OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-03-31-annual-report

13[th] ANNUAL REPORT ENAGH YOUTH FORUM

Enagh Youth Forum

13[th] Annual Report

‘Advancing Youth & Community Development In Enagh’

– Reporting Period: 1[st] April 2023 31[st] March 2024

Enagh Youth Forum 6-7 Parkmore Drive, Strathfoyle, Enagh Derry/Londonderry BT476XP Charity Registration Number: NIC100603

‘Making Enagh Cleaner, Greener & Safer’

Contents:

Our Story

Organisational Structure

Management Committee Chairpersons Message Managers Report Our Highlights Where We Are

What We Do

Our Charitable Objectives

Current Staffing Arrangements

Who We Help

Our Model of Engagement/Strategy

Focus One – Promoting social well-being in young people

Focus Two – Promoting economic well-being in young people Focus Three – Promoting environmental well-being in young people Focus Four – Campaigning & Lobbying

Strathfoyle Community Empowerment Project

Partnership Working

Programme Review

Looking Forward

Comments & Feedback Training & Development

Appendices

Our Story:

Enagh Youth Forum founded in 2010 exists to meet the identified needs of the youth from across the Enagh ward. This youth led organisation meets the need as it comes through the door; from education to training and employment opportunities the group have developed programmes and services to meet the identified need. The organisation develops social capacity through personal development, campaigning and lobbying and inclusive best practice. The core focus of our work is to promote well-being in young people. We do this through a wide range of projects that seek to promote economic, social and environmental well-being for young people aged 10-24. The essence of our work is to make the world a better place for young people. In July 2024 EYF will celebrate our 14th year anniversary!

Our Aim:

The aim of Enagh Youth Forum is to Reach, Include, Engage & Collectively Empower and Value local young people within the Enagh Ward 1 of the Rural Faughan DEA of Derry City and Strabane District Council Area; and also Market & Extend our model of practice out there to ensure that other young people can benefit from the same.

Our Vision:

Enagh Youth Forum’s vision is that we are ‘Youth Led’ and support young people to take the lead and plan and deliver their own services based on identified need; and in doing so we are focused on outcomes and delivering benefits to young people and the wider local community.

Our Mission:

Enagh Youth Forum is helping young people collectively empower themselves through unlocking potential by reaching, engaging and providing opportunities to encourage and facilitate positive life choices.

Our Values:

Passion

At Enagh Youth Forum we have a dream and we believe in our cause.

Respect

At Enagh Youth Forum we are non-judgemental and respectfully listen

Integrity

At Enagh Youth Forum we know that actions speak louder than words

Dedication

At Enagh Youth Forum we focus on the positive and believe in the possible

Engagement

At Enagh Youth Forum we lead by example

Organisational Structure:

----- Start of picture text -----
ENAGH YOUTH FORUM
YOUNG PEOPLE’S MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
ENAGH YOUTH FORUM SUB-COMMITTEES
•
Community Planning
• Employment/Human Resources
• Fundraising
STAFF
Project Manager Finance & YouthLinks Project
(YouthLed Project) Administration Officer Coordinator
(YouthLed Project) PT Youth Support
Workers (YouthLinks)
x2
SCEP Admin Support Transition Support
Volunteers Worker (SPOD) Worker
Facilitators/Mentors
BENEFICIARIES – YOUNG PEOPLE OF ENAGH WARD
----- End of picture text -----

Management Committee:

The management committee board (Trustees) provide direction, guidance and ongoing support for the continued development of Enagh Youth Forum. We aim to carry out our work guided by the ‘Code of Good Governance’ which, is a best practice document setting the standard for all governing committees in the voluntary/community sector in Northern Ireland. As of our most recent AGM, Monday 16[th] December 2024 our management committee, officer board and trustees are:

Ann Gormley Aimee Hume Michaela Doherty Breandan Callaghan Dion Coyle Zara Doherty Ruairi Boyle Keeley Irwin

Organisational Overview:

Access NI Child
Protection Umbrella
Body		 North West Volunteer Centre, 22 Bishop Street Within, Derry,
BT82 6PP
Registration with
Charities Commission		 As of 10thOctober 2014, we are registered as a charity and our
registration number is as follows:NIC100603
Bankers Ulster Bank, Waterside, Derry, BT47 1AS
Solicitors McCartney & Casey Legal Services, 3-4 Castle Street, Derry,
BT486HG
Accountants Noel Duddy & Co, 85 Strand Road, Derry, BT487NW
Insurers Ansvar Insurance. Broker: Dawson Whyte North West 17-21
Bishop Street, Derry, BT486PR
Membership of
Supporting
Organisations		 North West Community Network
North West Volunteer Centre
Youth Action Northern Ireland
The Rural Community Network
The Education Authority
NICVA / NWCN
Local Groups Faughan Strategic Growth Partnership Board
Mobuoy Dump Stakeholders Group
Strathfoyle/Maydown Community Safety Forum
Strathfoyle Greenway Campaign Steering Group
Enagh Country Park Enterprises

Chairpersons Message:

I am proud and privileged to have served as chairperson of Enagh Youth Forum for this past year. I am especially proud of everything that the new NLCF funded YouthLinks project which commenced in April 2023 has achieved over these past twelve months. A special thanks also to all the funding support team at The National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support. The YouthLinks Project really is making a difference to the lives of local young people.

Enagh Youth Forum is using a £499,450 grant to run activities for vulnerable young people in the Greater Strathfoyle area outside Derry/Londonderry, to improve their mental health, build skills and connect with the community. Over three years the project will provide learning activities on topics decided by the young people such as youth safety, climate change, life skills, and youth rights. The project will also organise social events and youth-led projects designed by the young people and their peers from neighbouring areas.

