Learning to get a health fix

DUNDALK YOUTH CENTRE PROJECT

YOUNG people from Dundalk Youth Centre who are taking part in an innovative programme of activities under the Healthy Ireland Programme attended the consultation day organised by Louth County Council in Bellingham Castle recently.

They have been focusing on three key elements of the Healthy Ireland programme over the last three months which include promoting young people to become more active, to make and eat healthy food and to stop smoking.

This sees them taking part in regular sporting activities including soccer, badminton, swimming, gym sessions as well as some unique sports such as wheelchair basketball. They are also taking part in the nationally recognised ‘Cook It’ programme which gives them an opportunity to learn about healthy ingredients and to actually make healthy meals for themselves and their families. SMOKING remains a problem for many young people and the group wanted to develop a creative and fun method of dealing with the issue. Teaming up with MAD Youth Theatre they developed a film to promote smoking cessation for young people. This film will be entered into the national X-Hale competition of the Irish Cancer Society.

During their presentation at the Healthy Ireland event in Castlebellingham, they suggested the need to develop innovative activity sessions for girls, recognition programmes for young people’s activity and importance of continuing to support the key link agencies between Healthy Ireland activities and young people.

Mary Deery and John Lawrence, Louth County Council with Mary Capplis, Louth PPN along with Kevin Moran, Gerard McSorley, Stacey McVeigh, Leah Menary, Eileen Markey, Shane Kerr, Brian Duncan and Jordan McKeown, Dundalk Youth Centre at the Healthy...

Aidan Lennon and the Upducky Band with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Conveny TD on the Great Wall of China.

Donal O’Connor with fellow musicians in Melbourne.

Aidan Lennon on the Great Wall of China.