Teenagers connecting in isolation
FDYS HAS TRANSFERRED MOST OF ITS SERVICES ONLINE TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED
YOUNG PEOPLE throughout County Wexford are staying in but keeping active, according to Kieran Donohoe of the FDYS, which has transferred most of its services online.
‘Youth work methods are changing at a fast pace, almost on a daily basis in a bid to respond to the emerging needs of young people at this time of national crisis’, said chief executive Kieran.
‘ Teenagers are keeping busy to support each other, and also to do their bit to keep vulnerable people in our community safe.’
Wexford.
In Wexford town, the Music Hub is still available for members and new participants interested in joining. It is open to young people from 12 upwards who have an interest in singing, rapping, playing an instrument, music production or song writing, with several instruments available to be taken on loan.
Instead of the regular session on Monday from 6-8 pm the Hub is now hosting two remote sessions using Google Hangouts. The sessions will continue to be about singing, playing music, learning and having fun. Two remote sessions on Wednesday will be dedicated to the IYMA National Music Awards. Any young person interested in joining can contact Maria on 0858888388 or email maria.brennan@fdys.ie or elaine.goldsberry@fdys.ie. Enniscorthy. Enniscorthy Community Youth Project is continuing to support young people in these times of social distancing.The project has been contacting young people and their parents/guardians, updating them on the situation and how the government’s guidelines affect groups of young people. Digital Youth Work is being explored so that youth groups can meet online safely. Last week, the Enniscorthy Project’s LGBTIQA+ participants had their first Google Hangouts group, with a virtual Teens Group also keeping young people active and busy.
Individual support is available free of charge from Monday to Friday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.), while other times can be arranged in response to demand, according to senior youth worker, Pilar Loring who is available on 087 7817059 or Pilar.loring@ fdys.ie. Paula is available on 089 4813144 and Paula.kelly@ fdys.ie. The busy Enniscorthy timetable includes: Roma Youth Group on Monday at 4 p.m. in collaboration with Roma Equality Project; Junior Teens Group on Tuesday at 4 p.m.; LGBTIQA+ Support group on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in collaboration with FDYS LGBT+ Youth Support; Teen Group at 4 p.m. on Thursday and 4 p.m. on Friday.
Youth worker Paula Dunne emphasised that the Tea & Talk service is continuing on Saturdays at 12 p.m., allowing young people to meet online in a safe way and chat about their concerns and share ways of keeping busy.
The Slaney Garda Youth Diversion Project is operating a remote Enniscorthy and Gorey based service from Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact Terry O’Neill on terry. oneill@fdys.ie or 087 9351 764 or Rachael Donoghue on rachael.donoghue@fdys.ie 085 8011 896.
‘Ongoing individual support will be offered to all active referrals and that support will also be offered to young people recently disengaged with the Project,’ Terry explained, adding that ongoing support is also available for parents at this challenging and worrying time.
The support will focus on the importance of self-safety, immediate issues/concerns and exploring options to help manage free time.
Rachael is keen to assure young people that Tea & Talk will be available on some weekdays and on Saturday afternoons and she will be supporting some of the Gorey-based young people.
An interesting development in the project includes a new initiative that has seen four young people become involved with Rachel in a Driver Theory Test Programme, using Google Hangouts.
Youth groups have also gone digital at the Coolcotts Project in Wexford town and young people can contact the team on 086 7860180 or email eimear.mcmahon@fdys.ie or kris.mcguire@fdys.ie. Cloister Youth Café in Wexford town is offering a digital service with Google hang-outs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the same time as the usual meetings. Young people can join by texting the Cloister work phone on 085 8056697. The project is also active on Insta