The ‘Give & Take’ Summer Programme made a fantastic return again this year with 55+ young people directly benefiting from a wide range of group work activities, outdoor pursuits, social action projects and family friendly events at key times of the year including Easter, Halloween, Christmas and St Patricks Day. The annual community fun day took place on 15[th] August and was attended by 200+ local families.

Enagh Youth Forum continue to make a positive contribution to local youth and community development processes and throughout 2023/24 we have continued to support young people through a wide range of youth support services, one to one support, groupwork, practical life skills and provision of training courses aimed at enhancing employability.

We also successfully completed our NIHE Sustaining Tenancies project, ‘Strathfoyle Cleaner, Greener and Safer’. This project enabled us to consult directly with local people and we have published and launched the new Strathfoyle Village Plan 2023-2028. We continue to work in partnership with all local groups, The NIHE, The Rural Area Partnership In Derry and Derry City & Strabane District Council to develop the actions for the new plan. Recent achievements included the advanced construction of the much anticipated Stradowen Drive Greenway (due to officially open late 2024). We have also campaigned for improved bus services and launched a road safety campaign for the main Temple Road.

I would like to thank all of staff team at EYF including all of our volunteers for their time, energy and commitment and who have helped to make Enagh Youth Forum the success that it is today. Thank you Michelle, Laila, Paul, Louise, Noel, Linda, Kevin and Elle.

Finally, I would like to thank the 98 registered young member of Enagh Youth Forum who are all aged between 10 and 25 years old; particularly those who have attended activities, courses and projects and those who gained worthwhile accreditations. Well done to you all, you are a credit to yourselves, your families and your community. I for my part would encourage all of you to keep up the good work, keep attending the project and enjoy being at the centre of all that EYF do! I would like to thank all our funders over the past twelve months as their funding has and continues to make a real and lasting difference in this community.

Yours Sincerely,

Ann Gormley

Chairperson

EYF – ‘Cleaner & Greener’ Award Winners 2021

Managers Report:

These past twelve months have been very busy and EYF have continued to support youth and community development in the Strathfoyle and Greater Enagh area. There have been a number of positive achievements. Enagh Youth Forum secured funding for a new three Year YouthLinks Project from The National Lottery Community Fund. The YouthLinks Project commenced in April 2023. The first year of the YouthLinks Project has been a huge success, helped transform lives and promote positive engagement locally. Hundreds of young people have benefited from our youth support services, life skills development programmes, outdoor pursuits provision, having fun; and a range of community events. Construction has commenced on the new Stradowen Drive Greenway Link and it is hoped it will complete later in 2024.

Over the next two years, the ‘YouthLinks’ project will enable EYF to continue to combat the worst effects of rural isolation and social exclusion; as well as empowering young people in the decision making processes and making voice heard and made matter across the rural Faughan area.

This report reflects on some of our achievements over these past twelve months.

As of the 31[st] March 2024, 98 young people aged 10-25 years old were registered with the YouthLinks Project. Of that number, on average 60 young people continued to be engaged through various projects and programmes aimed at improving economic, environmental and social well-being and through also attending Enagh Youth Forum’s ‘Drop In’ workshops and groupwork sessions weekly.

Twenty local young people continued to take responsibility for managing the project annually.

Our focus has been on empowering young people to make their own decisions, collectively empower each other, make links with young people in other rural communities located within the rural Faughan DEA and take forward a ‘child rights based approach’ through embedding the core principles of the UNCRC within our service delivery.

Thanks to our continued funding support from the National Lottery Community Fund we were delighted to be able to deliver once again what was a very successful ‘Give & Take’ summer intervention programme. We also worked closely with our young people and project evaluators Logue Associates to develop and refine our Model of Youth Engagement which we hope to launch later in 2024 and share with other youth organisations across Derry & Strabane and wider NI.

Enagh Youth Forum continues to be represented on the local Strathfoyle and Maydown Community Safety Forum which meets bi-monthly. We also have enhanced the positive working relationship with the local NIHE Office, Neighbourhood Warden and Patch Manager. Furthermore through carrying out regular estate inspections, this year we submitted 26 requests for repairs to street lighting, pot holes, re-surfacing requests, drainage issues, overgrown trees/hedges, road signage and new road/footpath schemes to The Department For Infrastructure. We also continue to attend the multi-agency estate inspections organised by Supporting Communities which help address other issues identified and involves the local NIHE, DSSDC, PCSP and others.

The NIHE Sustaining Tenancies Project ‘Strathfoyle Cleaner, Greener & Safer’ completed has been successfully completed. This project was all about promoting NIHE tenant involvement in local community development projects which have helped make Strathfoyle Cleaner, Greener & Safer. Key to this was consulting with tenants on what projects they want to see and supporting them to make them happen. The project facilitated a range of community re-imaging projects which have enhanced the local environment within Strathfoyle Village.

Most of all Enagh Youth Forum continues to pursue its goal of making and leaving the world a better place for young people. We are achieving this through; putting young people first, meeting the need in

front of us, and promoting social, economic and environmental well-being. We also continue to campaign for improved services for the local area. I would like to acknowledge, recognise and value the contribution of our external partners particularly the support provided to us by The North West Volunteer Centre and Youth Action. I also wish to commend the work of our staff and volunteers, our managing committee for their commitment and support and giving so generously of their time.

Finally I would like to commend the young people who have helped develop the new YouthLinks Project and who over these past twelve months have benefited greatly from the project through participating in a wide range of training courses, practical life skills, social action projects and helping to plan and organise a range of community and family events. Lets move forward into Year 2 of the YouthLinks Project together.

