In this section of our website, we will showcase some of the work from our different partner organisations.
Youth Action NI:
Children and young people’s strategy consultation – by Martin McMullan, Youth Action NI, February 3rd, 2017
Photos from the children and young people’s strategy consultation hosted by Youth Action and Participation Network can be found here: http://niyf.oininteractive.com/photos/
Fóram na nÓg:
Ar an Sathairn, an 4ú lá de mí Feabhra, bhí muid (NIYF) ag Todds Leap le Fóram na nÓg agus Coiste na nGael Óg. Is é seo tús iontach le forairt comhairle óige Gaeilge.
On Saturday the 4th February 2017, NIYF we are at Todd’s leap with Forám na nÓg and Coiste na nGaeil Óg. This is the beginning of forming a strong Irish youth council #NFY
Here is an audio interview from some of the young people who attended the event. Interviewed from start to finish: Oisín, Clíodhna, Ciara, Tierna, Cara-Jane, Conor Interviewed by Aoife
Education Authority – Newry & Mourne Youth Council
Have you heard about the YAFTAS Written by James Treanor – Peer Support Worker with Newry & Mourne Youth Council
Do you know a young person aged 25 or under? Someone from the Newry, Mourne & Down district? Someone who is going above and beyond to do something for their family, friends or community and not getting recognition? Why not nominate them for a Youth & Future Talent Award (YAFTAS)!!
What are the YAFTAS you ask, they are youth awards that were created by the Newry & Mourne Youth Council with the support of the Education Authority and Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to recognise the unsung heroes of our community who are doing something inspirational and are not getting the recognition they deserve. These awards were created to shine a positive light on the young people of our district and the great work they are doing.
The YAFTAS award young people in 6 different categories, the first being The Good Relations Award and it is awarded to an individual or group who has developed or been involved in a project or event that has improved relationships bringing people together from different community backgrounds and/or ethnic minorities. The second award is The Young Carer Award and it is awarded to an individual or group who devotes much of their time and energy to caring/supporting a friend or relative who needs additional or extra support. The third category is The Voice of Young People Award and it is awarded to an individual or group that demonstrates strong leadership among peers, and has an enthusiastic and positive attitude. This person or group of people should be resourceful and able to take initiative. The forth award is The Innovation & Creativity Award and it is awarded to an individual or group that has introduced an innovative/creative idea into youth work practice. They demonstrate the spirit of creativity, innovation and initiative by responding in a proactive manner to an issue relevant to the well-being of young people or the community. The fifth award is The Community Safety Award and it is awarded to an individual or group who has developed or been involved in a community safety project and who has identified and taken action on a particular safety issue in their community and have demonstrated a real enthusiasm to their community, and have shown dedication to a particular safety project. The sixth and last category is The Inspirational Young Person Award and is awarded to an individual who has made a big impact on their community or on an individual, they should be someone who peers can look up to and admire and who takes on a leadership role and encourages others to get involved as well.
So those are the categories why not nominate someone you know for one of these awards to give them the recognition they deserve. You have until Thursday 23rd February at 5pm to get your nominations in!!
To get your nomination form or to find out more about the awards get in contact with Paul Bradley, Youth Council Coordinator on 028 3025 1515 or Paul.Bradley@eani.org.uk.
Young People Shortlisted for Prestigious Awards
Written by James Treanor – Peer Support Worker with Newry & Mourne Youth Council
So there we go another bunch of amazing young people nominated for the 4th Annual YAFTAS Awards but even with all this outstanding talent we can only have one winner per category. Nominations flew in from throughout the district of Newry, Mourne & Down and they really shone a light on the tremendous projects and youth work that young people are involved in.
Just in case you do not know what the YAFTAS are, they are youth awards that were created by the Newry & Mourne Youth Council with the support of the Education Authority and Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to recognise the unsung heroes of our community who are doing something inspirational and are not getting the recognition they deserve. These awards were created to shine a positive light on the young people of our district and the great work they are doing.
Our shortlisting panel met in Newry on Tuesday 28th February to shortlist winners and runner ups for this year’s Youth & Future Talent Awards. The panel was made up of workers of the statutory sector, voluntary sector, elected reps, young people involved in Education Authority programmes, youth councillors of the Newry & Mourne Youth Council and independent young people. The thing that made this shortlisting panel so unique is that more than 50% of the people on it were young people as whom better to decide who should win a youth award than young people.
