Ballymun Youthreach recently added a new mural and plantboxes to our inner courtyard on the theme of sustainability. The students worked very hard on both projects with wonderful results.

Ballymun Youthreach are pleased to announce a new venture in partnership with Unblackboxed and Precious Plastic. The recent delivery of a 40ft shipping container is the first step in developing a 3D printing workshop at the back of the framing room. We are extremely excited at the potential to develop and enhance our STEAM learning with 3D printing while tackling the concept of sustainability through our collection of plastic to be converted into 3D plastic.

https://vimeo.com/468740329

Ballymun Youthreach was delighted to welcome students back on a full time basis from September 3rd. It was fantastic to see students after such a long hiatus – it’s not quite the same talking to students on Zoom! We did conduct socially distanced outdoor classes in the sun at the front of the building for six Tuesdays in a row during June and July and while that was great it was even better to welcome the students back into the building once we had made it safe and secure. September has been extremely busy getting used to the new normal and highlights have included our first Outdoor Pursuits day with socially distanced seating and a first cooking session in the kitchen. Welcome back all!

The Beauty Therapy group along with their teacher Yvonne Ardiff in Ballymun Youthreach recently hosted an Inspirational event in the Centre.

This event involved four guest speakers talking honestly about their life journey. Our aim and hope was that their stories would inspire our young people to realize that they too can achieve a lot in life despite difficult challenges along the way. It is never too late ….as they heard and learnt from our speakers.

Ger Prendergast is a teacher in Trinity Comprehensive and has done 60 Ironmans in 60 days. He’s also blind in his left eye, the result of an accident when he was eight years old.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/60-ironmans-in-60-days-meet-ger-prendergast-1.3918186

Mandy King had part of her leg removed due to a tumour and this in turn led to her taking up amputee football. She first linked up with the national team and traveled with the side to the 2014 World Cup in Mexico. She is now involved in the Bohemians amputee football team in a league.

https://www.the42.ie/amanda-king-amputee-football-3795613-Jan2018/

Alice Walsh is from Finglas. She was faced with pregnancy at an early age and was challenged with continuing her education. Today she is a barrister hoping within two years to be a Judge.

https://www.lawlibrary.ie/members/Alice-Walsh/5517.aspx

And last but not least we had guest speaker Jimmy Bell. He is a well known figure in Ballymun and has done tremendous work in helping young people in the area especially around drug issues. His personal story was inspiring and well worth a listen.

The Beauty Group served refreshments along with their own homemade Rocky Roads, and a created an Arty Space of colourful motivational table clothes.

Everyone enjoyed the event and hopefully it is something we can organise on a yearly basis. A massive thank you to all that offered their time and efforts in making this a huge success.

The peerless Gary Cunningham delivered a powerful address yesterday to an enraptured staff and students here in Ballymun Youthreach yesterday. Gary’s book I an Enough has been a recent staple of our Personal & Interpersonal Skills class and Gary’s reflections on his life formed the basis for an hour and a half of extremely positive messages for our students to take on board. We are delighted to have hosted such an esteemed author and speaker and wish to thank Gary for a wonderful experience.

Ballymun Youthreach customer service group started a new 14 week Project management course with Innovate Dublin in the Innovate Offices, Ballymun Civic Centre last week. The course is also in partnership with the Princes Trust, Northern Ireland and will involve two field trips to Northern Ireland before May. Week  2 included a talk from local business person Robert Murphy.

Ballymun Youthreach were delighted to welcome Andrew and Andy from BRYR to deliver 3D printing workshops with staff and then students this month. This is part of an exciting collaboration between Ballymun Youthreach and BRYR to introduce new ways of thinking creatively among our students in tandem with our second year as part of the Creative Schools programme run by the Arts Council of Ireland.

Ballymun Youthreach was delighted to celebrate the success of our students in a recent graduation ceremony highlighting success in QQI, An Gaisce, ECO-UNESCO and ECDL. The ceremony included music from Setanta Strings, Staff member JC and band mate Francie as well as stand up comedy from Fair City actor and comic Eric Lalor.

The awards were attended also by CDETB CEO Carol Hanney, local counsellors Noeleen Reilly and Caroline Conway and members of many agencies across Ballymun. As always we are hugely grateful to the support we receive in the community.

We also presented certificates from our Intergenerational Week in May ran by JC.

The friend of Youthreach award is seen being received by Sergeant Seamus Treacy and Elaine Doyle of Ballymun Garda Station.

The photos below were taken by our new staff member Alisha Doody.

Ballymun Youthreach hosted the CDETB Youthreach stand for three days at Zeminar in the National Sports Arena, Blanchardstown this week. At the stand we displayed our pens and some framing as well as non stop face painting from the Cosmetics group which drew the crowds. 

The event was a great way to raise awareness of the Youthreach programme in Dublin and beyond and it was great to meet so many students from around the country.

Ballymun Youthreach had a great day at the annual Youthreach Sports Day at the National Sports Arena, Blanchardstown. Well done to all involved and congratulations to our wonderful medal winners.