There was a real festival atmosphere last Saturday when YouthConnectFest took over the bottom floor of the Laurence Shopping Centre. Organised by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) Network of Services for Young People in Drogheda, the event, was attended by over 2,000 people.
Stands showcased activities children and young people can get involved in such as sports clubs, music and dance schools, martial arts, girl guides and more whilst also finding out about the huge range of support services available to young people aged 10-18 in the town.
The SICAP Network of Services for Young People in Drogheda is a network of local organisations that plan and coordinate supports and services for young people in our community. This network is facilitated by Louth Local Development’s Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) team and is committed to enhancing the wellbeing, education opportunities and advocacy for all young people in Drogheda.
The main funder for the event was Louth Children and Young Persons’ Services Committee (CYPSC) whose Coordinator, Joanne Murphy, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been able to provide funding to the network of services who planned and delivered this event. What a fantastic showcase of activity for the children and young people of the town of Drogheda! Louth CYPC’s role is to improve the lives of children, young people and families at local and community level. Through YouthConnectFest we have been able to reach hundreds of children and young people, and their families, in the Drogheda area and to show them the many activities and supports that are available in their own local area.”
Network members organised the event to dispel the myth that there ‘is nothing for’ children and young people in the town. YouthConnectFest certainly proved their point as attendees sampled activities at over 40 stands; attended gigs in the old Food Court with live bands from Boomerang Youth Centre & Café’s Basement Sounds, where young people get the opportunity to experience performing live music for their peers on a regular basis.
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Artists’ Alley – a showcase of youth artists’ work curated by Droichead Arts Centre; enjoyed fashion shows choreographed by Foróige and Connect Family Resource Centre’s Footsteps programme – with young people modelling clothes from Laurence Centre retailers; had their photo with local celebrities including Ciaran Clarke, Colin O’Donoghue, Winnie Clarke and members of the Louth Ladies Gaelic Football Team and enjoyed performances by Loving Life Choir, Starlight Dance Academy and Lourdes Brass Band beginners group, amongst others.
Gráinne Berrill, Drogheda Implementation Board Coordinator and a member of the Network subgroup who planned the event said:
“Events like this don’t just happen overnight. The Network of Services for Young People in Drogheda have been working for many months on YouthConnectFest Drogheda. Anyone who attended today could see the many strands that have come together to make this such a vibrant event. The Scoping Report into Community Safety and Wellbeing in Drogheda and the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan both identify they need for better interagency collaboration in the town. This event is the perfect example of that improved collaboration in action and it has been an absolute pleasure for Drogheda Implementation Board to support and be involved in the planning and delivery of YouthConnectFest Drogheda.”
The event planning was led by a subgroup which included Boomerang Youth Café, Foróige, Youth Work Ireland Louth, Connect FRC’s Footsteps Programme, LMETB, and Drogheda Implementation Board.
Subgroup members expressed their thanks to Ciara and all the team in the Laurence Shopping Centre; the many young people who volunteered their time; the performers on the day; the retailers in the Centre for their support, particularly in relation to the fashion show; celebrity guests and who or what am I forgetting? They also expressed a special thanks to the Louth Local Development Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) team who provided an enormous level of administrative and coordination support – and were first in and last out on the day itself!
If you missed YouthConnectFest details for many of the organisations who hosted stands are available on www.louthparenthub.ie an online and interactive information hub for families living in County Louth managed by Louth Local Development’s Louth ABC Programme.