Paul Hughes

Manager

Funders:

Enagh Youth Forum’s Management Committee, Staff, Volunteers thank all who funded our work this year. Without this support Enagh Youth Forum would not be such a vibrant grassroots organisation delivering personal and social development programmes on the ground to our beneficiaries, improving the environment, promoting health & well being and working towards the creation of a safer, shared community.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Enagh Youth Forum launched the new YouthLinks Project funded and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund through the ‘Empowering Young People Program’.

2. Enagh Youth Forum successfully delivered a ‘Give & Take’ Summer Intervention Project with over 55 young people participating.

3. DCSDC Secured funding for the Stradowen Drive Greenway Link!

4. Young People helped were positively engaged through weekly youth in sessions.

5. Young people participated in a range of projects aimed at promoting youth safety, health and well-being and life skills and learning.

6. Young People Helped Plan a Number of Successful Community Events Including A Fun Day, Halloween Community Fireworks Display and Christmas events.

7. Young People Continued to Campaign for Improved Road Safety Measures on Temple Road

8. Young People Have Secured Accreditations and Qualifications in ‘Pony Care, Canoeing, Boxing, Wall Climbing & More!

9. EYF continue to be represented at the monthly Strathfoyle/Maydown Community Safety Forum meetings and Faughan Growth Board.

10. Keeping Strathfoyle Tidy – Numerous Social Action Projects Completed

11. EYF Delivered a number of health and well-being projects aimed at promoting healthy and more active lifestyles.

12. Young People Discover Wildlife On Their Doorstep & Continue to Look After Enagh Lough through & Helped Install New Bird / Bat Boxes in a partnership project with Strathfoyle Community Association.

13. Young People from EYF complete Road Safety ‘Roadwise Programme’ & Lobby for a Zebra Crossing on the main Temple Road.

14. Young People Develop Participated in a number of Good Relations Projects

15. Young People have had lots of fun, made friends and memories.

Where We Are:

Strathfoyle is located some eight kilometres north east of Derry/Londonderry and approximately two kilometres from the A2 Derry/Londonderry to Coleraine road. To the north it is bounded by industry and the port complex at Lisahally and to the south by the Area of High Scenic Value along the River Foyle banks.

The Port is Derry’s key marine access point to the world and deals with a constant stream of freight and industrial cargo, which is distributed throughout Ireland from the Port.

The settlement was developed in phases between the late 1950’s and the late 1960’s, as a direct result of the ongoing industrial development at Maydown and its layout is typical of post-war public housing estates.

Strathfoyle was more seriously developed after the war and in the 1950s it was established as a housing estate. The area which is commonly known throughout Strathfoyle as ‘The New Estate’ was built shortly after the erection of the first set of houses, in different phases spanning across three decades, the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s. In the new millennium, Strathfoyle has seen a surge in popularity and is now seen as a choice location for young people looking for residence. This high interest has led to the construction of new additions to the Strathfoyle area, including ‘The Old Fort’ and ‘Butlers Wharf’.

The village facilities has a small retail outlet including a pharmacy, a supermarket, a fast food take-away and a hairdressers, a Roman Catholic chapel, a library, youth club, children’s play park and a post office. The area also has four locally established charitable community groups including Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group, Strathfoyle Community Association, Tiny Tots Community Play Group & Enagh Youth Forum. Construction works started on the new 2.7km Strathfoyle Greenway in March 2022 and is expected to open by 31[st] December 2022.

St Oliver Plunkett Primary School provides education for around 221 pupils in the area. The school was established in 1975 and is the main primary school in the Strathfoyle and Greater Enagh area. The majority of post primary school students in Strathfoyle attend schools such as Oakgrove Integrated College, St Marys High School in Limavady, or St Columns College. Oakgrove Integrated College is located near to the village and is a popular choice among students due to its proximity to the village.

Levels Of Disadvantage:

Despite much good work to date by the community sector alongside statutory partners high levels of need remain in the area. Strathfoyle is currently ranked in the top 20% most deprived areas in Northern Ireland with some specific streets within Strathfoyle falling within the top 10%.

Unemployment levels are stubbornly high, 7.7% compared with the Northern Ireland average of 4.1%. The rate of lone parents with dependent children is 21.4% compared against the Northern Ireland average of 8.1%. Examination of demographic trends also shows a very youthful population with 32.6% aged less than 16 years. Strathfoyle is located in Enagh Ward 1 which is located within the Faughan DEA and is an area of high disadvantage.

It is characterised by the following:

What We Do: ‘Prevention, Intervention & Progression’

Enagh Youth Forum was founded in 2010 having developed and re-constituted from the Strathfoyle Youth Forum, which formed in 2008. The forum was developed by and for the benefit of local young people between the ages of 10 – 25 years, regardless of ability, gender, race, political, religious or other opinion within the Greater Enagh area. EYF is now a well established community based youth organisation and continues to make a significant contribution to youth and community development processes locally. Our forum exists to provide opportunities for young people and to help combat the worst effects of rural isolation and social exclusion and promote the re-generation of the local area. “Its about putting people first and meeting the need presented in front of us”

Through valuing, reaching and positively engaging with young people ‘on the streets’ in their space when and where they are at we promote and support their inclusion and participation in active learning programmes which they are interested in and involve them in the planning, design and delivery of them.

A core focus of our work this year has been to launch our new ‘YouthLinks Project’ which will run from April 23 to March 26. Over the life of the project, Youthlinks will focus on eight key themes working directly with local young people aged 10-24 years old who reside within the Enagh Ward.

