John Paul II Youth Club Annual Report 2025- 2026 Brookfield Place Belfast BT14 7FN
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner | 1 |
| Chairperson Forward | 2 |
| Meet the Management Committee | 3 |
| Meet The Staff Team | 3 |
| Meet The Youth Committee | 4 |
| Meet The Young Activists | 4 |
| Senior Worker Overview | 5&6 |
| Core Provision | 7 |
| Urban Villages | 8 |
| Participation Structures | 9 |
| Young Peoples Voices | 10 |
| Group work | 11 |
| Summer Programme | 12 |
| Planned Intervention Programme | 13 |
| Quality Assurances | 14 |
| Embeddingkey policies (CRED, EMWF, Shared Education | 14 |
| Conclusion | 15 |
Independent Examiner
Seamus Dawson Chartered Accountant Bridge Chartered Accountant Unit G Forestview Office Park Purdy’s Lane Belfast BT8 7AR
Tel: 028 90 333 058 Email: olivia@bridgeaccountancy.com
www.bridgeaccountancy.co
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Chairperson’s Foreword
As Chairperson of John Paul II Youth Club, I extend heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Management Committee, parents, members, and the wider Ardoyne community to our Worker in Charge, part-time leaders, and volunteers. Your dedication and commitment to mentoring young people have been invaluable.
The youth club’s ethos continues to place the development, empowerment, and wellbeing of young people at the heart of everything we do. We promote voluntary participation and provide a safe, inclusive environment where young people can build relationships, explore values, and make informed choices.
Our Values & Objectives
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Voluntary participation; safe, non-violent space; respect, equality, and recognition of potential; engagement with the community.
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Healthy living, wellbeing, educational achievement, safety, inclusion, civic responsibility, and environmental awareness.
This year, young people’s creativity and innovation drove meaningful projects, reflecting the support of our mentors. The Community Weaving Project , funded by Urban Village, allowed participants to explore global cultures through arts, crafts, dance, food tasting, and festivals such as Yalda. Activities such as wearing Indian saris and applying henna deepened understanding of global traditions.
Funding also supported two youth-led videos: one addressing screen overuse and balanced online/offline life, and another highlighting inequality in women’s football. Senior girls completed a 12-week drama and physical theatre programme, culminating in confidencebuilding sessions delivered to younger members.
The Management Committee extends sincere gratitude to Jacqui Maguire and her team for their dedication in guiding young people toward confident adulthood, and to the committee for their continued leadership and support.
Owen Maguire MBE Chairperson
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Meet the Management Committee
Owen Maguire MBE Caoimhin Osborne Nichola Mallon Ciara Smyth Danny Burns Elaine Mc Loughlin Jim MC Guinness Deidre Murphy Sarah Fiona Nolan Colleen Begley Nichola Mallon Connor Keenan Erin Osborne Jacqualine Maguire
Chairperson Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer Honorary Member Officer/Subcommittee staff issues Officer/Subcommittee staff issues Officer/subcommittee staff issues Officer Officer Officer Officer Staff Representative Senior Youth Worker
Meet the Staff Team
Jacqualine Maguire Erin Osborne Jim Mc Guinness TJ Barclay Cory Mc Conville Erin Osborne Tierna Mc Auley Cadhla Coogan Eimear Rice Brogan Johnston Rhianna McAuley Brianna Molloy
Senior Youth Worker Administrator
Caretaker
Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff Part time Youth Worker staff
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Meet the Youth Committee
Orlaith Lagan Alexi Keenan Kayla Mailey Leon Maguire Fionbhar Stiobhrad Joe Cosgrove
Fainne Frame Meghan Turley Odhran Fegan Braiden Finnegan Eamann Fennell
Meet the Young Activists
Grace Lowry Shona Mc Tansey Aine Magee Amy Mc Kane Eva mc Kane Katie Lowry Macie Friel Cadhla Flannery Miya Skeet Miley Rooney Rachael Dorthey
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Senior Worker Overview
The past year has marked significant progress for the John Paul II Youth Club, strengthening our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and development-focused environment for children and young people. Our work continues to prioritise high-quality youth provision, strong community relationships, and meaningful participation.
