Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy commits to implementing the recommendations on drugs services from the scoping report on community safety and wellbeing in Drogheda

Click on the link below for further information:

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/fc216-minister-for-public-health-wellbeing-and-national-drugs-strategy-commits-to-implementing-the-recommendations-on-drugs-services-from-the-scoping-report-on-community-safety-and-wellbeing-in-drogheda/

Minister O’Gorman launches an online consultation on the development of a national model of parenting support services

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., has this week launched a public consultation on the development of a national model of parenting support services. The consultation will be open until 16th April 2021.

The aim of the model is to develop a more coherent and strategic approach to the development and delivery of parenting support services so that all parents can access the support they need when they need it.

Minister O’Gorman said: “I am delighted to announce the details for this public consultation on the development of a national model of parenting support services. The aim of this consultation is to gather a wide range of thoughts and ideas on improving parenting support services for all parents. This provides an important opportunity for anyone with an interest in parenting supports, from parents to service providers, to help shape the future of service development and delivery”.

For further information and to participate in the consultation, please see here.

Ends

Note for Editors:

Parenting support is defined as the provision of information and services aimed at strengthening parents’ knowledge, confidence and skills to help achieve the best outcomes for children and their families.

More information on the project to develop a national model of parenting support services can be found here.

Foróige and CYPSC Launch “The COVID Word” Online Campaign

This is a social media campaign created in collaboration with young people from South Dublin, Sligo and Leitrim and in a partnership between Foróige and Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC). No two Covid-19 lived experiences are the same; we all have to navigate in unchartered emotional terrain – without a compass. In this uncertainty, it helps simply knowing you’re not alone.

There is immense power in peer community support – to cope through tough times, and make good times even brighter. While young people need our support, they also possess their own hopeful power and wisdom.  As experts in their own lives this campaign uncovers and shares their thoughts and ideas.

Through youth voices, this campaign by young people for young people helps acknowledge and manage losses while recognising personal power to live well through current circumstances and boost individual and collective resilience in 2021.

The messages delivered through this campaign and the look and feel of the campaign were developed by Ireland’s young people during workshops carried out by Foróige youth workers on behalf of Sligo Leitrim CYPSC and South Dublin CYPSC.  The campaign will run for 5 weeks from 24th February to 24th March on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Click here for more information on THE COVID WORD Campaign

More information on local supports can be found via your County CYPSC

Keep Well Programme – Grow It Forward 2021

Click on the link below for details of the Grow It Forward 2021 initiative, which was launched today 23rd March. This initiative is part of the Keep Well campaign and funded by Sláintecare, through the Healthy Ireland fund.

https://giy.ie/growitforward/

Trim Family Resource Centre Easter Camp for Under 6s

Click on the poster below for further information.

 

Launch of Jigsaw Digital School Hub – New Mental Health and Wellbeing Resource for Schools

Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, have launched the Jigsaw Schools Hub. A new resource offering schools across Ireland the latest tools and information to help them support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.  Our Jigsaw Schools Hub offers schools across Ireland the latest tools and information to help them support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

At www.jigsaw.ie/schools you will find a growing range of resources for school staff, created in collaboration with young people, school staff, and parents.
The resources can contribute to supporting the delivery of the mental health and wellbeing curriculum and they have been tailored to support school staff and students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What you will find…

  • An ‘Introduction to youth mental health’ toolkit to help school staff to explore mental health and wellbeing with young people in the classroom. Young people will creatively learn about their mental health and wellbeing, including a focus on what can support and challenge mental health, ways to manage feelings, and how to seek help if and when it is needed.
  • Ways to support school staff to look after their own mental health. As school staff support young people, it is important for them to take the time for self-care and to look after their own wellbeing too.
  • What school leaders can do to create a whole-school approach that supports staff and students with their mental health and wellbeing. This will support school leaders to consider what a whole-school approach to mental health means, and how it can help schools promote and support mental health and wellbeing.

Why the Jigsaw Schools Hub?
“We know that schools and their staff do hugely important and amazing work in helping to support young people’s mental health and in the Covid-19 pandemic we know that this has become much harder. On top of all this, school staff are facing greater demands. This is why, with the support of Rethink Ireland through the Innovate Together Fund, I am delighted to be launching The Jigsaw Schools Hub, with vital mental health and wellbeing resources to support educators at this uniquely difficult time. We believe it will grow to become an indispensable resource that will contribute in the delivery of wellbeing as part of the school curriculum, and help schools and their staff in the hugely important role we know they play in supporting young people’s mental health.”  Joseph Duffy, Jigsaw Chief Executive Officer.

Jigsaw has been working with schools and local communities from the day we were founded in 2006. We know that a young person’s experience at school can shape the course of the rest of their lives.

Our My World Survey research has shown that school teachers are the most frequent informal source of support used by adolescents for their mental health. And we know that there is a demand amongst teachers for quality online resources to help them support the mental health and wellbeing of their students. Yet teachers often feel they don’t have the resources they need.

At the Jigsaw Schools Hub we now have a growing range of up-to-date resources, tools and information to help school staff support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.  The Jigsaw Schools Hub is supported by Rethink Ireland through the Innovate Together Fund, a collaboration between Rethink Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development (via the Dormant Accounts Fund).

