AYE youth work news
Outreach
Our youth engagement team remains very busy with outreach work, engaging with young people on the streets of Ardoyne and Marrowbone, holding information stalls, helping to minimise anti social behaviour and ease tensions at interface areas. Of course, the main role of outreach detached work is not to manage crisis situations but to support young people through early intervention and encourage them to get involved in youth clubs and activities.
The team helped the Community Foodbank with their Family Friday activities packs deliveries and more recently with their outdoors barbecue. From 22 January to 9 April we delivered 50 cooking and creative activities packs per week, a total of 600 packs.
Thanks to a partnership between local youth clubs, a new Empowering Young People Outreach Detached Project, an enhanced outreach programme has been unrolled, providing much needed support. Our team coordinates its efforts with the project to ensure that more times and parts of the district are covered.
On 25 June, we ran a successful family fun event together with Ardoyne Youth Club, with support from Cooperation Ireland through Ashton Community Trust.
We are running an enhanced programme of outreach engagement in collaboration with the Empowering Young People Outreach Detached Programme and local youth clubs.
Monkstown Ardoyne programme
The Ardoyne and Monkstown boys from our MADE programme finally got together for a go-karting session and a residential in Ballintoy, after doing most of this year's programme on zoom. We are so proud of what they achieved over 2 years, including an award in Diversity and Good Relations, but mostly building strong friendships and challenging their preconceptions. Well done boys!. We hope to take on new challenges together in other programmes.
Uniting Opportunities group celebrate better days
From January to March, we took our young women's group on a journey exploring creative ways to support good mental health, thanks to a programme with New Lodge Arts, led by Ashton Community Trust. The girls worked with our youth workers and with artist Fionnuala Duffin to create a beautiful banner and billboard celebrating Better Days to come, and a Better Days video explaining what helped them keep their spirits up. Their timing was perfect as their billboards, posted in April, brought much needed positivity to North Belfast. The girls also contributed to our International Women's Day video.
Summer programmes
We've started our planned intervention summer programmes, including the ENGAGE programme with R-City and a young women's group also with RCity and Active Communities Network. Watch this space for more news on what the young people from Ardoyne, Oldpark and Lower Shankill get up to together.
We ran a drugs and alcohol awareness workshop with a group of young men, and they helped make a great video for Ashton Community Trust on the theme of making your own choices. You can see the video here: AYE - #OwnYourChoice
We have a group of young women learning digital fabrication with NERVE Centre. A massive thanks to Nerve Centre for this exciting training, and for donating digital fabrication equipment which will enable young people to put their learning in practice, and which will greatly enhance our training facilities.
We have lots of other activities, both ongoing and in planning, but due to Covid regulations there are specific criteria about numbers and targeted groups. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information.
Young people sharing their expertise
In June, we facilitated a conversation where young people from Ardoyne, Lower Shankill and New Lodge shared their experiences and hopes with University of Massachusetts peace studies summer school. We also spoke about the role of youth and community development in peace building.
We brought a group of young women to a 'Youth Beyond Covid' consultation event, where they reflected on how they coped with the past year, what could have been done better, and what steps should be taken to support them, while local councillors, MLAs and the Children's Commissioner listened and took note. We were proud of their input, and of our youth workers' facilitation at the event.
Our youth engagement team remains very busy with outreach work, engaging with young people on the streets of Ardoyne and Marrowbone, holding information stalls, helping to minimise anti social behaviour and ease tensions at interface areas. Of course, the main role of outreach detached work is not to manage crisis situations but to support young people through early intervention and encourage them to get involved in youth clubs and activities.
The team helped the Community Foodbank with their Family Friday activities packs deliveries and more recently with their outdoors barbecue. From 22 January to 9 April we delivered 50 cooking and creative activities packs per week, a total of 600 packs.
Thanks to a partnership between local youth clubs, a new Empowering Young People Outreach Detached Project, an enhanced outreach programme has been unrolled, providing much needed support. Our team coordinates its efforts with the project to ensure that more times and parts of the district are covered.
On 25 June, we ran a successful family fun event together with Ardoyne Youth Club, with support from Cooperation Ireland through Ashton Community Trust.
We are running an enhanced programme of outreach engagement in collaboration with the Empowering Young People Outreach Detached Programme and local youth clubs.
Monkstown Ardoyne programme
The Ardoyne and Monkstown boys from our MADE programme finally got together for a go-karting session and a residential in Ballintoy, after doing most of this year's programme on zoom. We are so proud of what they achieved over 2 years, including an award in Diversity and Good Relations, but mostly building strong friendships and challenging their preconceptions. Well done boys!. We hope to take on new challenges together in other programmes.
Uniting Opportunities group celebrate better days
From January to March, we took our young women's group on a journey exploring creative ways to support good mental health, thanks to a programme with New Lodge Arts, led by Ashton Community Trust. The girls worked with our youth workers and with artist Fionnuala Duffin to create a beautiful banner and billboard celebrating Better Days to come, and a Better Days video explaining what helped them keep their spirits up. Their timing was perfect as their billboards, posted in April, brought much needed positivity to North Belfast. The girls also contributed to our International Women's Day video.
Summer programmes
We've started our planned intervention summer programmes, including the ENGAGE programme with R-City and a young women's group also with RCity and Active Communities Network. Watch this space for more news on what the young people from Ardoyne, Oldpark and Lower Shankill get up to together.
We ran a drugs and alcohol awareness workshop with a group of young men, and they helped make a great video for Ashton Community Trust on the theme of making your own choices. You can see the video here: AYE - #OwnYourChoice
We have a group of young women learning digital fabrication with NERVE Centre. A massive thanks to Nerve Centre for this exciting training, and for donating digital fabrication equipment which will enable young people to put their learning in practice, and which will greatly enhance our training facilities.
We have lots of other activities, both ongoing and in planning, but due to Covid regulations there are specific criteria about numbers and targeted groups. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more information.
