Issue 68: June 2011 - Youth Work Ireland

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CRYS Youth Work WeekbyAoife Walsh, CRYSABOUT THE SERVICE:Carlow Regional Youth Service (CRYS) wasestablished in 1988. Since then we have become theprimary Youth Work provider in County Carlow. Wehave almost 50 staff employed in the service acrossten projects which provide a range of services toyoung people aged 8‐23 years. Our services includeAfterschools Programmes, Junior Youth WorkProgrammes, Teenage Youth Work, Drop‐in Facilities,Youth Participation Programmes, Youth LeadershipTraining, Specialist Youth Work Support Services,Youth Sports Development, Volunteer Training andFETAC Accredited Youth Work Training.QUALITY STANDARDS WORK:As part of our Strategic Plan and in line with YouthWork Ireland Quality Standards Framework, we aimto develop our organisational capacity to deliver aneffective and quality service. We underwent the QSFPeer Assessment in September, 2010, and had anextremely positive experience.GETTING STARTED:A Committee of six staff members was formed andwe set to work. The first task was to consult theyoung people who were currently engaged with theservice, about what they think would help to raisethe profile of the service. After consultation thecommittee focused on 4 main events which wouldtarget young people and also the parents of youngpeople around the County. It was agreed that themessage we deliver should be of the service as awhole, not focus on specific projects.THE MAIN EVENTS:A newspaper supplement in the local paper wassponsored by local companies. Their sponsorshipallowed the feature to run free of charge to CRYS.The article delivered a general message about theorganisation and we also advertised our SummerProjects for young people in the County.A key recommendation of the QSF Peer AssessmentTeam was in relation to our Public Relations Policy.In response, the Board of Management and staff ofthe organisation organised a Youth Work Week toraise the profile of the services around the County.Carlow Regional Youth Service Youth Work Weektook place from the 3 rd to 7 th May 2011.Young people giving our sports equipment a go!Cleaning up after the community WorkshopA number of interviews were organised on the localradio stations at various times during the day. Thiswas an opportunity for young people and staff to talkabout the services and explain that it was a servicefor all young people. A highlight for our Irish YouthMusic Awards band ‘The Mongs’, was playing live onair to people in County Carlow and Kilkenny on KCLRFM.Irish Youth Work Scene 16 Issue 68, June 2011
An information stand in the shopping centre duringpeak times attracted many parents and youngpeople who were interested in the various pieces ofwork on display. Another attraction was a rafflewhere we gave away a free place on a summer campof the winner’s choice.A tour of the secondary schools was organised forlunch times during the week. We travelled to thevarious schools in our CRYS bus and handed out fliersto students with information on our summerprogrammes, and current programme of activities.OTHER EVENTS:Along with the main profile raising events eachproject organised a mini event to raise the profile ofyouth work in specific areas. Some of the eventsincluded a Family Fun Evening, a ‘Try It’ eveningwhere young people could try out new sports suchas wacky races, Community Arts Projects and CoffeeMornings for parents. CRYS also took theopportunity to hold registration for the upcomingsummer project and to launch the plans of a newYouth Cafe in Tullow which was funded under theDormant Accounts Fund and is scheduled to open inSeptember 2011.Displaying of Kit Cars at LeighlinbridgeQUALITY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK PRESENTATION:CRYS were presented with the Youth Work IrelandQuality Standards Framework Award during ourYouth Work Week. We organised the presentationaround the busy schedule of Youth Work IrelandPresident John Gilmore who very kindly flew overespecially for the event. We are extremely gratefulJohn!Orlaith McHugh demonstrating howto use the sports equpmentWAS IT A SUCCESS?Over all, CRYS Youth Work Week was hard work butit was definitely worth it! The staff were unsure aboutthe week to start with but we all chipped in and wecan see that it has raised the profile of CRYS,particularly among parents around the County. Ofcourse there are some improvements to be made,but you learn something new everyday! We have nodoubt that CRYS Youth Work Week 2012 will bebigger and better and we look forward to thechallenge of keeping the name of ‘Carlow RegionalYouth Service’ out there.For more information contact:Jouh Gilmore, Youth Work Ireland President, at theQSF PresentationCARLOW REGIONAL YOUTH SERVICEMontgomery House, Athy Road, Carlow.Tel: 059‐9130476Email: carlowys@iol.ieWebsite: www.carlowys.ieIrish Youth Work Scene 17 Issue 68, June 2011
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Issue 68: June 2011 - Youth Work Ireland

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