Management and Staffing
The club is overseen by a dedicated Management Committee and delivered by a skilled team of youth workers and volunteers. This structure ensures effective governance, consistent practice, and the capacity to meet the diverse needs of our young people.
Values and Strategic Focus
Our practice is grounded in voluntary participation, respect for diversity, and the creation of a safe, welcoming space. Core objectives include promoting wellbeing, supporting learning, safeguarding, encouraging active citizenship, and embedding equality throughout all programmes.
Youth Participation
Young people play an active role in shaping the club’s direction. Their input informs programme design, decision making, and service development. This youth-led approach has strengthened engagement, improved outcomes, and fostered a strong sense of ownership.
Programme Delivery
A holistic, youth-centred model ensures that programmes remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of young people in Ardoyne and surrounding areas. Ongoing reflection and feedback from participants, staff, and families support continuous improvement.
Achievements and Growth
Membership has grown to more than 390 young people. The summer programme engaged 270 children, offering high-quality activities and developmental opportunities. Achievements were recognised at the annual awards event, celebrating progress and contribution across the year.
Quality Assurance
The club maintains a robust quality assurance framework. Mixed-methods evaluation supports high standards of delivery and reinforces a culture of continuous improvement for staff, volunteers, and young people.
Community Feedback
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Parents report positive impacts on confidence, social development, and peer relationships. Young people consistently describe the club as a supportive, enjoyable, and welcoming environment where they feel safe and valued.
Areas for Development
Key development priorities include expanding outreach, strengthening responses to behavioural challenges, enhancing volunteer recruitment and support, and improving provision for young people with additional needs.
Future Priorities
The year ahead will focus on deepening parental and community engagement, widening access, developing youth leadership pathways, and improving facilities and resources. A person-centred approach will continue to guide programme design, supporting resilience, confidence, and essential life skills.
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Core Provision
JPIIYC, core provision is funded by The Education Authority through their Local Area based fund. We have had a successful year of delivery, which involved multiple projects also offering drop-in, group work, street work, and mentoring.
Over the past year, we have experienced many positive developments and achievements. One of the key highlights was the strong attendance at both the Planned Intervention Programme (PIP)and the Summer Scheme. Here young people engaged vigorously in a wide range of activities. These initiatives played a significant role in supporting personal growth, particularly in building confidence, communication skills, and teamwork which permeated throughout our membership Through various forms of group work, participants were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. Our Diversity Days were especially impactful, offering opportunities for young people to celebrate and learn from diverse cultural perspectives, and experiences. Overall, it has been a year marked by inclusion, empowerment, and meaningful development for all involved.
A 6-evening session of core provision for young people under 18 years old was delivered over 46 weeks in 2026-2027, with an average of 70 young people attending A series of workshops group work sessions and a residential were on offer for the young people to engage in, and were available to all young people, different ages and abilities were catered for.
Over the past 12 month we have delivered over 34 Programmes and Project and 4 social actions projects
4, Participative Structures
5, Health and Wellbeing
3, Living in Safety and Stability 3Learning and achievement 2Environment and Climate 3 Inclusion Diversity Equality of Opportunity and Good Relations 1 8 weeks summer programme 1, Planned Intervention Programmes
4 Social Action
4 Living with difference 4 Target Response programme And 150 hours of street work
With an overall satisfactory rate of 80%
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Urban villages Addition Funding
Through the support from Urban Village in 2019–2020, John Paul II Youth Club (JPIIYC) transformed its outdoor area into a vibrant multipurpose sport area and amphitheatre. This development created a unique environment where young people of all abilities could learn, create, and connect, becoming a catalyst for new opportunities, personal development, and strengthened community relations. In 2025–2026, Urban Village once again funded JPIIYC to use this space to further expand opportunities for young people and deepen positive community engagement.