Young people sharing their expertise
In June, we facilitated a conversation where young people from Ardoyne, Lower Shankill and New Lodge shared their experiences and hopes with University of Massachusetts peace studies summer school. We also spoke about the role of youth and community development in peace building.
We brought a group of young women to a 'Youth Beyond Covid' consultation event, where they reflected on how they coped with the past year, what could have been done better, and what steps should be taken to support them, while local councillors, MLAs and the Children's Commissioner listened and took note. We were proud of their input, and of our youth workers' facilitation at the event.
Accredited training at AYE
This past year, we've seen a growing appetite for accredited training in youth and community organisations. AYE has responded by increasing its catalogue of qualifications and by supporting tutors to run courses for Ardoyne Youth Club, R-City, New Lodge Youth Centre and GRACE Family Centre, as well as our in-house training.
In 2020-21, we delivered 11 OCN courses to 128 participants, and 116 of our learners passed their qualification - a 90.65% pass rate.
Courses included Mental Health Awareness, Level 2, Youth Leadership Level 2, Youth Work Level 2 award, Diversity and Good Relations Level 1 and 2, Peer Mentoring Level 2 and Personal Motivation Level 1.
So far in 21-22, we have just completed a course in Social Media Level 1 for a women's group at GRACE, and are supporting a Diversity course for RCity Parents Group and Youth Leadership for a Girls Brigade group with RCity. We're supporting New Lodge Youth Centre with courses in Mentoring Skills, Mental Health Awareness and Youth Work Level 2 Award, and Harmoni NI with a Personal Motivation course.
We will restart our in-house annual programme in the Autumn.
Get in touch if you would like to run an OCNNI course with us, we may be able to help.
We run some of these courses with support from Community Relations Council through NBSGRP and Belfast City Council Capacity Building. Others are commissioned by youth organisations.
In 2020-21, we delivered 11 OCN courses to 128 participants, and 116 of our learners passed their qualification - a 90.65% pass rate.
Courses included Mental Health Awareness, Level 2, Youth Leadership Level 2, Youth Work Level 2 award, Diversity and Good Relations Level 1 and 2, Peer Mentoring Level 2 and Personal Motivation Level 1.
So far in 21-22, we have just completed a course in Social Media Level 1 for a women's group at GRACE, and are supporting a Diversity course for RCity Parents Group and Youth Leadership for a Girls Brigade group with RCity. We're supporting New Lodge Youth Centre with courses in Mentoring Skills, Mental Health Awareness and Youth Work Level 2 Award, and Harmoni NI with a Personal Motivation course.
We will restart our in-house annual programme in the Autumn.
Get in touch if you would like to run an OCNNI course with us, we may be able to help.
We run some of these courses with support from Community Relations Council through NBSGRP and Belfast City Council Capacity Building. Others are commissioned by youth organisations.
Read all about it... AYE eNewsletter
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Our summer 2021 eNewsletter is out.
You can read it (and past editions) here: AYE eNews Summer 21 If you would like to receive regular newsletters, subscribe here: SUBSCRIBE TO AYE eNEWS |
Where do I get help ... in Upper North Belfast
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We have updated our guide to community services in Upper North Belfast.
You can download Where Do I Get Help During Covid 19 Crisis here. This version is published with help from Belfast City Council and distributed through North Belfast Foodbank, community foodbank, local schools and community groups. If you would like to help us distribute guides around your area, we have some paper copies left. Contact us to arrange something: communication@ardoyne.org |
Children of Lockdown: a children and young adult writing competition with Paul McVeigh
UPDATE: All the stories and writings are now published here: Children of Lockdown.
Paul McVeigh and Ardoyne Youth Enterprise are running a ‘Children of Lockdown’ story competition for children and young people who live in Belfast and surrounding areas.
Paul will judge the competition, and the winning stories will be published on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise social media and website. Paul is the author of The Good Son, a novel about growing up in the 1980s in Ardoyne.
There are 3 categories:
DEADLINE
All stories to be submitted to: communication@ardoyne.org by Sunday 27 September, 5 pm. Entrants must include their name, an email address, phone number, postal address and age. Under 18s need parental permission for their story to be published.
Read more here: www.ardoyne.org/children-of-lockdown
Paul McVeigh and Ardoyne Youth Enterprise are running a ‘Children of Lockdown’ story competition for children and young people who live in Belfast and surrounding areas.
Paul will judge the competition, and the winning stories will be published on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise social media and website. Paul is the author of The Good Son, a novel about growing up in the 1980s in Ardoyne.
There are 3 categories:
- aged up to 11 – write a story or poem about life in Coronavirus-Land, or on any theme that inspires you. Maximum 500 words.
- 12 to 15 year old – write a short story inspired by your experience as a young person in Covid-19 times, or imagining a post-Covid-19 world – or on any theme that inspires you. Maximum 750 words.
- 16 to 24 year old – write a Covid-19 inspired short story – or a story on any theme that inspires you. Maximum 1,000 words.
- a special reading by Paul McVeigh for their school, youth group or a group of their choice (for the over 16s, Paul can offer a personal one hour mentoring session if they prefer);
- a £40 book token from No Alibis bookshop for themselves;
- a family ticket to Belfast zoo for the under 12 winner; voucher for 2 under 16 + 1 adult visit to Titanic Museum for 12 to 15 winner; a copy of ‘the Good Son’ and cinema (or drive-in cinema) tickets for the over 16 winner.
DEADLINE
All stories to be submitted to: communication@ardoyne.org by Sunday 27 September, 5 pm. Entrants must include their name, an email address, phone number, postal address and age. Under 18s need parental permission for their story to be published.
Read more here: www.ardoyne.org/children-of-lockdown
Youth outreach and summer intervention programme
July-September 2020 - As lockdown eases and young people are out and about again, we have restarted out street outreach work, having taken advice on ensuring the health and safety of our youth workers and young people.
