Fermanagh Youth Bank celebrate this year

At their celebration event in Fermanagh House, the Youth Bank team, a grant making committee run by young people for young people, awarded grants totalling just under £4000 to four local projects.

 

Youth Bank members present their grant award to Fermanagh Music Theatre

 

Fermanagh Youth Bank was established by the Fermanagh Trust in partnership with Youth Bank Ireland to allocate resources to youth based initiatives, tackling issues of direct importance to young people. This group took complete ownership of the programme, leading their own research, planning, promotion and decision making.

Youth Bank member Tully Irvine said “This round of grant making has been an intense process but we’ve really enjoyed it and gained a lot from it. Thanks to the Fermanagh Trust for this opportunity and for the encouragement throughout. Also congratulations to the successful applications. There are a number of great projects which we are proud to support and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they make.”

First to receive their grant award was Fermanagh Music Theatre (Knocks Drama Group).The group are producing a piece of musical theatre – ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ to be staged at the end of August in the Ardhowen Theatre. They would like to show that just because they live in a rural area, doesn’t mean that they cannot produce great art. They will be producing and directing the entire show themselves. Their grant from Youth Bank will be used to cover costs for prop materials.

 

Youth members present Arney Together with their grant award

 

Also supported were Boost (Action Mental Health).The group want to create 5 30second animations based on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. From the perspective of people who have experienced mental health issues, they want to raise awareness of the ways that people can look after their own mental health. These videos will be used as part of training within local schools, youth groups and be shared on social media. Youth Bank grant will be used to fund an animator who will help bring their ideas, characters and voices together.

Fermanagh Youth Council (EA Youth Service) will use their Youth Bank grant to carry out their project ‘Brain Box’. The idea is to create a box with equipment for young people to feel prepared for their exams and the stress that comes with them. The box contains items to help with their revision and a leaflet designed by the group with self-help tips to survive the exam period and how to look after their mental health. Drop-in sessions will be held in the Lakeland Youth Centre, allowing the young people the space to talk to others going through the same thing and feel reassured.

 

Boost and Fermanagh Youth Council receive their grant awards from Youth Bank

 

The final grant award went to ‘Arney Together’, which was the idea of 13 year old Orla Greene, who will be supported by her friends, St Mary’s Mullmesker PTFA and local football clubs. Orla wants to give girls and boys of a similar age group the chance to meet, do fun activities and discuss mental health issues. These sessions will take place in Cleenish Millennium Hall starting at the end of June. The sessions will be open to young people from Mullymesker and others from the surrounding areas of Arney, Bellnaleck and Florencecourt.

Lauri McCusker, Director of the Fermanagh Trust added “Today is not just a celebration of the four innovative projects funded but also our group and the hard work they’ve put in. This was a great group to work with, totally embracing the concept. Ultimately, thanks to their involvement they have provided local projects with much needed funding which will surely make a positive difference. This is why we do this process, rather than simply give the money out ourselves - Listen to the young people, because they know themselves what their key needs and priorities are.”