To maximise the potential of this shared space, JPIIYC partnered with Kids in Control (KIC) and Beyond Skin to deliver a twelve-month programme focused on skills development, well-being, cultural education, and good relations. Throughout the year, the programme offered intergenerational activities, multicultural engagement, and inclusive work with young people with disabilities. These initiatives promoted empathy, resilience, and mutual respect, while challenging stereotypes, reducing stigma around mental health, and strengthening community cohesion. The outdoor space continued to evolve as a vibrant, shared environment supporting positive relationships across generations, cultures, and abilities, reinforcing JPIIYC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and connected community.
During this period, we also organised several stakeholder events that provided meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in wider cultural and community celebrations, including Africa Day, International Games, and Yalda. In addition, young people created three short films exploring themes such as Brain Rot, young leader cascade training, and Level the Pitch: Equality in Sport, further showcasing their creativity, leadership, and growing confidence
Yalda Festive Dec 2025
Persian Artwork
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Participation Structures
Youth Committee and Young Activists Programme (YAP)
John Paul II Youth Centre continues to play a vital role in the community by providing a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for young people. Its work supports positive youth development and encourages meaningful participation.
Over the past year, the Youth Committee and Young Activists Programme (YAP) have shown strong commitment by planning and delivering a range of events for their peers and the wider community. Two successful stayovers raised essential funds for the summer scheme and residential in Coleraine, while also strengthening teamwork and leadership skills.
The annual Funday aimed to provide a positive alternative to anti-social behaviour by offering engaging activities in a safe environment. It also promoted the youth club as a valuable local resource and allowed young people to gain new experiences while developing practical life skills.
This year’s Funday was entirely youth-led. Members of the Youth Committee and YAP planned, organised, and delivered the event, allocating roles, creating schedules, and managing activity stations with minimal staff support. This responsibility helped them develop teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills, while ensuring young people’s voices were heard and respected.
Despite weather-related challenges requiring activities to move indoors, the event ran smoothly. The young people showed adaptability, resilience, and accountability, maintaining a positive atmosphere throughout the day.
The Funday had a strong positive impact on the wider community, highlighting the youth club as an essential service in the Ardoyne area. It built stronger ties with locals and encouraged inclusivity through free family activities.
Overall, the event demonstrated the power of youth participation. When given responsibility and trust, young people can lead successfully, create positive change, and make a meaningful difference in their community.
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Young People’s Voices
Young people’s voices are heard and valued daily. They are actively encouraged to share their views, ideas, and feedback in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and confident that their input matters.
This inclusive approach has built strong trust and meaningful engagement. Over the past year, young people played a key role in developing the 2026–2030 strategic plan. Working alongside staff and the management committee, their contributions are helping shape the organisation’s priorities and direction for the next 3–5 years.
Young people are central to the co-design of programmes, taking part in planning, decisionmaking, and shaping activities and services that directly impact them. Participation is embedded across all areas of work, ensuring services remain relevant, responsive, and aligned with young people’s needs and aspirations.
Well done to all who participated in our strategic plan
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Group Work
The general group work delivered has made a significant contribution to increasing young people’s confidence, knowledge, and self-awareness, supporting both personal development and positive relationships within the community. These sessions encourage reflection, communication, and meaningful engagement, helping young people feel more empowered and secure in their personal and social lives.
In addition, young people have been supported to access external opportunities, including Peer Mentoring and Youth Voice programmes. These experiences have provided further pathways for growth, allowing young people to build on their strengths, gain new skills, and participate in opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible. Overall, this approach fosters a supportive environment where young people feel valued, heard, and equipped to make positive contributions to their lives and communities.
Young men’s group looking at identities
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Summer Programme
A comprehensive eight-week summer programme was delivered during July and August, providing structured activities four afternoons per week for children aged 7–11. The programme supported positive learning, social development, and wellbeing through a balanced mix of recreational, educational, and group-based activities.