Youth outreach is an important part of our summer activities, to keep engaging with young people where they are, on the streets and in local parks to ease potential tensions and support young people to keep safe and make positive decisions.
This is a particularly difficult year for young people, with few outlets for meeting and enjoying themselves safely. We are running summer intervention trips starting in August for small groups of young people, and continue to mentor young people who are in need of additional youth work support. If you need to refer a young person or talk to our youth workers, contact youth@ardoyne.org.
We continue to run our Youth Work OCNNI course online, and have started another Mental Health Awareness course. We are planning a new series of courses to start in September.
We can offer Small Worlds workshops to youth and community groups in and around North Belfast, both online and in socially distanced settings, preferably outdoors. Contact communication@ardoyne.org if you would like a workshop for your group.
Our office and meeting room as still closed to the public. Staff take it in turn to maintain a presence in the office and work from home as much as possible. Our garden is open for socially distanced outdoor activities. If your group would like to make use of the AYE garden, contact communication@ardoyne.org.
Thanks to the Education Authority for its support for our summer intervention programme.
Youth outreach is an important part of our summer activities, to keep engaging with young people where they are, on the streets and in local parks to ease potential tensions and support young people to keep safe and make positive decisions.
This is a particularly difficult year for young people, with few outlets for meeting and enjoying themselves safely. We are running summer intervention trips starting in August for small groups of young people, and continue to mentor young people who are in need of additional youth work support. If you need to refer a young person or talk to our youth workers, contact youth@ardoyne.org.
We continue to run our Youth Work OCNNI course online, and have started another Mental Health Awareness course. We are planning a new series of courses to start in September.
We can offer Small Worlds workshops to youth and community groups in and around North Belfast, both online and in socially distanced settings, preferably outdoors. Contact communication@ardoyne.org if you would like a workshop for your group.
Our office and meeting room as still closed to the public. Staff take it in turn to maintain a presence in the office and work from home as much as possible. Our garden is open for socially distanced outdoor activities. If your group would like to make use of the AYE garden, contact communication@ardoyne.org.
Thanks to the Education Authority for its support for our summer intervention programme.
Ardoyne born author Paul McVeigh reads extracts of his novel The Good Son
We asked local author Paul McVeigh to read extracts from his novel 'The Good Son' every Sunday morning at 11am for 5 weeks.
Here are the first two readings. Enjoy!
The full series can be found here: Paul McVeigh - The Good Son - Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Thanks to Community Relations Council for its support for this project through NBSGRP.
Here are the first two readings. Enjoy!
The full series can be found here: Paul McVeigh - The Good Son - Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Thanks to Community Relations Council for its support for this project through NBSGRP.
Youth work (and community development) still works at AYE
April to June 2020 - Due to the Covid 19 crisis, we had to close our youth drop-in and street outreach services in March until further notice. Staff are mainly working from home but we are still very much engaged with young people and with the community we work for.
Online engagement with young people through our social media, group work through online conferencing, and just about to start a new 'mentoring through online gaming' initiative. Because rules are, rightly, strict about child safety and parental consent, some of these initiatives can be a bit slow to put in place, but we have a very active girls' group and seniors group. Young people who may feel isolated and parents/guardians who have any concerns about a young person can email youth@ardoyne.org for a referral.
We have been running two OCNNI courses - Mental Health Level 2 in partnership with Ardoyne Youth Club, and Youth Work Practice. Both were slowed down due to the need to move to online teaching, but are now back on track.
We are concerned that some young people who have issues with internet access (lack of free wifi at home, or unable to afford mobile data...) are left behind in the move to online youth work and remote schoolwork, so we have signed this letter to internet providers, and your encourage you to add your name to the campaign: www.ipetitions.com/petition/internet-access-for-all.
We have updated our online guide to youth and community services to include groups' response to Covid 19 crisis and expanded it to take in services provided in all our neighbouring areas in Upper North Belfast: www.ardoyne.org/whats-on-in-ardoyne.html.
We have organised this info into an 8-page guide to Covid 19 support services for North Belfast Partnership and North Belfast Foodbank to distribute to households.
We made over 350 sunflower growing kits for North Belfast Advice Partnership for a project to help children and families keep active and happy. The next stage of this joint project is to distribute hula hoops.
We are exploring ways to kick start our cross community groups and welcoming newcomers multicultural programmes again, because we think this work is a important as ever and should not be left behind. We have restarted our Small Worlds workshops as online events.
We continue to engage with our young people, members and partners in many different ways: you can follow some of our work on:
Twitter: @ayebelfast
Instagram: ayebelfast
Facebook: ArdoyneYouthEnterprise
YouTube: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Don't be afraid to send requests, comments and suggestions to: communications@ardoyne.org
Online engagement with young people through our social media, group work through online conferencing, and just about to start a new 'mentoring through online gaming' initiative. Because rules are, rightly, strict about child safety and parental consent, some of these initiatives can be a bit slow to put in place, but we have a very active girls' group and seniors group. Young people who may feel isolated and parents/guardians who have any concerns about a young person can email youth@ardoyne.org for a referral.
We have been running two OCNNI courses - Mental Health Level 2 in partnership with Ardoyne Youth Club, and Youth Work Practice. Both were slowed down due to the need to move to online teaching, but are now back on track.
We are concerned that some young people who have issues with internet access (lack of free wifi at home, or unable to afford mobile data...) are left behind in the move to online youth work and remote schoolwork, so we have signed this letter to internet providers, and your encourage you to add your name to the campaign: www.ipetitions.com/petition/internet-access-for-all.
We have updated our online guide to youth and community services to include groups' response to Covid 19 crisis and expanded it to take in services provided in all our neighbouring areas in Upper North Belfast: www.ardoyne.org/whats-on-in-ardoyne.html.
We have organised this info into an 8-page guide to Covid 19 support services for North Belfast Partnership and North Belfast Foodbank to distribute to households.