Find out more at www.jigsaw.ie/schools

LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., has announced this week a new LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme aimed at LGBTI+ young people. The LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme will be run by Foróige in collaboration with BelongTo and is open to applications from all LBGTI+ young people. The Programme aims to enable LGBTI+ young people to develop the skills, inspiration, vision, confidence, and action plans to be effective leaders and to empower LGBTI+ young people to make a positive difference to their society and their communities through the practice of effective leadership.

Reflecting the importance of the voice of young people in the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, the LGBTI+ Youth Forum was central to the development of the Programme which was informed by their views. One of their priorities for this year, was to see LGBTI+ young leaders be the change-makers in schools, colleges, sports and youth clubs, as well as local communities and families. Young members of the Forum said:
“I’m really enthusiastic about the leadership programme and excited about the educational benefit and experience, I think it will be very beneficial to LGBTQI youth in Ireland.”
“This exciting programme is a great opportunity for the LGBTI+ leaders of today and tomorrow.”
“This programme gives LGBTI+ Youth something for them that is recognised. It gives us hope for the future to come and for our youth.”
“It’s a proud day for the LGBTI+ community when we are given this opportunity to flourish.”
Launching the programme, Minister O’Gorman said, “I am delighted to announce the launch of this LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme, supporting LGBTI+ young people to develop their leadership skills and build a better world for their peers. The Programme will harness the passion, drive and idealism of our LGBTI+ young people to lead their communities in creating a better society for all of us. This is a key action of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy and I am very proud to invite LGBTI+ young people to apply to take part.”

Moninne Griffith, CEO of BeLonG To Youth Services, said:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, Foróige, and the LGBTI+ Youth Forum to launch the LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme.
Young people of today are the next generation of CEOs, politicians, teachers, and leaders. With this initiative, we will empower LGBTI+ young people to harness their leadership skills and become change-makers across Irish society, bringing more diverse voices to decision-making tables.
Building strong youth leadership is core to creating a fairer, more inclusive Ireland where LGBTI+ young people feel safe, equal, and valued.”
 
HOW TO APPLY:
More details on the LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme and how to apply are available with this online registration form. Closing date for applications: Tuesday the 23rd of March at 12 noon.

The Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth supports and encourages young people to be leaders and future leaders, and has launched the LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme specifically aimed at developing the young LGBTI+ leaders of the future.

This fulfils action 5(d) of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy to develop a leadership programme for young LGBTI+ leaders and potential leaders.

Plans and requirements for the LGBTI+ Youth Leadership Programme were developed by the LGBTI+ Youth Forum, a diverse group of 25 young people aged from 16 to 22 years, who identify as LGBTI+ and who support implementation of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy.

Foróige, in conjunction with BeLonG To, adapted their “Leadership for Life” Programme to meet those requirements and to provide an appropriate programme for LGBTI+ and ally young leaders and potential leaders. The Foróige Leadership for Life Programme was developed over 10 years ago in partnership with NUI, Galway.

The programme will be delivered online, with a mixture of interactive and engaging methodologies to meet the learning outcomes and objectives.

Two of the three modules are taught and participants have the option of completing a third self-directed module in order to achieve a Level 6 certificate from NUIG.
LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy
An Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Cultur Migrants Centre Annual Anti-Racism Day Event on Friday, 19th March

Cultur Migrants Centre would like to Invite you to attend our annual Anti-Racism Day Event. This is an opportunity to celebrate and renew our commitment to strengthening diversity and equality in Co Meath and surrounding areas.

The event will feature a variety of activities and will promote inclusion in line with the UN World Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the European Week Against Racism.

Please Register online by Thursday the 18th of March using the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/anti-racism-day-tickets-145494093751?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Sport Ireland: Girls Get Active Hackathon

Many teenage girls across Ireland are missing out on the benefits of sport and physical activity because they don’t think they are “sporty enough”, they don’t know where or how to get involved, and they don’t think there are opportunities for them to be involved in sport other than traditional team sports.

Use your voice to help these teenage girls realise that sport and physical activity can be a part of their lives and that sport is for everyone, including them.
Be part of the
Sport Ireland Girls Get Active Hackathon and help us tackle the challenge of inactivity by being part of the solution.

A Hackathon is a short concentrated event that brings people together to brainstorm and share a range of creative and innovative ideas around a challenge.

For this hackathon Sport Ireland are looking for individuals and groups of all ages & backgrounds including

  • Secondary school students
  • Teachers
  • Parents
  • Third level students
  • Researchers
  • Sport Development Officers
  • NGB &LSP staff
  • NGB &LSP staff

FIND OUT MORE HERE ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR THIS ZOOM EVENT

SOSAD Launching their Messaging Support Service for Young People

SOSAD will be launching their messaging support service on the 15th of March 2021. This service will be available from 8pm until 12am daily.  See attached posters below for details.
Aimed at young people, it can be accessed from their website https://sosadireland.ie/. Young people  can talk to trained volunteers about how they are feeling and be signposted to relevant organisations if needed.

Poster1

Poster2