by Parent Hub Donegal

Restorative Practices Video launched by Foróige through Donegal ETB’s Peace IV funded Project

PEACE IV, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
POSTED ON  BY DONEGAL ETB

Foróige launched a new video tonight aimed at explaining the concept of restorative practices to young people and adults.

The project was completed as part of Donegal ETB’s Restorative Practices Project which successfully secured €200,000 of EU PEACE IV funding in 2018. It is supported by the European Union’s Peace IV Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) by Donegal County Council. This project involves nineteen post-primary schools (ETB and non-ETB) and Youthreach (early school leaver) centres from across the county and Foróige.

Restorative practices provides an ethos for making, maintaining and repairing relationships and for fostering a sense of social responsibility and shared accountability. It understands that when harm is done to people and relationships, it creates obligations and liabilities and focuses on repairing the harm and making things right.

The video was created by young people with the support of a motion graphics designer and Foróige staff. It began with Restorative Practices training for the fifty young people and staff year over the course of a day. The young people expressed an interest in becoming involved in the production of an animated video that would explain Restoratives Practices in a clear and succinct way. The aim was that the video would be used both for those actively engaging in Restorative Practices as well as those who were introducing the concept to young people, youth workers, teachers, trainers in both youth services and education centres and schools for the very first time.

During a Restorative Practice residential, Foróige staff facilitated workshops with the young people to reflect on the training they had received and what they had learned. They worked on their script and met with the motion graphic designer to develop their ideas and capture what they wanted on the final video. Two of the young people did the voice-overs on the video which was a first for them.

Speaking about the project, one of the young people said, “Taking part in the Restorative Practice training and project was a great opportunity; I got to learn skills in Restorative Practice and how to use this in school and home and I also met lots of new friends.”

Foróige Project Leader Susan McLoughlin noted, “The young people achieved so much in the process of making the animated video. Most of them had never even heard of Restorative Practices before. To think that they now have a professionally made video that will explain and promote Restorative Practices as a positive way of dealing with conflict situations is a real credit to all of them. Our thanks to Donegal ETB, Donegal County Council and the Special EU Programmes Body for funding the project through the Peace IV programme.”

The project is funded under priority 1 of the Peace IV programme, promoting peace and reconciliation and under action 4.1 of the local authority peace plan which focuses on the promotion of positive relations at a local and regional level, characterised by respect and where cultural diversity is celebrated and people can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance. Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Donegal ETB project coordinator, Dr Sandra Buchanan noted, “This is a brilliant video. Restorative practices is not an easy concept to understand and this video presents an understanding that’s clear, that’s easy to grasp and introduces the concept outline in a nutshell. It is such a useful resource for introducing this topic to young people and adults.”

Donegal County Council Peace IV Programme Co-ordinator, Caroline McCleary, congratulating the young people remarked how she was delighted to see this video, “Peace emanates from conflict and as we put these projects together we can see that we’ve moved on from some of that conflict.  It gives me great pleasure to see projects like this rolled out that involve young people and I hope that the new skills they have learned will help them as they go through life.”

The restorative practices project seeks to improve positive relationships between and for young people, staff, parents/guardians, volunteers, train participants in accredited and non-accredited approaches to Restorative Practices and to develop an understanding of alternative ways of dealing with conflict.

The video can be viewed here.

Pictured at the launch of their Donegal ETB Peace IV funded restorative practices project are some of the young people who were involved in making the video. Included are Susan McLoughlin (Foróige Project Leader), Una McGuinness (Restorative Practices Project Administrator), Dr Sandra Buchanan (Restorative Practices Project Co-ordinator) and Caroline McCleary (Donegal County Council Peace IV Programme Co-Ordinator).
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 by Parent Hub Donegal

Party In The Park 2017

Here is a date for your diary – Wednesday 23rd August 2017. Donegal Youth Service will be holding their annual Party in the Park. Now in its thirteenth year, this is a great day out for all the family with live bands, games, bouncy castles and a fabulous atmosphere. So get that date into your diary and come along to Letterkenny Town Park and party in the park!

