Causeway Youth Exchange Programme

CAUSEWAY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

Boys & Girls Clubs (NI) hosted a youth exchange programme with young people from Essex, Dublin and Northern Ireland.  With partner groups from Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, Bradog Youth Service and Scotch Street Youth Club, 24 young people aged 15 – 19 came together to take part in a 5-night residential programme.

Over the 6 days, the young people took part in a range of outdoor adventure activities, team building, leadership and intercultural awareness activities – which included all the young people sharing unique aspects of their cultures and areas with the other groups.  However the main theme of the residential was to make new friends and have fun.

The programme was funded under the Causeway British – Irish exchange 2016-17.

The objectives for the programme were:

  • Increase communication and contact between young people
  • Empowering young people to initiate contacts and develop projects together
  • Increased co-operation and contact between those who work with and for young people
  • Community-enriching cultural, educational and vocational experiences for young people, which celebrate what the different parts of the islands have in common
  • Identifying and jointly exploring areas of common interest in working with young people
  • Undertaking joint developmental activities relating to young people.

Wrapping up Do Something United

The end of March saw the conclusion of our Do Something United pilot in Antrim, where 15 young people have been working towards a range of qualifications designed to improve their knowledge and skills in the areas of good relations, employability, citizenship and personal development.

As part of the pilot the young people oversaw 16 youth groups receiving bursaries of up to £350.00 to undertake their own social action project. The young people also completed a short course in Active Citizenship through Ulster University, a Careers & Experiencing Work short course, first aid, food hygiene and child protection training.

Towards the end of the project all the young people took part in a volunteering role within their local communities to put into practice the skills they have learnt.  Well done to everyone involved for all your hard work over the last 6 months!

We wish all the young people all the best in the future as they move on to other things and hope that all the skills and training they have gained over the past 6 months will continue to be of use to them.

This project was funded through the Department of Employment and Learning through the United Youth Programme.

TrustFord Soap Box Derby

This year we hosted our first Soap Box Derby at the Hillsborough Oyster Festival, support by Trust Ford.

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Trust Ford sponsored our Soap Box derby with a brand new minibus for the Best Overall Team.

The day saw over 40 teams of young people come along to race their custom-made Soap Boxes down the hill.  We were joined by Guy Martin and representatives from Trust Ford who helped with the judging.

The team from Edengrove Presbyterian Church won the Best Overall Team, and walked away with a brand new minibus, donated by Trust Ford.

We were joined by Guy Martin, who helped with the judging and gave the young people some tips on how to race their soap boxes
We were joined by Guy Martin, who helped with the judging and gave the young people some tips on racing their soap boxes.

The other category winners, who each won £500.00 were:

  • Best Innovation
    Mill Strand Primary School
  • Best Design
    Share Discovery Village
  • Best Technical Effort
    St Bernards Primary School
  • Race Winner
    Bleary Young Farmers Club

Click here to see photos from the event