Killyleagh Youth Club Welcomes Judges In The All Ireland Pride Of Place Awards

Killyleagh Youth Club Welcomes Judges In The All Ireland Pride Of Place Awards

On Friday 19 August, Killyleagh Youth Club warmly welcomed judges from the IPB Pride of Place Awards to the Bridge Centre, Killyleagh following their nomination by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for

The IPB Pride of Place Awards, in association with Co-operation Ireland, are an all-island competition that sets out to acknowledge the hard work that communities are doing. Killyleagh Youth Club was nominated in order to showcase their outstanding example of a local community responding effectively to a local problem.

When they recognised that the young people in the area had nowhere to come together, a group of local volunteers opened the ‘Killyleagh Drop In’ every Friday night from 9.15pm to 11.15pm in the Bridge Centre as part Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership Action Plan.

This group of volunteers undertook to lobby local councillors and make representations to the Council to extend the opening hours and provide staff cover in the Bridge Centre on a Friday night.  Following consideration the Council agreed to a twelve week pilot scheme and following its success, the club continues to welcome thirty to forty young people each night into a safe, warm and inviting environment. Two years down the road statistics prove that this initiative is still having a positive impact on reducing anti-social behaviour in the town. 

The young people who attend the club have the opportunity to participate in a variety of programmes such as beauty therapy, boxing, football, talent shows and on a regular basis have guest speakers who give talks on issues such as drugs/alcohol, personal safety and staying safe on line.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “Pride of Place is an ideal platform to recognise the huge efforts being made in communities throughout the district and I would like to the Killyleagh Youth Club volunteers for their outstanding efforts in making their community a better place for everyone. All we have to do now is await the Awards Ceremony outcome in November. Irrespective of the outcome, Killyleagh town and its young people are fortunate to have such a band of committed and dedicated group of volunteers making a positive contribution to their community.”  

The Judges were impressed with this local community initiative which continues to be provided by a group of local volunteers and enjoyed the presentation made by Chris Hagan from Killyleagh Youth Club. During a tour of the premises the judges were able to witness at first hand the excellent work being carried out as they surveyed the eye catching display of photographs and press cuttings. Equally they were impressed with the various testimonials of support that were expressed during the judging event. Grateful parents, representatives from the PSNI, NIFRS, PCSP and local faith groups highlighted the difference the club had made, not only to its young members, but to the town as a whole.