This year, a new dimension was added to the junior summer programme through the introduction of weekly themed colours. Each week focused on a different colour, which shaped the activities and learning experiences. For example, during Green Week , the focus was on nature. Children explored the natural environment through trips to local parks, created artwork using leaves and natural materials, and learned about healthy choices. The week concluded with a celebratory Friday, where children enjoyed fruit and green lemonade, reinforcing the theme in a fun and engaging way.
Addressing summer hunger was a core outcome. All participants received a nutritious lunch or snack daily, supporting physical wellbeing and enabling full participation. An average of 290 children attended each day, with a 100% completion rate across the eight-week programme, demonstrating high levels of engagement and consistency.
The youth club also operated four evenings per week throughout the summer for young people aged 10–18. These sessions provided safe, supervised spaces that reduced isolation and promoted positive behaviour. Young people engaged in activities designed to develop confidence, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making skills, while encouraging positive peer relationships.
Overall, the programme contributed to improved wellbeing, increased confidence, and stronger social connections among participants. By providing safe, inclusive, and purposeful opportunities, the initiative supported young people to make positive choices, develop life skills, and feel more connected to their peers and wider community.
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Planned Intervention Programmes
Through targeted street work, staff reconnected with at-risk young people, supporting them to avoid criminal activity, anti-social behaviour, and exploitation. This outreach-built trust reengaged young people with support services and offered positive alternatives. Young people were actively involved in co-designing programmes, ensuring activities were relevant and youth led.
Initial engagement was supported through incentives such as trips and food, leading to the formation of two Understanding Peaceful Summer (UPS) groups. Using a flexible “plan, do, review” approach, staff adapted activities to meet young people’s changing needs, despite limited resources.
Structured workshops and group work were delivered through Tuesday and Thursday sessions, providing consistent opportunities for engagement. Workshops encouraged discussion, reflection, and problem-solving, while group activities such as Walk and Talk sessions helped build relationships and break down social barriers.
The UPS art project allowed young people to express their views on their community through individual canvases, with plans to create a shared mural. A social outing to Aunt Nellie’s café supported confidence, inclusion, and life-skills development, with positive feedback from staff.
Overall, the programme supported young people to move from disengagement to active participation, increasing self-esteem, strengthening relationships, and demonstrating the value of flexible, youth-led outreach.
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Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is central to our work, ensuring all programmes and services meet high standards of safety, effectiveness, and inclusivity. Regular monitoring, feedback from young people, and staff reflections support continuous improvement and maintain accountability across all activities.
Building on this foundation, our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan sets clear priorities for the next five years. Young people, staff, and the management committee co-designed the plan through Voices Forward , generously sponsored by the Brian Mullan Community Fund. The plan focuses on youth empowerment, community engagement, and responsive programme development, ensuring it reflects community needs and aspirations while driving innovation, growth, and sustainable impact
Embedding Key Policies (CRED, EMWF, Shared Education)
At John Paul II Youth Club, we fully embed the CRED Policy across all programmes, ensuring equality, inclusion, and respect for all young people. We actively challenge prejudice, break down stereotypes, and create meaningful opportunities for engagement, integration, and growth.
We also prioritise the Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework, fostering a culture of care, belonging, and support. By embedding this framework, we provide a safe, welcoming environment where all young people feel valued, secure, and empowered, particularly those who may face barriers or exclusion.
Finally, JPIIYC fully endorses the Shared Education policy, encouraging every young person to reach their full potential at each stage of their development, while supporting them to become the best version of themselves.
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Conclusion
Our work aligns closely with the Management Committee’s values, plans, and objectives, reflecting the EA Core Curriculum and the Model for Effective Practices. By creating a safe and supportive environment, young people are actively involved in planning and delivering activities, fostering a sense of ownership and community.
The variety of personal development projects, from short-term to long-term, offers opportunities for growth that meet the diverse interests and goals of participants. With an 80% user satisfaction rate, our approach is clearly effective, though continuous feedback and adaptability remain essential to ensure the programme continues to meet the evolving needs of young people. Overall, these efforts are making a meaningful positive impact on both the social and personal development of the youth in our club.
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