We made over 350 sunflower growing kits for North Belfast Advice Partnership for a project to help children and families keep active and happy. The next stage of this joint project is to distribute hula hoops.
We are exploring ways to kick start our cross community groups and welcoming newcomers multicultural programmes again, because we think this work is a important as ever and should not be left behind. We have restarted our Small Worlds workshops as online events.
We continue to engage with our young people, members and partners in many different ways: you can follow some of our work on:
Twitter: @ayebelfast
Instagram: ayebelfast
Facebook: ArdoyneYouthEnterprise
YouTube: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Don't be afraid to send requests, comments and suggestions to: communications@ardoyne.org
MADE 19-20: Monkstown Ardoyne Diversity and Empowerment Programme
Watch our 2019 Christmas video: Ardoyne and Marrowbone sing 12 days of Christmas
Donate your outgrown school uniforms
Ardoyne Youth Enterprise is a drop-off point for school uniforms for Ardoyne and Marrowbone Community Festival.
If you (or your children) have outgrown any item of school uniform, you can donate them for the Uniform Swap Shop. Any item, including sports kit, is welcome, cleaned and in good condition. All North Belfast school uniforms welcome.
You can drop them in during office hours (9.30 to 5pm) or leave them with our youth workers at the drop-in (usually 6pm to 10pm).
Other collection points: Marrowbone Community Hub and Volunteer Project Teach Eilís, Ardoyne Association, Ligoniel Improvement Association, Ashton Community Trust and Houben Centre.
The Swap Shop will be held in August in Flax Shopping Centre during Ardoyne & Bone Community Festival.
You will be able to collect free uniform items from 10am to 12pm on 12 to 16 August.
Every bit helps. Tell your friends, families and neighbours.
If you (or your children) have outgrown any item of school uniform, you can donate them for the Uniform Swap Shop. Any item, including sports kit, is welcome, cleaned and in good condition. All North Belfast school uniforms welcome.
You can drop them in during office hours (9.30 to 5pm) or leave them with our youth workers at the drop-in (usually 6pm to 10pm).
Other collection points: Marrowbone Community Hub and Volunteer Project Teach Eilís, Ardoyne Association, Ligoniel Improvement Association, Ashton Community Trust and Houben Centre.
The Swap Shop will be held in August in Flax Shopping Centre during Ardoyne & Bone Community Festival.
You will be able to collect free uniform items from 10am to 12pm on 12 to 16 August.
Every bit helps. Tell your friends, families and neighbours.
Summer interventions:
keeping young people safe and engaged through the summer
Youth and community groups are working hard throughout the summer to deliver a great programme of outings and activities for children and young people in Ardoyne and Marrowbone, helping to keep them safe, happy and engaged.
So far, our youth engagement team has brought young people to Let's Go Hydro, Tayto Park, We Are Vertigo, go karting, ice skating, and football in Marrowbone Park.
More outings are planned, and we will continue to encourage young people to join in with activities of Ardoyne Youth Club, John Paul II Club, Marrowbone Youth Club, Deanby Youth Club, local sports clubs and festival events suitable for their age groups.
There is plenty to do for young people here and in surrounding areas, and this is to be applauded. Many families can't afford to take their children away and our young people and communities deserve a great, trouble-free summer.
If you live in North Belfast and are looking for activities for your children this summer, look up our Facebook page, or give us a ring on 9074 1479. Our outings are all booked up for now but we can put you on a reserve list and let you know about events coming up in the area.
So far, our youth engagement team has brought young people to Let's Go Hydro, Tayto Park, We Are Vertigo, go karting, ice skating, and football in Marrowbone Park.
More outings are planned, and we will continue to encourage young people to join in with activities of Ardoyne Youth Club, John Paul II Club, Marrowbone Youth Club, Deanby Youth Club, local sports clubs and festival events suitable for their age groups.
There is plenty to do for young people here and in surrounding areas, and this is to be applauded. Many families can't afford to take their children away and our young people and communities deserve a great, trouble-free summer.
If you live in North Belfast and are looking for activities for your children this summer, look up our Facebook page, or give us a ring on 9074 1479. Our outings are all booked up for now but we can put you on a reserve list and let you know about events coming up in the area.
North Belfast Street Team:
making the case for coordinated youth outreach all year round
North Belfast Street Team, a film about the award-winning extended outreach project makes the case for coordinated outreach to become an all year round project.
Extended outreach: a great youthwork partnership between 4 North Belfast areas
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From 11 January to 23 March 2019, AYE coordinated extended outreach on the streets of Ardoyne, Ballysillan, New Lodge and Woodvale every Friday and Saturday night (and on St Patrick's day). We worked together with four other organisations: North Belfast Alternatives, StreetBeat, BlueHouses and New Lodge Youth Centre. There was a mix of outreach work on the streets and open drop-ins, with 2 youth workers per area on Friday nights, 4 on Saturday nights.
A great partnership helping young people stay safe and out of trouble. Unfortunately this important service has now stopped as the funding was only for a short period of time, but we hope it will be resumed in some form or other in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, usual youth work and outreach services continue in the 4 areas. In AYE we are a bit short staffed just now so our youth workers are only out and about 4 nights a week until the end of April. |
The Silence of the Ceasefire Generation - children, legacy and peace building
The Silence of the Ceasefire Generation
A panel discussion on children, legacy and peace building, by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise and Imagine Festival
Wednesday 27 March, 6.45pm, Belfast Met Springvale Campus, Main Atrium
Speakers
Judith Thompson - NI Commissioner for Victims and Survivors
Koulla Yiasouma - NI Commissioner for Children and Young People
Phil Glennon - Northern Ireland Youth Forum
Thomas Turley - Leader in Charge, Ardoyne Youth Club
Compered by Catherine Morrison - BBC Newsline
The panel discussion explored the exclusion of young people’s voices and involvement in the continuum of Northern Ireland peace agreements and proposed legacy bodies.