For more information about Donegal Youth Service and what they offer just click the link http://donegalyouthservice.ie/

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 by Parent Hub Donegal

Book a Summer Camp @ The Loft

Book a Summer Camp @ The Loft

Summer is fast approaching, even if it may not feel like it anymore since the first heat wave of the year has been replaced by what feels like constant rain.  Don’t let the weather get to you – book a Summer camp at The Loft and you’ll have something great to look forward to.  Summer camps are open to young people aged 12-18.  🙂

Multi Activity (3rd – 7th July) €70

A fun filled week of action packed activities to start the Summer off with a bang!

Cookery (10th – 14th July) €50

A week to learn to cook and enoy loads of tasty food from starters, to mains and sweet desserts.

Rockschool (31st July – 4th August) €70

Let your musical side come to life by taking part in this week.  Take part in master classes, jam sessions and gain confidence.

Fit for Lfe (8th – 11 August) €50

If you want to try out new sports, meet new people and get confidence and skills for your future then this week is right for you.

 

Summer Drop-in Times

 Monday to Wednesday 12 – 6pm

Thursday 12 – 8pm

Friday  12 – 10pm

Saturday  2 – 6pm

Sunday closed

The drop-in is a free space in Letterkenny for young people to meet friends in a comfortable, safe environment.  Facilities include a pool table, table tennis and a kitchen where young people can learn how to prepare healthy meals.  The drop-in is supervised by friendly staff and volunteers.  This space is open all year round in partnership with the Letterkenny Youth Information Centre.

 

LOFT (Learning Opportunities For Teens) Youth Project, 16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny. E-mail loftstaff@gmail.com or call (074) 91 29630 for more information or to book.

 

 

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Young Adult Support Group

                                                    Donegal Youth Service in association with AWARE and Mental Health Ireland set up a Young Adult Mental Health Support Group in January 2016 in response to a request from young people and staff, for a specially tailored programme for  young adults aged 18 – 25 years. The programme was designed in line with the  latest research and in a way that respects young people developmentally, while catering to  a young adult’s unique life-stage issues, their individual and group  identity.

The group meets weekly in a welcoming, accessible,  community-based, non-judgemental and non-stigmatizing setting in which  young people feel comfortable. Through the creation of supportive social networks and by by providing a sense of belonging and connectedness,  mental well-being can be improved. Uniquely, this programme is  co-designed, so all participants in the first few sessions decide what  they want to do as a group and in what direction they want it to go.

We are setting up a new mental health support group after the fantastic  success we had with last year’s group and are putting a call out to  anyone who feels that they or someone they know may benefit from this  group. If you know any young people who may be interested please pass on the details. They can also contact  louise.lynch@donegalyouthservice.ie for more information.

Here’s what last years participant’s said:

“It was so chilled that I could doodle or draw while the group was on, the informality was perfect, even the way we sat in a loose circle, it allowed us to relax and bond. It allowed you to engage in a way that suits you” (Female, 23 years)

“I really enjoyed I, it was really comfortable, people were open and  there was no awkwardness. I would recommend it; I learned a good bit  from it. I changed some habits and perspectives on things for the more  positive and now I manage myself much better. There is generally an  all-round improvement in my life” (Male, 19 years)

“I loved the discussions, it wasn’t always personal problems – everybody debated ideas, explored and analysed concepts and ideas in mental health, I don’t have the opportunity to talk about these things anywhere else.” (Female, 21 years)

“My worries became smaller when I started letting people know how I was feeling, I realised from the group that sharing your problems works and I got tips on how to deal with stuff when I needed it which I then used. I have skills now” (Male, 25 years)

“I came to the group because I felt so low, like I was stuck in a hole, stuck in self-pity, it really shakes you out of that through hearing other people’s stories and the little things, it all helps you realise you’re not going to get any better doing the same thing that doesn’t work and you become aware that you need to learn new ways of coping.” (Female, 22 years)

“I found it really helpful for dealing with problems because after a few weeks we became friends and it was a such a good support knowing someone was there for you”  (Male, 20 years)

“The environment was laid back and chilled, you’d never feel judged, it is a safe space to talk, I feel more confident now to speak about mental health and being here did that”” (Female, 25years)

“When you are young, you don’t have a lot of control – parents, school, routine, doctors, structures, systems – this place is like a space to be who you are, you’re not restricted. The social aspect is brilliant, you meet people and actually get out of the house, this was the one day a week I’d actually socialise and I need it because I can get isolated.” (Female 23 years)