The competition this year made the shortlisting even more difficult taking 3 hours to make a final decision on winners. The names of the nominees are removed from the nomination form so the panel have no idea whose nomination they are judging. The panel read each nomination for each category and debated and debated as to whom they thought should be the winner, decisions were challenged and questioned and everyone got their point across before a final decision was made. This shows how much talent is in our district today and how tough it actually is to choose between young people for one of these prestigious awards.
Now that the young people have been shortlisted, letters have gone out to invite them to a glamourous awards night in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry on 28th March. An exciting aspect of these awards is that the winners are kept top secret that only a hand full of people know until it is announced at the awards ceremony. Although only young people who were shortlisted are invited, everyone who was nominated will receive a certificate of recognition and get a mention on the night to highlight the great work that they are doing.. The awards night itself is a night of splendour and glamour with a black and gold theme and anywhere between 150 – 200 people attending all in stunning formal attire. The red carpet will be rolled out for our awardees as they are given the celebrity treatment they thoroughly deserve.
Oh what a night!!
Written by James Treanor – Peer Support Worker with Newry & Mourne Youth Council
Hundreds of Young people travelled far and wide to attend this year’s Youth & Future Talent Awards (YAFTAS) Ceremony in the Canal Court Hotel on Tuesday 28th March 2017.
Just in case you do not know what the YAFTAS are, they are youth awards that were created by the Newry & Mourne Youth Council with the support of the Education Authority and Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to recognise the unsung heroes of our community who are doing something inspirational and are not getting the recognition they deserve. These awards were created to shine a positive light on the young people of our district and the great work they are doing.
The young people entered the Canal Court to be met by photographers who snapped up great photos of them as they arrived with friends and family, to give the night that Hollywood feel. The young people then entered into a glittering room decorated in a black and gold theme. Tables were filled with young people and their family and friends. There were also local elected councillors, MLAs, MPs, business people and youth workers in attendance to join in the celebrations as young people were recognised for their extraordinary work that they carry out at home and in their communities.
As the night got underway there was a great buzz around the room, young people were excited and waiting in anticipation to find out if their name would be called out as the winner of an award. All young people and groups that were nominated were mentioned for each category before the big moment arrived as to who the winner was, as the winner was announced the room filled with cheering and clapping as the young people made their way to the stage to receive their award. The young people then got their photo taken with the Chairperson of the district council, a youth council rep and the category sponsor. You could really see from the young people’s facial expressions that they were simply overjoyed at receiving an award and being recognised for their hard work.
During the awards ceremony we heard speeches from the Chairperson of NM&DDC, Chairperson of NM&D PCSP and Deputy Head of Youth Service, Education Authority. They all stated that these awards were a very positive thing for young people and without them they would never have heard of these amazing pieces of work that these young people are involved in across our district.
Throughout the night the room was entertained by local young musicians who really created a nice, relaxed atmosphere and made the night even more special for our young awardees. Having young people perform at the awards ceremony ties in with what the YAFTAS is all about, having a local youth awards run for young people by young people.
These young people truly have gone above and beyond and each one of them has an inspiring story to tell. These young people are making significant contributions to our society and are ambassadors for their communities and families, they really should be proud of the work that they have done. The red carpet was most definitely rolled out for our awardees as they were given the celebrity treatment they thoroughly deserve.
And here they are our winners and runners up for the year 2017:
Good Relations Award:
Winner: Warrenpoint Youth Forum
Runner Up: Bessbrook Youth Club
Young Carer Award:
Winner: Joshua McVeigh
Runner Up: Amy McDonnell
Community Safety Award:
Winner: Intercommunity Film Project
Runner Up: Shamrocks Youth Club
Voice of Young People Award:
Winner: Alex Moore
Runner Up: Anita Dennison
Innovation & Creativity Award:
Winner: Oliwia Swotska
Runner Up: South Down Interclub Initiative
Inspirational Young Person Award:
Winner: Jamie’Lee McClellend
Runner Up: Kaasper Andreason