  1. Youth Safety

  2. The Environment & Future of the Natural World

  3. Lifeskills & Learning

  4. Social Events & Engagement

  5. Health & Well-Being

  6. Active Citizenship, Community Service & Good Relations

  7. Social Justice / Youth Rights (Awakened Activists)

  8. Faughan Youth Bank Initiative

Enagh Youth Forum staff, volunteers, trustees and peer leaders provide the ongoing encouragement and support to enable this to happen through our close working relationship with the local community association, women’s group, EA youth centre and The Rural Faughan Growth Board, The Rural Area Partnership In Derry, Youth Action and others.

Enagh Youth Forum regularly review policies and procedures in line with best practice, is fully insured, carry out health and safety risk assessments in all activities, venues and transport, ensure that all staff and volunteers are vetted in line with child protection legislation as well as having the capacity, experience, competence and confidence to deliver programmes and genuinely support young people and the wider community. Enagh Youth Forum has extensive experience in accessing and managing a variety of funding from a range of sources including voluntary trusts and foundations as well as government bodies. There is no other forum or organisation in the Strathfoyle or Greater Enagh area that exists to provide a service for young people locally that puts young people in the lead where young people are involved in ‘Making Voice Heard and Made to Matter’.

Our Charitable Objectives:

Enagh Youth Forum registered with the Northern Ireland Charities Commission on the 10[th] of October 2014. In ensuring that the activities of Enagh Youth Forum provide a public benefit, all of our activities are related to one or more of the following charitable objects:

The Advancement of Education:

The Advancement of Citizenship or Community Development:

The Advancement of Health or the Saving of Lives:

Purpose One:

Enagh Youth Forum is a voluntary non-profit making organisation established for the benefit of children and young people between the ages of 10 and 25 without distinction of ability, sex, race, political, religious or other opinion who reside within the Enagh Ward which sits within the rural Faughan District Electoral Area within Derry City & Strabane District Council.

Purpose Two:

Enagh Youth Forum exists to educate, support and promote the well being of such children and young people by developing their physical, mental and spiritual capacities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and that their quality of life may be improved.

The direct benefits which flow from these purposes include the provision of all services to all children and young people aged between 10 and 25 years resident in the Enagh Ward within the Derry City & Strabane District Council area for the purpose of benefiting those children and young people. Benefits include increased educational attainment, life skills and abilities such as increased confidence and self esteem; opportunities for work experience; opportunities to develop citizenship skills; skills in campaigning & lobbying; and experience in celebrating difference and diversity. Benefits also include the promotion of healthier life styles; crisis intervention, referral and ongoing support.

Current Staffing Arrangements (As of 1[st] May 2024):

1. National Lottery Community Funded ‘YouthLed Project’:

We employed a full time ‘Project Manager’ for the new YouthLinks Project. This post is secure until 31[st] March 2026 and is funded and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund through the ‘Empowering Young People’ Programme.

We also currently employ a full time ‘Finance & Administration Officer’ for the YouthLinks Project. This post is secure until 31[st] March 2026 and is funded and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund through the ‘Empowering Young People’ Programme.

We also currently employ two part time youth support workers until 31[st] March 2026. These posts are funded and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund through the ‘Empowering Young People’ Programme.

2. NIHE (Sustaining Tenancies & SPOD Projects):

We currently employ a part time ‘Administrative Assistant’. This post is for 8 hours per week and is funded by the ‘Small Pockets of Deprivation Programme’ which is managed and administrated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on behalf of DFC. This post is funded to 31[st] March 2024.

We also employ a Project Co-Ordinator for the Strathfoyle ‘Cleaner, Greener & Safer Project’ which is funded through the NIHE Sustaining Tenancies Project until May 2024.

3. Volunteers:

In furtherance of the above we currently have two part time Youth Support Worker (volunteers) helping to co-facilitate group work programmes and activities with young people and a part time welfare rights and benefit advice worker (volunteer), who do an excellent job and greatly assist us with ‘service delivery’. We would be lost without the support of our volunteers and thank them for their continued commitment to Enagh Youth Forum. We also have a number of volunteers who assist with planning and supervising community events and assist with the deliver of our summer program.

Next Steps:

Continue to deliver the YouthLinks Project with local young people aged 10-24 years old. Continue to contribute to local youth and community development processes in the Strathfoyle area.

Who We Help:

Enagh Youth Forum operates an ‘Open Door’ policy which means that all residents and young people can benefit from our services and facilities. We always strive to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. We are working to embed a child rights approach into our youth work practice and all staff have completed Child Friendly City training on the UNCRC child rights.

At Enagh Youth Forum we are non-judgemental and have a genuine regard for all young people.

In furtherance of this, EYF reaches out to young people through our outreach extended provision at weekends during key time of the year including during the summer holidays and at Halloween meeting young people when and where they are at.

Our Model of Engagement & Strategy:

Youth work can be defined generally as the process of creating an environment where young people can engage in informal activities of a recreational, social, and/or educational nature. Governmental or statutory definitions tend to emphasise planned programmes; top down interventions; personal and social development of young people; and all of this linked to and complimenting their formal education.

Others usually from the community sector, seek to get away from seeing youth work primarily in terms of the development of young people and link its theory and practice to community development. Hence they emphasise a definition of youth work which aims to engage with society and to bring about social change in a society which is marked by class and other divisions; inequality and social injustice. Only by contextualising youth work in society can youth work attempt to achieve real youth participation, education, liberation and empowerment.

If ‘informal education’ is seen as the core activity of youth work, different approaches to achieving it are taken by practitioners. The main division is between centre-based youth work and detached youth work. The former is carried out in dedicated premises, which may include facilities such as drop-in coffee bars, advice centres and sports facilities. The onus is on the young people coming to the centre. The “latter” targets vulnerable young people (or hard to reach) young people on their own territory (e.g. streets, cafes, parks and pubs), at times which are appropriate to them. The interaction begins on the young people’s terms, their values, attitudes, issues and ambitions. It is concerned with their personal and social development and also with the divisions, inequalities and injustices in society.

