Ballybeen Women’s Centre is an integrated service provider committed to enabling women, young people and pre-school children to realise their full potential and fulfil their aspirations through the promotion of health, personal and socio economic development. BWC has been developing and delivering quality services in an area of low and weak community infrastructure and objectively defined as disadvantaged, Ballybeen, Dundonald. BWC established the Peer Education Project (PEP) in 1992 and it is now the longest established Peer Education Project in NI. The PEP aims to support, educate and empower young people to make positive health and lifestyle choices through the development and delivery of a range of peer led programmes, one-to-one mentoring and a drop-in support service. Young people engaged in the Centre will undoubtedly benefit from the proposed educational materials.
TRH (THE RURAL HUB) works in small rural communities in the border region in Ireland. The vast majority of towns and villages in County Cavan have experienced a rise in population numbers mainly due to the influx of Polish, Lithuanian and Romanian migrants however, the impacts of the financial crisis in rural areas of Ireland have resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of service provision and support to local communities. Support for young people within these rural communities is long overdue. Inadequate access to mental health services and the closure of beds are adding to the seriousness of Ireland’s teenage mental health issues, according to the United Nations children’s emergency fund UNICEF. It is therefore apparent that there is a need for the educational materials proposed by the Safe Space project on a local, regional and national level in Ireland.
Prometeo is a training centre that since 1997 has been operating at regional level with several interventions on the local territory to promote integration and development of disadvantaged people, at risk of social exclusion through programmes and educational projects. Projects that aim to create innovative models of education for young adults and that address their personal and social development are of particular importance to the Centre. The resources proposed by the Safe Space project will enhance their work of building leadership skills and qualities in the young people they engage.
YSBF (Youth in Science and Business Foundation) has experience of delivering a diverse range of projects and activities that aim to support the social integration and professional development of young people. They also have vast experience of working with young people from varied backgrounds. The topic of the project is thus very close to their area of expertise and their local work in supporting young people to live full and productive lives will be increased by their involvement in this project.