The event assessed how children are involved in discussions about the past and building a positive future in a peaceful and equal Northern Ireland.
This event was supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
A panel discussion on children, legacy and peace building, by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise and Imagine Festival
Wednesday 27 March, 6.45pm, Belfast Met Springvale Campus, Main Atrium
Speakers
Judith Thompson - NI Commissioner for Victims and Survivors
Koulla Yiasouma - NI Commissioner for Children and Young People
Phil Glennon - Northern Ireland Youth Forum
Thomas Turley - Leader in Charge, Ardoyne Youth Club
Compered by Catherine Morrison - BBC Newsline
The panel discussion explored the exclusion of young people’s voices and involvement in the continuum of Northern Ireland peace agreements and proposed legacy bodies.
The event assessed how children are involved in discussions about the past and building a positive future in a peaceful and equal Northern Ireland.
This event was supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
North Belfast young people swap ideas with Lord Mayor
On Wednesday 9 January 19, Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey and Belfast Youth Forum met with young people from Ardoyne and wider North Belfast at Houben Centre, in Ardoyne Youth Enterprise’s first AYE Matter event of the year, with support from the Urban Villages Initiative.
The Lord Mayor talked about the importance of young people getting their voices heard on issues that affect them, and about how their views can be included into the Council’s vision for the city’s future. She argued that they have a vital role to play in movements for social change. She gave examples of how young people played a major role in bringing positive change to our society over the years, including in the civil rights movement and the Good Friday agreement. She presented Ardoyne Youth Enterprise with a Lord Mayor Certificate in recognition of its outreach work and initiatives to empower young people in the area.
John Jo McGrady and Megan McConnell of Belfast Youth Forum outlined the Forum’s role in keeping young people’s needs and priorities on the Council’s agenda, on issues as diverse as mental health, bringing the voting age down to 16, and the rights of minorities and asylum seekers.
Tamera Farrell, a young leader at Ardoyne Youth Club, talked about her journey with the Club and explained how young people can participate in decision-making in their local youth club and community.
Linsey Farrell of Urban Villages, outlined the Department's youth and community initiatives.
Ardoyne musicians Michael and Dominic Mullan of Who Owns Ye proved a popular addition to the event.
As well as a short but lively Q&A session, there was a 'post-it' consultation of the under 25s in the room, where they could put forward their views and suggestions on where change needs to happen in home and school life, their community and their city. The young people prioritised mental health as an issue for Council, government, and schools to address. Homelessness and the rights of minorities were high on their agenda. They also talked about bringing the voting age down to 16, and asked how reforms to youth and education services can be addressed in the absence of a fully functioning Stormont government.
The Lord Mayor talked about the importance of young people getting their voices heard on issues that affect them, and about how their views can be included into the Council’s vision for the city’s future. She argued that they have a vital role to play in movements for social change. She gave examples of how young people played a major role in bringing positive change to our society over the years, including in the civil rights movement and the Good Friday agreement. She presented Ardoyne Youth Enterprise with a Lord Mayor Certificate in recognition of its outreach work and initiatives to empower young people in the area.
John Jo McGrady and Megan McConnell of Belfast Youth Forum outlined the Forum’s role in keeping young people’s needs and priorities on the Council’s agenda, on issues as diverse as mental health, bringing the voting age down to 16, and the rights of minorities and asylum seekers.
Tamera Farrell, a young leader at Ardoyne Youth Club, talked about her journey with the Club and explained how young people can participate in decision-making in their local youth club and community.
Linsey Farrell of Urban Villages, outlined the Department's youth and community initiatives.
Ardoyne musicians Michael and Dominic Mullan of Who Owns Ye proved a popular addition to the event.
As well as a short but lively Q&A session, there was a 'post-it' consultation of the under 25s in the room, where they could put forward their views and suggestions on where change needs to happen in home and school life, their community and their city. The young people prioritised mental health as an issue for Council, government, and schools to address. Homelessness and the rights of minorities were high on their agenda. They also talked about bringing the voting age down to 16, and asked how reforms to youth and education services can be addressed in the absence of a fully functioning Stormont government.
Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone: Arlene Murphy
Arlene Murphy, a teacher at Holycross Nursery School, kicks off Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone, a series of short films about some of the lovely people who make Ardoyne and Marrowbone a good place to be.
They tell us about what they think about the area and the community, what they love and what they'd like to change, their hopes and worries, their memories and their dreams for the future.
You can watch the series grow here, as more films get added to the original 12: Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone!
The series is a project by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise (AYE), supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
Ardoyne Youth Enterprise hopes to release at least one film per week over the next few months.
There are 12 films ready so far, and AYE hopes to have up to 60 by the end of March.
If you or anyone you know is interested in participating, contact Catherine at communication@ardoyne.org, phone 9074 1479, or message AYE on Facebook: ArdoyneYouthEnterprise, Twitter: @ayebelfast, or Instagram: ayebelfast
They tell us about what they think about the area and the community, what they love and what they'd like to change, their hopes and worries, their memories and their dreams for the future.
You can watch the series grow here, as more films get added to the original 12: Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone!
The series is a project by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise (AYE), supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
Ardoyne Youth Enterprise hopes to release at least one film per week over the next few months.
There are 12 films ready so far, and AYE hopes to have up to 60 by the end of March.
If you or anyone you know is interested in participating, contact Catherine at communication@ardoyne.org, phone 9074 1479, or message AYE on Facebook: ArdoyneYouthEnterprise, Twitter: @ayebelfast, or Instagram: ayebelfast
Ardbone Festival 2018 - Ardoyne Youth Enterprise gets festival fever
Small Worlds Workshop. Photo: Chris Flack
Friday 17 August
Ardoyne Youth Enterprise “Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone” project launch and barbecue
12.30-2.30pm – Ardoyne Youth Enterprise office, 11a Flax Street (beside Ardoyne Youth Club).
Free event. Donations to NI Children's Hospice welcome.