Enagh Youth Forum (EYF), has followed the detached model with its own distinctive EYF take on it. It is described as “Walking in the shadow of young people” in which the young people take the lead and are supported by youth workers. They work together in the pursuit of a number of wide ranging objectives that ultimately focus on promoting well-being in young people. Enagh Youth Forum’s four key ‘Focuses’ are:

  1. To Promote Social Well-being for Young People & the Local Community

  2. To Promote Economic Well-Being for Young People & the Local Community

  3. To Promote Environmental Well-Being for Young People & the Local Community

  4. To Campaign & Lobby for Improved Services

These key ‘Focuses’ link well with the local Council’s ‘Faughan Community Plan’; Strathfoyle Village Community Plan and the Government’s wider plans in pursuing a ‘Well-Being’ strategy. However EYF’s co-operative and critical approach is reminiscent of the work of Paulo Freire. He rejected the ‘banking’ model of education where the student is treated as an empty vessel to be filled with knowledge like a piggy bank. He argues for the educational process to treat the learner as a Co-Creator of knowledge. In an unequal society the oppressed must regain their sense of humanity and worth in order to overturn their condition. No education that is truly liberating can remain distant from the oppressed by treating them as unfortunates and by presenting for their emulation models of success from among the oppressors. The oppressed must define their own examples in their struggle for liberation and empowerment and develop a critical consciousness in order to recognise the oppressor’s ‘culture of silence’ is designed to instil a negative, silenced and suppressed selfimage in the oppressed.

It is not surprising then that one of the techniques used by EYF is the Theatre of the Oppressed which was developed by Augusto Boal in South America as a tool for raising the consciousness of the marginalised about injustice, equality and human rights. Boal acknowledged Friere as the major influence on his ideology and methodology. Significantly the UK’s National Training Organisation for community development, community workers, youth workers and adult educators (established 2002) was named PAULO in recognition of Paulo Freire. PAULO is part of the Lifelong Learning UK Sector Skills Council.

Enagh Youth Forum’s Model Of Youth Engagement has been greatly challenged throughout the five year YouthLed Project and the Covid19 pandemic and will be re-visited and further developed and refined over the life of the YouthLinks Project, which seeks to empower local young people. (Healy/Logue 2020)

Focus One – Promoting Social Well-Being In Young People

Genuine Youth Support Service!

Through our National Lottery Community Funded YouthLinks Project which launched in April 2023, Enagh Youth Forum continue to provide a genuine youth support service and listening ear for young people. EYF puts young people first and promotes active citizenship, pride of place and young people progress in EYF through the co-production of their own knowledge. This is a self-help forum where young people make informed choices and can be signposted and referred to other agencies when the appropriate service is not delivered locally. We are looking forward to launching the Faughan Youth Bank initiative later in 2024.

Advocacy!

EYF support young people and local residents when in contact with many of the statutory agencies including Social Services, Probation Board NI, Youth Justice Agency, Social Security Agency and The Northern Ireland Housing Executive and others. Within this reporting period 6 young people have successfully completed ‘Community Service Orders’ with EYF.

Youth Zone Drop In!

EYF are planning to re open and re-start our youth support services and hope to be able to return to our open door policy where young people can drop in when they want, plan and organise their own activities and get involved in the running of the organisation and become involved in the decision making process.

Helping To Spread The Message That Its Ok Not To Be Ok!

Ensuring Community Safety!

Promoting Good Relations!

Building Confidence & Self – Esteem!

Managing Transition

Peroject Co-Ordinator Summary

(NIHE Sustaining Tenancies Project)

Enagh Youth Forum was delighted to receive funding from the NIHE ‘Sustaining Tenancies’ Programme to deliver a two year ‘Strathfoyle, Cleaner, Greener and Safer’ project which ran from May 2022 – May 2024. The core ethos of this project was to engage and involve local NIHE tenants in local community development projects aimed at enhancing the local environment and improving physical re-generation. A key aim of the project was to carry out a comprehensive community needs analysis and produce a new five year village plan 20232028. We are delighted to report that this has been achieved and the new village plan has been published and launched.

I have been employed as the part time project co-ordinator with Enagh Youth Forum’s ‘Strathfoyle Cleaner, Greener and Safer’ Project since May 2022. I am pleased to report that the project has and continues to make a positive difference to local tenants in the Strathfoyle area.

Summary for the period 1[st] January – 31[st] March 2024:

Michelle Hayden Project Co-Ordinator Strathfoyle ‘Cleaner, Greener & Safer Project’ Enagh Youth Forum

YouthLinks Project Social Activities/Events Planned By Local Young People This Year

Enagh Youth Forum’s new three year YouthLinks Project launched in April / May 2024.

As of 31[st] March 2024, we currently had 90 young people registered with the YouthLinks Project aged 10-25. 55 young people attended on a weekly basis. 20 young people were active in taking responsibility for the project. It is important to note and commend the work carried out by the management committee members over these past number of months who have been instrumental in assisting with programme planning for the ‘YouthLinks’ project, as well as assisting EYF staff with ongoing fundraising efforts.

From April 2023 – March 2026, EYF will utilise this grant support from The National Lottery Community Fund to:

Over these past twelve months (Year 1 YouthLinks Project) young people have been involved in planning and participated in a number of projects, activities and events. These have included planning and organising:

Successful ‘Give & Take’ Summer intervention Programme

The Give & Take July & August Summer Intervention’ programme was planned by local young people and supported by the EYF seniors group made up of young people aged 1825 who helped supervise a number of activities and events. 55+ young people participated in a wide range of groupwork activities, social action projects, day trips and activities, outdoor pursuits and overnight residential.

