COFFEE MORNING HERALDS LAUNCH OF A NEW YOUTH SERVICE PREMISES
The new home of Fermoy CDYS (Cloyne Diocese Youth Services) was buzzing with activity during the coffee morning in aid of the Haiti disaster fund on Friday last.
The coffee morning was also an opportunity for the two enthusiastic project workers, Martina Munnelly, community outreach drugs worker for Fermoy Community Drugs Initiative, and Claire O’Mahony, co-ordinator for Fermoy Youth Project, to introduce the new premises to the youth, who will now be able to avail of an expanded number of services, which will be accommodated by a bigger and more vibrant facility located at Pike Road.
NEW SERVICES
Talking to The Avondhu, Ms Munnelly introduced some of the new services offered by Fermoy CDYS.
“I will be doing one to one support as well as an acudetox drop in. This is a form of acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, in the ears. It is particularly useful for people who have an addiction to help them deal with cravings when they are coming off drugs and going through withdrawal symptoms.”
People can drop in on Mondays between 11-1pm. There will also be a youth info drop-in facility on Thursdays between 4pm and 6pm.
Another new service will be organised by Mrs O’Mahony, through the facilitation of a music group, offering local bands the chance to meet up, compose and perform their own music. The project is part of a nationwide initiative organised by Youth Work Ireland.
MUSIC INDUSTRY
Claire O’Mahony told The Avondhu, “We just want to give them a place to perform and practice and the opportunity to learn a bit about music. The best bands will go to Dublin on April 24 and participate in the IYMAs (Irish Youth Music Awards). We had a band from Mallow representing us last year and one from Midleton this year.”
“The overall winner will get a recording contract. It is fairly prestigious, a good way to break into the music industry. We haven’t got one in Fermoy yet as the group has been very small and we have been limited for space.
We are hoping with the bigger space that in September we’ll be able to expand and maybe get some bands onboard and just give them a place where they can practice, because I think there is a fairly big band scene in Fermoy. It will be a good opportunity for them to come and get involved.”
YOUTH CLUB
A youth club for younger teens, aged 10 -13, and a Rainbows Programme, for young people who are experiencing loss through death, are also underway in Fermoy. The club for younger teens is in the process of recruiting volunteers and it is hoped that this will open in September.
The Rainbows Programme, a 12-week series targeting primary and secondary schools, will have four facilitators, who are in the process of being vetted. The new CDYS premises is located on Pike Road, near JMR Tiles.
Published:
Thursday 25th March 5:33pm
