Major YouthConnect Fest to showcase activities and supports for children and young people in Drogheda
Parents may be familiar with the refrain ‘there is nothing for children to do around here’ but a group of organisations for young people in Drogheda are hoping to dispel that myth at an event to connect young people with the huge range of activities, clubs, services, supports and opportunities available to them.
The event, which will take place from 2-6pm on Saturday 27th January on the bottom floor of Laurence’s Shopping Centre, is being organised by the SICAP Network of Services for Young People in Drogheda.
This is a network of local organisations that plan and coordinate supports and services for young people in the local 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.
Sports, dance, art, music, scouting and other activities will be showcased on the day with goodie bags available for the first 200 young people through the door and hourly prizes. Many clubs and groups will also be having prizes and giveaways at their stands.
There will also be live music featuring bands from Boomerang Youth Café’s Basement Sounds; an Artist Alley event with young artists selling their work and fashion shows throughout the event featuring clothes from stores such as JD Sports; Love Lucy; SVP for the more environmentally friendly and more.
Network members including Boomerang Youth Café, Foróige, YouthWork Ireland Louth, Connect Family Resource Centre’s Footsteps Project, Louth CYPSC, Holy Family School Completion, LMETB Youth Service; and An Garda Síochána hosted a YouthConnect Fest launch this week – allowing us to get a tiny taste of the buzz and excitement building around the event.
Speaking at the launch Joanne Murphy, Louth Children and Young Person’s Services Committee (CYPSC) Coordinator said:
“Participation and opportunities to connect improves outcomes not only for Children and Young People but also for their families. Louth CYPSC is therefore delighted to support YouthConnect Fest Drogheda 2024 in a variety of ways, including providing funding to ensure there will be lots of giveaways on the day. We are also delighted that Network members are ensuring that the many exhibitors who will be at Youth Connect Fest details will also be available at www.louthparenthub.ie, which we also support so children, young people and their families can easily access contact details after the event itself.”
Emily Murray, a senior Youth Worker with Foroige, speaking at the launch of the YouthConnect Fest which takes place in the Laurence Shopping Centre on Saturday 27th January.
Emily Murray, a member of the organising committee and Foróige CABLE Project’s Senior Youth Officer said:
“There are so many opportunities to get involved for children and young people in Drogheda but sometimes people are just not aware of them. By bringing as many of these activities and supports under one roof as possible at one event we aim to make it easier for young people to connect with them. We will also have a huge festival feel to the event with live bands; fashion shows; and loads of giveaways on the day – it will be a fun way to spend Saturday afternoon in Drogheda with your friends.”
It has been almost 14 years since an event of this scale showing the many activities available to young people was held in Drogheda. That event reached 2,000 young people. We hope Youth Connect Fest Drogheda 2024 will be even bigger and better and would love as many as young people from all across Drogheda to attend. There is also still time for groups, clubs and organisations to book their stand at, although spaces are filling up quickly.”
The SICAP Network of Youth Services for Drogheda would like to see as many clubs, groups, organisations, dance schools, scouts, girl guides or any others providing activities for children and young people in Drogheda showcased at this event. The event is funded by Louth CYPSC so there is no charge to host a stand but spaces are limited, contact Eileen McDermott at eileen.mcdermott@lldc.ie or Christina King at christina.king@lldc.ie for more information or to book your stand.
