Bundoran Community Centre's new innovative Youth Programme

Bundoran Community Centre's (BCC) new innovative ‘Youth Development Programme’ will soon be supporting young people from communities throughout the Donegal Bay area, as well as communities in Sligo, Leitrim and along the border in Fermanagh.

This follows significant planning and work by the staff and committee at the BCC who have been working to develop new supports and services for young people from the area for a number of years.

The ‘W-A-Y Project’ as it is known has been in development for more than 18 months and has been funded to the significant tune of €131k thanks to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

Commenting on the project, Michael Travers, the Chairperson of Bundoran Community Centre explained:

“We have been working with young people, schools, other community groups and partners in South Donegal and the border area for a number of years to look at how our centre can provide a base for the much needed services that young people from our community need.

“This latest funding announcement is a great endorsement of that work by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) who share in and support our commitment to transforming the lives of young people from border communities.”

The W-A-Y project has been designed to support young people aged 16-25 years who are not currently in employment, education or training and will provide a dedicated range of one-to-one and group based supports for each young person taking part.

These supports will help each young person to develop as a person, to gain new skills, to access work experience and employment in a field that interests them or to explore options and pathways in life that match their personal interests.

Danielle Carty, Manager at Bundoran Community Centre added:

“The W-A-Y programme will adapt to the needs of each young person that takes part in the programme. We’ve designed the programme in the knowledge that sometimes the more traditional pathways to employment, education or training don’t suit every person, or their interests or their personal needs.

“The programme understands this, is non-judgemental and recognises that every young person deserves an equal opportunity and chance in life.

The project will provide a dedicated support service that will work with each young person to access new personal opportunities.

“A Youth Development Worker, will provide dedicated advice, guidance and mentoring support throughout the programme.

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“We are currently recruiting for a new Youth Development Worker to join our team. By having a dedicated support worker in place at the Centre, the participants on the W-A-Y programme can be assured that there will be someone here to listen to their needs and interests, to support and mentor them until they feel ready to take the next steps that match their interests,” she said.

Further information about the project, can be accessed by calling in to the centre on the main street in Bundoran or by phoning the Centre on 071 9829675.

The centre is currently recruiting for the role and Job Description & Application forms are available by emailing bccjob23@gmail.com