Creggan Enterprises’ Lifehack Project offers dedicated PeacePlus programme for young people

In recent weeks, in partnership with Springboard Opportunities, Roe Valley Residents Association, and Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board – Creggan Enterprises were successful in securing Peace Plus funding under the Youth Programme (3.2) Investment Area for the ‘Journeys Project’. This €8m 4-year funded-project aims to provide support to young people on a regional basis – with Lifehack delivering the programme in the Derry/Strabane district area. 

This investment area focuses on a targeted capacity building programme for young people aged 14 to 24 years, who are disadvantaged, excluded or marginalised. The Programme is outcomes-focused across a number of key areas including good relations, personal development, citizenship and employability, and will bring about a positive change in the form of clear, meaningful and sustainable ‘distance travelled’ for participants. A primary aim will be to increase the capacity, confidence and achievement level of every young person participating.

Lifehack tailors its interventions to meet the hopes and needs of each of its participants. Through the project young people have the opportunity to participate in a range of fun group activities, residentials and day trips; accredited training; and personal development workshops. Participants will have bespoke opportunities to meet and build relationships with other young people from across the region. 

This new programme builds on over 7 years of previous successful support for, and intervention with, local young people by Lifehack across the Derry area. Lifehack have now begun a process of participant recruitment and will be hoping to announce a date for a formal ‘launch event’ at the end of the summer.

The news of the successful application to Peace Plus was welcomed by Creggan Enterprises and its regional partners alike, with CE’s Development Executive Conal McFeely commenting: “This has been the result of hard work and dedication on the part of the whole team here at Creggan Enterprises; we have identified huge gaps in support for young people in the 16-24 age range.

"Issues associated to Substance Use, Mental Health, Homelessness have been exacerbated by Covid, Brexit and lack of regional balance. We have also seen a widening of community division in recent years. This project will help rebuild some of this division through a programme of cross community, good relations and citizenship activities.”

Conal went on to say how proud he was of the Lifehack project (staff and participants alike) and that this programme would “not only provide much needed support to young people across the City and region but that it had created/sustained 4 new full-time jobs here in the Creggan community”.

CE’s General Manager Kevin Hippsley believes that the new Lifehack Journeys project supported by PeacePlus and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) will be a fantastic addition to the range of existing projects and support available at Ráth Mór, adding:

“If anyone is interested in finding out more about the opportunities available via Lifehack they can call the team on 02871277488 or check out the Facebook page @Lifehackprojectderry. We welcome all enquiries from across the city/district.”