Youth Clubs gain ¤55,000 to buy new equipment
SLIGO Youth clubs have received almost €55,000 in funding under the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme.
It means 15 youth projects across the county will benefit from the announcement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.
The Scheme was developed to support the work of volunteers, to enhance the experience of members, and to provide vital equipment to local youth clubs and groups.
The Sligo clubs which received funding include 1st Achonry Boys Brigade, 11 th Sligo Ben Bulben, 13th Sligo Ballisodare Scouts, Tubbercurry Foróige Club, Youth Union Coolaney Foróige Youth Club, Enniscrone Foróige Club, 12 th Sligo Ballintrillick, Grange Foróige Club, 2nd, 3rd and 10 th Sligo Scouting Ireland, Ballymote Foróige and Yeats Venture Group.
Minister Zappone said: “What made this scheme unique was that clubs were asked to con- sult with the young people themselves to ascertain their opinions on what equipment should be applied for.
“It was a key feature of the scheme that any equipment applied for must directly benefit the members of the youth club or group.”
Local Fine Gael member Thomas Walsh said the funding will be a great benefit to youth clubs and youth projects here in Sligo over the coming year.
“The Scheme was administered through the Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board.
“The grants will assist clubs in the purchase of camping, gaming, sports and audio visual equipment. Other clubs, for example, have used the grant to purchase musical equipment which would otherwise unavailable to them,” he told The Sligo Champion.
“The diverse range of the grants awarded is reflective of the clubs which applied and the young people who partake in their activities,” he added.