Come and share some craic with us, and find out more about our project to get at least 60 Ardoyne/Marrowbone residents to tell us what the area means to them.
This youth video project supported by Urban Villages will interview and film local people over the next eight months to find out what people think about life locally, what’s good, what could be better, memories, observations and hopes for the future.
Come along and see what it’s all about, watch our first few short films, munch on some barbecued lunch.
You can also stick your name down to be immortalised on film. We want to talk to all types and ages of people in the districts so everyone is welcome.
The films will be uploaded to our You Tube account: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, and shown on social media.
(Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone is a youth programme of Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, involving young film makers and the community, and supported by the Urban Villages Initiative)
Monday 20 August
Small Worlds – a friendly workshop on migration and asylum
6.30pm - 8pm, St Gemma’s Library – organised by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Free event, light refreshments provided. Donations to North Belfast Friendship Club welcome.
The Small Worlds workshop is a relaxed event where you can meet people from around the world in a friendly environment, have a chat with them, and find out about the lives of migrants and refugees.
In Ardoyne and Marrowbone, we all have relatives who moved to England, America or Australia in search of work, and many of us have families or neighbours who had to flee their homes during the troubles… But how much do we know about the experience of people who came to Belfast from other parts of the world as migrants, asylum seekers and refugees?
The workshop will give you the chance to hear from people who have done just that, and maybe exchange your own experiences of migration and asylum with them.
This event is supported by North Belfast Strategic Good Relations Programme.
The workshop is limited to 30 participants max: you can register in advance with Ardoyne Youth Enterprise: phone 90741479 or email communications@ardoyne.org; or register at the door (first come first served).
What participants say:
‘Heart-warming, hard-hitting, genuine and touching experience’
‘Near cried, learnt more than I have in six years in school’
‘Best workshop I’ve ever been to’.
Tuesday 21 August
North Belfast Friendship Club does Ardoyne and Marrowbone Festival
6pm to 8pm, Houben Centre, Crumlin Road. Free event, light refreshments provided
North Belfast Friendship Club meets every Tuesday evening for people from around the world – and locals too - to meet for tea, coffee and a chat in a friendly and relaxed environment. As part of the Ardoyne and Marrowbone Festival, the Club is extending a warm welcome to all the community in Ardoyne and the surrounding areas.
We have teamed up with the Club to set up a minibus service for the evening, to facilitate people attending from further afield, with stops at City Hall, New Lodge and Antrim Road. This is provided with support from the Urban Villages Initiative.
For more information on the bus route and timetable, contact North Belfast Friendship Club on their Facebook page: North Belfast Friendship Club.
Wednesday 22 August
Barnardos and Ardoyne Youth Enterprise present: RESILIENCE - a film screening and discussion
2pm to 4pm, Houben Centre, Crumlin Road.
Free event, light refreshments provided
‘The child may not remember but the body remembers’
Resilience is a one-hour documentary film that looks at how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect people’s long term physical and mental health.
Now understood to be one of the leading causes of everything from heart disease and cancer to substance abuse and depression, ACEs can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behaviour.
The event aims to explore the role of youth practitioners and communities in minimising the impact of ACEs and help the next generation break the cycles of adversity and disease.
If you are a youth worker, teacher, classroom assistant, a professional working in children's services or mental health, a counsellor or trainee counsellor, or a parent interested in the impact of childhood trauma, then this film is a must see for you.
Ardoyne Youth Enterprise “Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone” project launch and barbecue
12.30-2.30pm – Ardoyne Youth Enterprise office, 11a Flax Street (beside Ardoyne Youth Club).
Free event. Donations to NI Children's Hospice welcome.
Come and share some craic with us, and find out more about our project to get at least 60 Ardoyne/Marrowbone residents to tell us what the area means to them.
This youth video project supported by Urban Villages will interview and film local people over the next eight months to find out what people think about life locally, what’s good, what could be better, memories, observations and hopes for the future.
Come along and see what it’s all about, watch our first few short films, munch on some barbecued lunch.
You can also stick your name down to be immortalised on film. We want to talk to all types and ages of people in the districts so everyone is welcome.
The films will be uploaded to our You Tube account: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, and shown on social media.
(Speak Up Ardoyne and Marrowbone is a youth programme of Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, involving young film makers and the community, and supported by the Urban Villages Initiative)
Monday 20 August
Small Worlds – a friendly workshop on migration and asylum
6.30pm - 8pm, St Gemma’s Library – organised by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Free event, light refreshments provided. Donations to North Belfast Friendship Club welcome.
The Small Worlds workshop is a relaxed event where you can meet people from around the world in a friendly environment, have a chat with them, and find out about the lives of migrants and refugees.
In Ardoyne and Marrowbone, we all have relatives who moved to England, America or Australia in search of work, and many of us have families or neighbours who had to flee their homes during the troubles… But how much do we know about the experience of people who came to Belfast from other parts of the world as migrants, asylum seekers and refugees?
The workshop will give you the chance to hear from people who have done just that, and maybe exchange your own experiences of migration and asylum with them.
This event is supported by North Belfast Strategic Good Relations Programme.
The workshop is limited to 30 participants max: you can register in advance with Ardoyne Youth Enterprise: phone 90741479 or email communications@ardoyne.org; or register at the door (first come first served).
What participants say:
‘Heart-warming, hard-hitting, genuine and touching experience’
‘Near cried, learnt more than I have in six years in school’
‘Best workshop I’ve ever been to’.
Tuesday 21 August
North Belfast Friendship Club does Ardoyne and Marrowbone Festival
6pm to 8pm, Houben Centre, Crumlin Road. Free event, light refreshments provided
North Belfast Friendship Club meets every Tuesday evening for people from around the world – and locals too - to meet for tea, coffee and a chat in a friendly and relaxed environment. As part of the Ardoyne and Marrowbone Festival, the Club is extending a warm welcome to all the community in Ardoyne and the surrounding areas.