This programme was a success and helped EYF staff and volunteers re-connect with local young people through the registration process and launch of the new YouthLinks project.

  1. Social Action Projects included the delivery of 6 local community clean ups, graffiti removal and tree / shrub planting

  2. The Inter-Generational Annual ‘Window Box Challenge’ was well attended by local young people and senior citizens

  3. Day trips and activities included Escaramouche Lazer Tag, Canoeing/Kayaking, Coasteering, Zip Line & and Water Park

  4. The August 15[th] Community Fun Day at Parkmore Drive was attended by 200+ local families and was a very successful community event that brought people together to have fun.

The 2023 ‘Give & Take’ Summer Intervention Project was funded and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, The Education Authority and Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

----- Start of picture text -----
Summer 2023 Highlights
----- End of picture text -----

141 14•5 • 7 *P.111?L114 COMMUNITY FUND IftAGH Yoimi roRUffl Y•drH

EYF Halloween 2023 Highlights Ie, &" Ena9h Youth F um Invltes you to our WIUNITY HALLOivEEfv4 SPLAY Whèn: Thursday 26th October fy4 Tlme: 7.304pm FUND

Chrlstmas 2023 Hlghlights nappy Lnr15Tma atal Mubar shèng dan jié kuai lè ,ie • r51., Iwj EftftGH Y ape

Improving Community Safety

Enagh Youth Forum continues to promote community safety in the local area with the aim of making Strathfoyle a safer, shared community. We continue to be represented at the bimonthly meetings of the Strathfoyle & Maydown Community Safety Forum.

Some Issues That Have Presented In 2023/24 involving what is a minority of young people have Included:

In attempting to respond to these challenges, Enagh Youth Forum works closely with all members of the Strathfoyle and Maydown Community Safety Forum. DCSDC environmental health team was contacted to help request that land owners made derelict buildings safe. In tackling the issues in and around the estate we work closely with the NIHE Patch Manager, Rural Wardens, all local youth and community groups and local elected representatives.

Over the past twelve months, Enagh Youth Forum has also continued to attend the bimonthly meeting of the Strathfoyle and Maydown Community Safety Forum and we have worked positively with a range of funders including The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Derry Strabane PCSP and Derry City & Strabane District Council on a range of community safety issues as and when issues arise as well as engaging in a number of preventative projects. This has helped with a partnership approach in attempting to reduce anti-social behaviour in the area and has improved community cohesion. We continue to promote and encourage everyone to make use of the ‘Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs’ (RAPID) bin located in the local Spar Shop in Temple Road in Strathfoyle.

EYF continue to report a wide range of community safety issues to the appropriate agencies and authorities including but not limited to:

We are looking forward to the sixth annual estate inspection which is scheduled to take place during May 2024 with all local groups and a range of statutory agencies taking part. The estate inspection is facilitated by Supporting Communities NI.

We are also continuing to work in partnership with The Northern Ireland Housing Executive to try and advance plans for a Community Growing Space at Crannog Park.

Community Safety Items 2021 - Various – Reported To Relevant Agencies

Focus Two – Promoting Economic Well-Being In Young People Careers & Employment

Enagh Youth Forum offer one to one advice in an environment conducive to the individuals needs assisting with providing guidance, support, interview preparation skills, CV Building and promoting pathways to employability. This service also works in partnership with other training providers including Derry Youth & Community Workshop, The North West Volunteer Centre, The Princes Trust, Reach Across, North West Regional College, Youth Action and Others.

In this reporting period a total of 58 young people benefited from careers and employment support. A number of young people also successfully secured accreditations for completing short courses.

Support carried out during this reporting period:

12

15

Total: 58 (Individual Beneficiaries)

Reference Requests

In this reporting period a total of 17 young people were provided with references to assist with employment application

Certificate Presentation & Celebration Event

A certificate presentation event is scheduled to take place before the end of 2024. All young people will be invited to receive their certificates in relation to

Focus Three – Promoting Environmental Well-Being In Young People

Over the past twelve months Enagh Youth Forum’s commitment to helping promote environmental well-being young people has continued. To this end we have successfully carried out a number of social action projects including a number of community clean up’s, graffiti removal projects and tree planting and window box project. Young people have attended a range of educational outdoor visits to local woodlands and environmental projects in the local North West area.

Another Successful ‘Strathfoyle One Big Clean Up’ 2023

This years Strathfoyle ‘One Big Clean Up Week 2023’ took place between July and August 2023 and was incorporated into our ‘Give & Take’ Summer Intervention Programme. Local young people successful planned a number of community litter picks in and around the local area and were supported by staff and volunteers from Enagh Youth Forum. These efforts continue to be supported by the NIHE & Live Here, Love Here, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. During the summer months a number of local young people and volunteers helped to remove all offensive graffiti from in and around the Strathfoyle estate. The NIHE Grounds Maintenance Team planted a number of new raised flower beds in and around the estate. EYF installed a new Weather Station which is fixed on top of the roof of our building at Parkmore Drive. Live data can be viewed live via the Enagh Weather Station map. Big thanks to the NIHE for funding this project through the Sustaining Tenancies funding program. Derry City & Strabane District Council and the NIHE also once again contributed to the success of the weeks events and were active on the ground carrying out grounds maintenance repairs in Strathfoyle.

This years annual ‘Window Box Challenge’ was also a success.

