had left the mainstream education system. To date funding has been given by WAP, DSFA, DES under the BTEI and Irish Youth Foundation Going forward this project needs to obtain mainstream funding – one option currently being explored is to link this project with the Youthreach model under the VEC. XLC Project

10. Grants to assist with further training and education • This is a grant system which allows young people in alternative education settings to apply for costs associated with accessing further education and training courses • This year 11 young people from XLC and Youthreach have received funding allowing them to access further training and education opportunities.

11. COSAN – Applied Employment Skills • WAP and FAS - New initiative aimed at young people with mild to moderate disabilities who have completed the LCA and are not engaged in any employment or training opportunities • 16 places available – training modules include Self-development, job seeking skills, job sampling, healthy living etc • All modules are accredited by FETAC and FAS provide the training allowance

12. Youth Development

13. Pre-development and developmental support to new and established groups/organisations • Financial support for the development and delivery of a wide range of recreational and educational opportunities aimed at disadvantaged young people • Waterford Youth Training Fund • Research, Information and dissemination

14. Developmental Support • Currently represent the WAP on 29 local Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups • Ongoing support in the areas of Funding, Management, Programme development and delivery. • Working closely with the City Development Board and Waterford Youth Committee on developing the Waterford City Youth Strategy and also on the Co-ordination of Youth Services Research Committee • Establishing Links and networking is essential in this work as the landscape is changing almost on a daily basis • Sharing and exchange of information is also essential – communication is key

15. Financial Support • Funding increases the capacity of youth service providers to develop initiatives/programmes for young people • Examples of initiatives 2008 include – calendar of events for young people from New Communities – Music/dance prog, First Youth Golf Society, Comedy Club, Seasonal events, Youth Mental Health Prog(HSE, WAP, Healing Arts Trust) Fishing, Outdoor Pursuits etc

16. Waterford Youth Training Fund • Joint initiative with Waterford Youth Committee and Waterford Voluntary Youth Council • Calendar of training events to up skill those working or volunteering in the Youth Sector • Training events include – Child Protection, First Aid, Committee Skills, Policy Development, Researching & Securing Grant Aid, Strategic Planning, Basic Book keeping. • Moving Forward 2009 – Art Workshop, ASIST training, Anger Management, Challenging Behaviour

17. Information & Dissemination • Communication is key • Effective communication channels allow maximum opportunity to co-ordinate and link services • Information on training, funding and local news and events are circulated on a regular basis. Feedback from this service is very positive as those working in isolation do not feel isolated.

18. Suicide Prevention Task Group • Established in 2005 following concern raised at CBYI Strategic Comm • Consultation Process led to the development of ‘Reflecting the Challenge’ – an Action Plan for Suicide Prevention in Waterford City • Launched by Minister Martin Cullen – April 2008 • Presented to the City Development Board in detail June this year and duly adopted • HSE taking the role of lead agency and forming Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the plan. • Moving on – Dormant Account application for funding submitted in August this year for two year programme totalling €90,580 – very positive

19. Future Developments

20. Continued support for those schools and community groups not included in DES School Support Programme • Development of Waterford City Youth Strategy • Secure mainstream funding to continue and enhance Headstart programme and XLC project • Establish links with VEC, HSE and Waterford Youth Committee • Maintain links with statutory agencies such as DSFA, Probation Service, DES, WCDB • Take an active role in the Waterford Suicide Prevention Steering Group and implement the recommendations of the plan. • Continued support for all stakeholders in youth sector - building on established links will allow opportunity for effective co-ordination.