We have teamed up with the Club to set up a minibus service for the evening, to facilitate people attending from further afield, with stops at City Hall, New Lodge and Antrim Road. This is provided with support from the Urban Villages Initiative.
For more information on the bus route and timetable, contact North Belfast Friendship Club on their Facebook page: North Belfast Friendship Club.
Wednesday 22 August
Barnardos and Ardoyne Youth Enterprise present: RESILIENCE - a film screening and discussion
2pm to 4pm, Houben Centre, Crumlin Road.
Free event, light refreshments provided
‘The child may not remember but the body remembers’
Resilience is a one-hour documentary film that looks at how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect people’s long term physical and mental health.
Now understood to be one of the leading causes of everything from heart disease and cancer to substance abuse and depression, ACEs can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behaviour.
The event aims to explore the role of youth practitioners and communities in minimising the impact of ACEs and help the next generation break the cycles of adversity and disease.
If you are a youth worker, teacher, classroom assistant, a professional working in children's services or mental health, a counsellor or trainee counsellor, or a parent interested in the impact of childhood trauma, then this film is a must see for you.
Havana Court gardening project: we need your help!
Last year, we commissioned a youth mural from local artist Mickey Doc, in Havana Court. This year (2018), we've added grow boxes in front of the mural. Young people have promised to help us repaint fences to brighten up the square and we hope to get them involved in community gardening.
We've been getting great help from some lovely neighbours of all ages, but we're going to need more help to make it a success:
- if you live in the area, help with watering from time to time, especially in the hot dry weather we've been having, the plants get very thirsty
- if you have any plants to donate, bring them to our office at 11a Flax Street, or plant them directly in the grow boxes, to replace any damaged ones.
Thanks from everyone at Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
We've been getting great help from some lovely neighbours of all ages, but we're going to need more help to make it a success:
- if you live in the area, help with watering from time to time, especially in the hot dry weather we've been having, the plants get very thirsty
- if you have any plants to donate, bring them to our office at 11a Flax Street, or plant them directly in the grow boxes, to replace any damaged ones.
Thanks from everyone at Ardoyne Youth Enterprise
Join our lovely team!
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Are you passionate about youth work and outreach?
Help us inspire young people. We're looking to build up a bank of sessional youth workers. £9.49 per hour. You need: OCN Level 2; two years (paid or voluntary) working with young people in recognised youth project including one year delivering outreach and detached youth work. Skills required: - Team member – the ability to work as a member of a team, providing support to colleagues in an efficient and effective manner - Ability to identify and deal with the needs of young people and other stakeholders - Ability to influence and build relationships with all providers - Proficiency of Microsoft Word, Excel and the Internet Email communication@ardoyne.org, stating experience, qualifications and availability (daytime / evening / residentials) |
Exploring diversity together: the MADE programme
In 2017-18, we took a group of young people from Ardoyne and Monkstown on a journey to explore diversity and inclusiveness.
For this project, we partnered with Monkstown Boxing Club, and got funding from North Belfast Strategic Good Relations Programme.
The group explored ethnic diversity, homelessness, asylum, disability and more, and concluded in March with a celebration and certificates presentation. The young people also spent an evening volunteering with Homeless Aware.
We hope to be able to run a similar programme this year.
In this short film, some of the young people told us about the programme and what they learnt from it:
For this project, we partnered with Monkstown Boxing Club, and got funding from North Belfast Strategic Good Relations Programme.
The group explored ethnic diversity, homelessness, asylum, disability and more, and concluded in March with a celebration and certificates presentation. The young people also spent an evening volunteering with Homeless Aware.
We hope to be able to run a similar programme this year.
In this short film, some of the young people told us about the programme and what they learnt from it:
Out of Order: young people tell it like it is on discrimination and harassment
Young people often get a bad press, but here at Ardoyne Youth Enterprise we think young people are amazing, and that they deserve to be heard and respected.
In Spring 2017, a group of young people from North Belfast worked with Ardoyne Youth Enterprise and GIGA training to create a series of short films on being young in Belfast.
Each participant worked as part of a team to create their own short film based on the theme of identity, exploring issues facing young people in North Belfast, producing a series of short documentaries titled “Out of Order”.
Released this month, the seven short films focus on labels and how these impact on their lives as young people, young women, people with disabilities, from being treated as second class citizens to downright harassment and assault.
They make a compelling argument for respect and fairness for all young people. Filmed in the Cathedral Quarter, they also provide a record of this iconic area of Belfast.
Working with film industry professionals, the young people got hands on experience at being scriptwriters, directors, camera operators and editors, and successfully completed an OCNNI course in film making as part of the project, which was supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
The films can be seen on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise You Tube account and Facebook page.
One of the films, 'Trouble', tells the story of how young people are often portrayed as trouble makers, and how it makes them feel. Watch it here:
In Spring 2017, a group of young people from North Belfast worked with Ardoyne Youth Enterprise and GIGA training to create a series of short films on being young in Belfast.
Each participant worked as part of a team to create their own short film based on the theme of identity, exploring issues facing young people in North Belfast, producing a series of short documentaries titled “Out of Order”.
Released this month, the seven short films focus on labels and how these impact on their lives as young people, young women, people with disabilities, from being treated as second class citizens to downright harassment and assault.
They make a compelling argument for respect and fairness for all young people. Filmed in the Cathedral Quarter, they also provide a record of this iconic area of Belfast.
Working with film industry professionals, the young people got hands on experience at being scriptwriters, directors, camera operators and editors, and successfully completed an OCNNI course in film making as part of the project, which was supported by the Urban Villages Initiative.
The films can be seen on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise You Tube account and Facebook page.
One of the films, 'Trouble', tells the story of how young people are often portrayed as trouble makers, and how it makes them feel. Watch it here:
Ardoyne and Monkstown boys unite over sports and physical activities
In partnership with Monkstown Boxing Club, we've been working with a group of young men on a good relations through sports programme. They went off on a residential over the mid-term break. Here's a few photos, and more here, with thanks to Monkstown Boxing for a great programme.
