“The project is about putting trust in and giving control to young people.”
AN investment in a group of northside youths has paid off for the fourth year running, resulting in several activity and lifeskills projects earmarked to receive funding. The Young Money Youth Bank, run through Limerick Youth Service (LYS), in partnership with Ballynanty Family Resource Centre and Northside We’re OK, involves the establishment of a bank run by young people, where their peers can come and ask for small grants for various projects.
Damien Landy, LYS Youth Co-ordinator told the Limerick Post that the experience of running the youth bank was unique for participants as they had the responsibility of deciding the best candidates for the grants.
“The group carried out the interviews with candidates and did all the preparations”, said Damien, speaking at the presentation of cheques at the Ballynanty Family Resource Centre on Thursday.
“They wanted to fund activities that would be educational, encourage physical activity or help other young people to learn life skills”.
A total of €3,700 was distributed among those who made valid representations to the youth bank, with the funding coming from the Irish Youth Foundation.
“The project is about putting trust in and giving control to young people”, added Damien.
Nathan Keane, 17, and Danny McInerney, 16, both from Moyross, had lead roles in running the youth bank and told the Post that they enjoyed the experience.
“We heard about it through the youth service and we did everything ourselves, from making the posters with all the details about the project, to holding a workshop on it, carrying out interviews and deciding who should get the money”, Nathan explained.
“We got 14 applications from all kinds of community groups like ping pong and zumba clubs and summer workshops on fishing techniques”.
The grants ranged from €200 to €500 per club.
“It was definitely a responsible role and the next step is to follow up and make sure the money was spent as the groups said it would be,” says Danny
In total ten groups received cheques for various amounts.
They were the Table Tennis Club at Limerick Learning Hub, Summer School of Fishing and Life Skills Programme, both at Northside Youth Cafe, Education and Team Building and Summer Sport Programme, both at Ballynanty Community Centre, Summer Camp Project and Art Workshops, both at St. Munchin’s FRC, Singing Project ‘Happy Notes’, Zumba Girls Group, Camping initiative through the Garda Diversion Project.
Moyross youths, inset, 16-year-old Danny McInerney and 17-year-old Nathan Keane had key roles in running the bank, while above, a group of Northside youths pictured with Minister for Children Francis Fitzgerald (centre).
