Jail sentence launched for youth scheme

Jail sentence launched for youth scheme

3 August 2016

YOUTH Initiatives staff in Downpatrick are putting the final touches to their exciting two week summer scheme which begins next Monday.

Ahead of the annual scheme, YI staff spent a spell behind bars on Monday when they were locked in cells at the old Down County Gaol in English Street as part of an innovative fundraising plan ahead of the organisation’s two-week Breakout  summer initiative.

The staff were ‘jailed’ to raise awareness of the summer programme as well as raising money towards the scheme itself. Designed for young people aged between 10 and 14, the summer scheme will be based at the Parochial Hall at Church Avenue in the town.

The organisation aims to awaken hope, inspire initiative and mobilise young people to make a vital contribution to their community and to reconciliation in Northern Ireland through the discovery and renewal of Christian faith in daily life.

The organisation — which is led locally by Mark McFeeters and his team — believes in the uniqueness, value and potential of every young person and works to help address social disadvantage.

YI’s ethos centres on the Christian principles of faith, hope and love, with its project centre located at Market Street in the town, working with young people aged between 11 and 25, with four full-time staff offering a range of help and support.

The annual summer scheme is one of YI’s highlights of the year, with the jam-packed two week programme offering something for everyone.

As this year’s theme is Breakout, YI staff are encouraging young people in the town to “break out” of their normal way of life for two weeks and launch themselves into an action packed summer programme.

The summer scheme is led by local YI staff alongside a team of young leaders from Downpatrick, all of whom and very excited about the programme’s launch next week.

For further information or to register for the scheme, telephone 07803 363668 or email mark@youthinitiatives.com. The Youth Initiatives website address is www.youthinitiativesni.com, with staff available for a chat at YI’s Market Street base above Santander and Quinn’s estate agency.