Ardoyne youth survey pulls no punches
Listen Up!
AYE Youth Survey 2017 launched
On 19th December 2017, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma will launch a report by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise on an opinion survey of over 150 12-17 year olds and 15 youth workers in Ardoyne/Marrowbone. The event at the Houben Centre will also be an opportunity to hear from Connor McMullan, a young person from Ardoyne.
The survey recorded the views of over a quarter of 12-17 year olds on how they perceive their area and their place in it, their issues and concerns and suggestions for improvements.
The young people gave a big thumbs-up for youth work and had a more positive view of their community than is generally expected. They expressed serious concerns about drugs and alcohol, mental health, anti-social behaviour, and fear of socialising in and out of the area. They called for better facilities for young people and more community cohesion.
To address these issues, they would first turn to youth workers (80%), followed by people in the community (61%) and government (57%). Traditional support structures, such as schools (29%), family support groups (21%) or the church (6%) come far behind.
AYE Director Shane Whelehan said: “As advocates for young people’s needs, we wanted to hear their opinions, share them widely, and act on them to help improve service provision.
Their comments are frank, thoughtful, sometimes humorous, often very moving, and definitely worth a read. We were struck by their calls to be heard and respected by service providers and decision makers.
They told us that youth work has a massive role to play and that they want youth organisations, the community and statutory agencies to work together to give them a better future.”
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma added: “The days of designing and planning laws, policies and services without young people are behind us, and this report reminds us of this.
Not only does it make sense to involve end users in the development of services that affect them, but indeed young people have a right to have their voices heard by service providers and decision makers.
It is clear youth workers in the area are tuned into the needs and concerns of the young people here, and they need support to act now.
I share the concerns that young people have raised, particularly concerning mental health, which is one of NICCY’s priorities.”
The project was funded by the NI Executive’s Urban Villages Initiative. Linsey Farrell, Programme Director, commented: “This is a fantastic piece of work that the young people have put together, and we are delighted to have been able to support the project. Listening to the voice of young people is so important to help inform us as to where investment may be needed to build capacity in north Belfast.”
Read the report on our Publications page.
AYE Youth Survey 2017 launched
On 19th December 2017, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People Koulla Yiasouma will launch a report by Ardoyne Youth Enterprise on an opinion survey of over 150 12-17 year olds and 15 youth workers in Ardoyne/Marrowbone. The event at the Houben Centre will also be an opportunity to hear from Connor McMullan, a young person from Ardoyne.
The survey recorded the views of over a quarter of 12-17 year olds on how they perceive their area and their place in it, their issues and concerns and suggestions for improvements.
The young people gave a big thumbs-up for youth work and had a more positive view of their community than is generally expected. They expressed serious concerns about drugs and alcohol, mental health, anti-social behaviour, and fear of socialising in and out of the area. They called for better facilities for young people and more community cohesion.
To address these issues, they would first turn to youth workers (80%), followed by people in the community (61%) and government (57%). Traditional support structures, such as schools (29%), family support groups (21%) or the church (6%) come far behind.
AYE Director Shane Whelehan said: “As advocates for young people’s needs, we wanted to hear their opinions, share them widely, and act on them to help improve service provision.
Their comments are frank, thoughtful, sometimes humorous, often very moving, and definitely worth a read. We were struck by their calls to be heard and respected by service providers and decision makers.
They told us that youth work has a massive role to play and that they want youth organisations, the community and statutory agencies to work together to give them a better future.”
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma added: “The days of designing and planning laws, policies and services without young people are behind us, and this report reminds us of this.
Not only does it make sense to involve end users in the development of services that affect them, but indeed young people have a right to have their voices heard by service providers and decision makers.
It is clear youth workers in the area are tuned into the needs and concerns of the young people here, and they need support to act now.
I share the concerns that young people have raised, particularly concerning mental health, which is one of NICCY’s priorities.”
The project was funded by the NI Executive’s Urban Villages Initiative. Linsey Farrell, Programme Director, commented: “This is a fantastic piece of work that the young people have put together, and we are delighted to have been able to support the project. Listening to the voice of young people is so important to help inform us as to where investment may be needed to build capacity in north Belfast.”
Read the report on our Publications page.
Ardoyne and Marrowbone do Jingle Bells
In December 2017, Ardoyne Youth Enterprise got together with schools, youth and community groups to make a youth and community music video for the Ardoyne/Marrowbone Community Festival. The film was premiered at the Drive-In movie, just before the screening of Home Alone.
The video celebrates unity and community spirit, and puts young people at the heart of the community. Participating groups are: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, Ardoyne Afterschools Club, Ardoyne Youth Club, Marrowbone Youth Club, Flax Foyer, Ardoyne Association, Glenbrook Surestart, Lawrenson Toal School of Irish Dancing, North Belfast Friendship Club, Holy Cross Boys Primary School, Holy Cross Girls Primary School, Holy Cross Nursery School, Mercy Primary School, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin and Sacred Heart Boys Primary School.
Holy Cross Play Group made us a great prequel for the film. You can see it below, or on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise Facebook page.
The video celebrates unity and community spirit, and puts young people at the heart of the community. Participating groups are: Ardoyne Youth Enterprise, Ardoyne Afterschools Club, Ardoyne Youth Club, Marrowbone Youth Club, Flax Foyer, Ardoyne Association, Glenbrook Surestart, Lawrenson Toal School of Irish Dancing, North Belfast Friendship Club, Holy Cross Boys Primary School, Holy Cross Girls Primary School, Holy Cross Nursery School, Mercy Primary School, Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin and Sacred Heart Boys Primary School.
Holy Cross Play Group made us a great prequel for the film. You can see it below, or on Ardoyne Youth Enterprise Facebook page.