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WELB
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Western Education & Library Board,
1 Hospital Road,
Omagh, Co Tyrone,
BT79 0AW

Telephone: 028 8241 1411
Fax: 028 8241 1400
Email: info@welbni.org
Textphone: 028 8241 1550
Press:comms@welbni.org

Youth Service

Statement Of Purpose:
"To support and encourage young people to maximise their potential in their personal and social development"

Youth Service Directory

The Youth Service is pleased to announce the publication of its directory of youth services in the WELB - click here.  The directory lists contact details of all registered youth clubs (part-time and full-time) and project workers who deliver youth provision in various communities.

During the coming year it is planned that more information will be added to the directory to outline activities young people can get involved in.

Area Planning

Following consultation, the Area Plans for the North West Division comprising Limavady Borough Council and Derry City Council areas, and the South West Division, Fermanagh, Omagh and Strabane District Council areas are now available.

Click here for the North West Division Area Plan

Click here for the South West Division Area Plan

The WELB Youth Service would like to thank all those individuals and organisations who contributed to the consultation.  Your participation in the process was highly valued.  Your feedback has been considered and used to finalise the draft Area Plans.

Youth Service Team Structure

HEADQUARTERS
1 Hospital Rd, Omagh BT79 0AW

Telephone: 028 8241 1411

Head of Youth Service
Mr Gerard Doran T: 028 8241 1481 E: gerard.doran@welbni.org
Deputy Head of Youth Service
Mr Liam Curran T: 028 8241 1486 E: liam.curran@welbni.org
Youth Officer, Operations
Mr Niall McKinley T: 028 8241 1486

E: niall.mckinley@welbni.org

Youth Officer, Information and Planning 
Dr Catherine Loughrey T: 028 8241 1486 E: catherine.loughrey@welbni.org

Youth Officer, CRED - Strabane
Based in Strabane Youth Office, 61 Derry Road, Strabane, BT82 8LD

Ms Anna Bryant T: 028 7138 2096 E: anna.bryant@welbni.org

 

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF AREA YOUTH OFFICERS

Derry City Council Area
Derry Youth Office, Youth Information Office, 40 Dungiven Road, Derry, BT47 6BW
Mr Stephen Quigley T: 028 7131 3555

E: stephen.quigley@welbni.org

Limavady and Rural Foyle Area
Limavady Youth Office, 2a Ballyquin Road, Limavady, BT49 9ET
Mr Stephen Quigley T: 028 7776 0930

E: stephen.quigley@welbni.org

Strabane/Omagh Area
Strabane Youth Office, Old Technology Centre, 61 Derry Road, Strabane, BT82 8LD 
Ms Lynsey Cathcart T: 028 7138 2096 E: lynsey.cathcart@welbni.org 
Fermanagh/South Tyrone Area
Fermanagh Youth Office, Lakeland Youth Centre, Wellington Road, Enniskillen, BT74 7HL 
  
Ms Lynsey Cathcart T: 028 6632 6932 E: lynsey.cathcart@welbni.org


GOALS

The Board's Youth Service goals are:

  • to assist young people to optimise their potential as responsible individuals and socially-included citizens
  • to promote the welfare of young people ensuring, where possible, their protection, their safety and their rights
  • to pay particular regard to the needs of young people (5 - 25) but especially during the their transition from childhood to adolescence
  • to view young people in a community context and, so doing, to support, collaborate with and partner significant others and agencies in co-ordinating and delivering youth work initiatives
  • to provide services of the highest standard, reflecting integrity, value for money, performance, evaluation and creativity
  • as the statutory agency charged with ensuring youth work provision in the area,
  • to provide clear vision, leadership and strategic thinking in Youth Service development
  • to value all staff by developing their competences, treating them equitably and encouraging teamwork and openness in communication

The Youth Service provides support to schools, youth clubs, uniformed organisations and youth centres in the provision of Curriculum programme areas dealing with Personal, Recreational, Community and Environmental issues.

Youth Provision 1999/2000  
Full-time Clubs (Controlled) 
Full-time Clubs (Voluntary) 
Part-time Clubs (Controlled)  24  
Part-time Clubs (Voluntary)  102 
Total Number of Registered Youth Groups  419 
Total Involved in Youth Service (5-25 years)  39463 
Total Involved in Youth Service (5-18 years)  36427* 
*As percentage of school population  57% (*56.65%) 

Through involvement in Youth Service activities, young people benefit greatly. Not only are friendships cemented and forged but there are real opportunities to develop socially, morally, physically and intellectually through participation in challenging, dynamic and stimulating programmes.

Just as the programmes vary so do the locations where young people meet. Young people can be engaged on the streets, in community centres, youth centres, schools, church halls, on boats, mountains or even underground.

Some of the activities available are listed below:

Activity Schemes International Exchanges
After School Activities Journalism
Archery Marginalised Youth Work
Arts & Crafts Music
At Risk Projects Netball
Athletics Orienteering
Badminton Outdoor Activities
Basket Ball Parenting Skills
Belonging Peer Education Projects
Bullying Strategies Personal & Social Development
Bursary Awards Pool/Snooker
Camping Prejudice Reduction
Canoeing Prince's Trust Volunteers Project
Communication Skills Problem Solving
Community Education Awareness Residentials
Community Relation Projects Rockclimbing
Counselling Rural Youth Projects
Cross Border Initiatives Sailing
Cross Community Programmes Senior Member Training
Daytrips Single Identity work
Desktop Publishing Spirit of Enniskillen
Drama Study Visits
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Summer Camps
Enjoyment Swimming
First Aid Table Tennis
Football Teamwork Training
Fun Travelling Roadshows
Gaelic Football Video Projects
Gender Based Work Wider Horizons Project
Giving Youth Mobility Work Experience
Groupwork Young Adult Training
Health Education Young Men's Club
Horseriding Young Mothers' Club
Hurling Youth Councils
I.T & Internet Access Youth Information Points
Interface Projects Youth Sport

We receive many enquiries from young people who want details of youth clubs and organisations in their area. Many adults seek voluntary opportunities in youth work while parents or community groups seek advice about the assistance available to help them establish or operate youth facilities.

Please contact the Area Youth Officer nearest to you or you can contact us directly at Headquarters.

It maintains residential facilities at:

Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre, Florencecourt, Co Fermanagh; and Corick Outdoor Education Centre, near Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone.

Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre
Florencecourt, ENNISKILLEN, Co Fermanagh
T: 028 6634 8888 E: gortatole_oec@welbni.org

The service is increasingly interested in establishing links with youth groups in other countries, particularly in mainland Europe.

Three Core Priniciples Resource

The 3 Core principles resources was developed by the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) in response to requests from youth workers for a practical guide that would further clarify the principles and give ideas on how to put the principles into practice when working with young people.  For further details click here