Window Box Challenge Event at E.Y.F

A Snap Shot Of Some Of EYF’s Recent Environmental Projects:

Good News! Strathfoyle Greenway was Officially Opened (June 2023)

Focus Four – YouthLed Campaigning & Lobbying

Over the past twelve months Enagh Youth Forum has bee n pro-actively involved in a number of campaigning and lobbying projects locally. Through applying a needs, rights and social justice approach we have helped bring about positive results that have gone some way to improving the social, economic and environmental well-being in the Strathfoyle and wider Enagh area within the rural Faughan DEA. Below is a list of projects that have required and continue to require campaigning and lobbying to deliver positive change.

Campaign Issue/Item Status
Fixed Play Park Provision Play Park Officially Opened October 2018
Disability Play Provision Funding Secured by DCSDC – Works
Scheduled to Complete by End May 2022
Greenway Extension Project (Stradowen Drive
Link)		 Construction Well Advanced – Official Opening
will take place during Dec 24
Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA ONGOING–Discussions Continue
Street Lighting Colum Provision – Maydown
Road (Strathfoyle/Maydown Shared Path)		 Requests made to DFI. Response received that
no budget currently available to progress.
Village Welcome Sign – Maydown
Village Welcome Sign – Strathfoyle		 Completed & Installed
Completed & Installed at Otterbank Rd/Temple
Road. Planning Permisison secured for
permanent Village Welcome Sign at Haw
Road/Temple Road junction.
Re-Development of The Auld School Centre ONGOING – Enagh Country Park Enterprises
Ltd (Public Consultation Took Place at
Strathfoyle Youth Club on 18thMay 22 and
Strathfoyle Library 24thMay 22.
Development of a Masterplan for Enagh Lough
& Gransha Inc Changing Room Facilities at
Enagh Lough		 ONGOING – DCSDC continuing to progress.
Draft plan to be published before end 23.
Health Impact Study
Local Development Plan		 ONGOING – Report Recommendations now
listed in local community & village plans. EYF
have made a number of representations to
DCSDC Draft LDP
Bus Stop Repairs ONGOING–Discussions continue with DCSDC
Lamp Post Repairs SUCCESSFUL & ONGOING
Suicide Awareness ONGOING – EYF Plan & Deliver Early
Intervention Projects
Welfare Rights / Housing Support EYF Continue To Support People
Illegal Dumping Locally Successfully Tackled & Ongoing
Mobuoy Dump Remediation Stakeholders Group Continues To Meet –
Remediation Plan Now Made Public
Zebra Crossing at Temple Road DFI Have Said There Are No Plans To Install
One Presently. EYF to Campaign. New Traffic
Calming Bumps to be installed April / May 25
Stradowen Drive Re-Surfacing Works Works Completed November 2018
Strathfoyle / Maydown Shared Path Phase One & Two & Three Complete
Community Allotment/Men’s Shed Project Ongoing – Site Identified at Crannog Park (Joint
Projectwith N.I.H.E

Community Planning

Enagh Youth Forum continue to be represented in relation to local community planning processes. This includes representation on the following committees/groups:

‘Strathfoyle Community Empowerment Project

‘Imagine Enagh Country Park & Rural Greenway Hub’

Funding for our Strathfoyle Community Empowerment Project concluded during March 2019. Despite the best efforts of the EYF staff team, we were unable to secure the funding required to extend this project. However the ethos of the project lives on and continues to grow from strength to strength. The focus over these past six months has been trying to save the old school and chapel at Temple Road and hopefully redevelop the site back into community use as a new ‘Rural Greenway Hub’! EYF and SCA are community partners in these efforts which are now being taking forward by Enagh Country Park Enterprises Ltd.

Key themes of the Strathfoyle Community Empowerment Project Included:

The project is all about putting people first and enabling local people to identify local issues and come up with their own solutions. This is all about campaigning from the bottom up and allowing local people to put forward their ideas for the old school and chapel.

• Strengths Based

A core element of this project is focusing on equipping local people with the skills needed to help ‘bring to life’ the actions identified within the local Strathfoyle & Maydown Village Plan and the wider ‘Faughan Community Plan’ as well as holding a number of ‘Have Your Say’ events locally. Work is now well underway to clean up the site and begin looking at feasibility options for this site!

• Connected

The project aimed to involve and benefit all local community groups, promoting partnership working and the sharing of resources. The Auld School Project will achieve this!

Enagh Youth Forum will continue to work positively with all local partners to bring to life the ‘Old School & Chapel’ Site Rural Greenway Hub Project which is greatly needed in the local community to help combat loneliness as well as rural isolation and social exclusion within our local rural community.

Partnership Working:

Enagh Youth Forum believes in supporting young people in becoming active citizens within their own community. In working towards this goal we realise that this can only be achieved through a holistic partnership approach.

Throughout the past twelve months we have developed positive working relationships with a range of organisations listed below, all of which have made a positive contribution to supporting the work of our organisation and the young people who benefit. Locally within Strathfoyle and Maydown partnership working has greatly improved between all local youth and community groups all who are working towards a common goal of purpose of helping to improve the quality of life for those young people and residents of Strathfoyle as well as working to help combat the worst effects of rural isolation and social exclusion.

All local groups continue to meet on a bi-monthly basis to further advance the Stradowen Drive Greenway Link project and also the newly established ‘Enagh Gransha Master Planning’ meetings led on by DCSDC; and EYF also continue to attend the Strathfoyle and Maydown Community Safety Forum meetings and are working jointly to tackle a range of community safety issues.

List Of Working Partnerships Adventure Sports North West Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Bytes Project Conservation Volunteers NI Derry Youth & Community Workshop Dungiven Dry Arch Centre Enagh Seniors Group Foyle Drug & Alcohol Forum Friends of the Earth Faughan Valley Rural Landscape Partnership Libraries NI Maydown Community Association North West Community Network North West Volunteer Centre Reach Across Rural Area Partnership In Derry Rural Community Network Rural Faughan Strategic Growth Partnership Rutledge Strathfoyle Community Association Strathfoyle Womens Activity Group Tiny Tots Community Play Group The Playhouse Derry The Northern Ireland Youth Forum The Youth Work Alliance

Programme Review

Throughout the past twelve months Enagh Youth Forum has provided a wide and diverse range of essential community support to local young people, families and the wider community of Strathfoyle / Enagh.

Thanks to funding secured from The National Lottery Community Fund we were delighted to launch the new three year YouthLinks project. Young people achieved qualifications and accreditations and also benefited from and participated in a range of issue based group work facilitation and workshops including: ‘Youth Safety’, Good Relations project, Pony Care, Indoor Wall Climbing, exploring ASB and consequences, employability and transferrable life skills. We also successfully delivered a wide range of interventions covering suicide awareness, relationship and sex education, understanding myself and others, mood matters and promoting positive emotional health through group work and a range of projects.

We now have 98 young people signed up as registered members of the new three year YouthLinks Project! However we are always looking at ways to reach, engage and include new members into the youth forum as well as working to retain existing members and service users. We try to work out what matters most to the young people and believe strongly in meeting the need presented in front of us, making honest connections and standing for the possibility of making everybody’s voice matter.

In this reporting period, we have worked positively with local young people, their families and support networks to launch the YouthLinks Project which is all about connecting young people with services and social outlets as well as building links with other young people who reside in neighbouring rural communities and right across the Derry and Strabane District. It is important that we again acknowledge The National Community Fund who have approved funding for Enagh Youth Forums YouthLinks project up until March 2026. We would also like to acknowledge the support and guidance provided to us by our funding officer and all of the NLCF team.

Looking Forward

As Year One of our three year YouthLed Project comes to an end, Enagh Youth Forum finds ourselves excited and energised for the coming year ahead hoping to continue to making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.

To this end local young people have and are continuing to develop their model of practice and are now actively promoting it amongst policy makers and other voluntary sector youth groups across the city and district and beyond. A major focus for us moving forward is to embed a child / youth rights approach into our youth and community development practice. We are also excited about young people taking the lead in campaigning, social action projects, exploring local democracy and rolling out the Faughan Youth Bank initiative as we

Feedback From our Members!

Comments & Feedback:

"I joined Enagh Youth Forum in summer 2023. Its been fun and ive taking part in loads of activities and projects. I was really happy to have completed the Indoor Wall Climbing course at The Foyle Foyle Arena. Mia aged 12 Years Old

"I helped organise the EYF Community Halloween was held back in October. My friends and I served hot chocalate and served at the tick shop. I really enjoyed it and was happy with how it all turned out” Ella aged 13 Years Old

"I enjoyed the fishing day trips to The Oaks and Ballyheather. It was good just to get a days fishing with all the lads. Thanks EYF Callum aged 16

"My son Dayvn is 11 years old. He has really enjoyed taking part in all the summer activities with EYF including the water park at Lake Kilrea. Dayvn also completed the mood matters course and Save Your Mate course and learned a lot of new skills” David Ogilby (Parent)

“Thank you EYF for everything and especially for helping to campaign for the new Stradowen Drive greenway link. Its amazing. Everyone loves it! " Amanda (Local Resident)

"The Window Box Challenge Event was really really good. Thanks for allowing me to take part!"

Margaret – Local Resident

"With the cold weather after Christmas, it was great to call into EYF for a hot drink and sit for a while. Getting hot chocalte and being able to bring my younger brothers in was amazing.”

Darragh aged 12

“EYF has helped us gain friendships and settle into the area after moving here to Strathfoyle a year ago.”

Sila/Rose aged 14 and 12

"Exciting times for Strathfoyle. The amount of regeneration in the area that has been borne out of partnership working between statutory agencies and the local community including EYF over the past few years has been tremendous.” – Well Done! MLA Mark H Durkan

Staff Training & Development

It is very important for staff and volunteers to continually up skill so that they can offer participants a good service and reach organisation expectations. Below is a list of training attended during the 2023/2024 reporting period.

Future Training Requirements

The emphasis for this Year One of this new YouthLinks Project was for all project staff to attend refresher training in relation to Child Protection & First Aid. All staff attended UNCRC Child Rights training which was invaluable and key to our aim of embedding a childs rights approach into our youth and community development practice. This is something that will be revisited later in 2024 and we hope to register more volunteers who will also benefit from this training.

A critical theme within our new ‘YouthLinks’ project includes a ‘Faughan Youth Bank Initiative’. Skills development relating to ‘Consensual Grant Making’ has been identified and sourced and will take place later in 2024. This is important as we seek to involve young people directly in taking forward the new ‘YouthLinks’ Project in Strathfoyle, Maydown and across the wider Faughan DEA.

Staff and volunteers have also stated that they would like to attend further training in the areas of ‘Young People & Social Media’, ‘Carbon Literacy’, ‘Managing Difficult Behaviours, ‘Inclusion’, ‘Early Intervention’, Child Protection Awareness, Fire Safety and others as and when required. Staff have also expressed an interest in receiving further training on Child Rights and the Understanding the UNCRC as part of the rights based approach EYf is seeking to adopt through the new ‘YouthLinks’ Project.

Appendices:

Appendix 1:

- Charity Accounts for the period 1[st] April 2023 31[st] March 2024

Appendix 2:

Logue Associates: Interim Evaluation Report for – YouthLinks Project Year One

Appendix 3:

National Lottery Community Fund ‘Evaluation / Progress Report’ Appendix 4: NIHE ST & SPOD Funders Reports