Congratulations to our winners at the annual Youthreach Lord Mayor’s Awards at the Mansion House on Christmas Week. Winners from Ballymun Youthreach were Shauna Lennon, Jason O’Rourke, Craig Ivers, Hannah Connolly and Mark Gannon.

Ballymun Youthreach recently hosted their annual Graduation ceremony. The ceremony was attended by many students, ex-students, parents and community workers and invited guests. Also present was Roisin Shorthall TD (Social Democrats), counsellors Andrew Keegan (People Before Profit), Noeleen Reilly (Independent), Paul McAuliffe (Fianna Fail) and Ann Gilton, CDETB Director of Further Education. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all who attended.

The students were receiving awards for QQI Level 3, 4 General Learning, QQI Level 5 Customer Service and QQI Level 5 Cosmetics Studies. The second ‘friend of Ballymun Youthreach’ award was given to Billy Gallagher for his continued support of the framing enterprise over the years.

A huge well done to all our successful students and the best of luck in all your future endeavours.

Ballymun Youthreach shot a Halloween make up tutorial with Ballymun Connects this week in preparation for our cosmetics tent at the Otherworlds Festival, Ballymun. The Cosmetics group will be doing complimentary face-painting this year while our 350 Halloween masks will be on display in our tent on Ballymun Plaza tonight after dark.

Ballymun Youthreach joined the celebrations in the National Sports Arena in Blanchardstown last week as Youthreach celebrated 30 years of education and training provision in Ireland. The event organised by the National Association of Youthreach Co-ordinators (Well done to Josephine, Angelique, Lorraine, Louise, Alan, Lionel, Ciaran and Paul) took place from 9.30 to 2.30 on Wednesday and featured a multitude of events over two stages including addresses by the new Minister for Education Joe McHugh, Deputy Lord Mayor Vincent Jackson, Dara Callery TD, John Delaney – chair of the FAI among others. There was also a play, breakdancers, a circus, exhibition area, workshops and the Wriggle Roadcaster. There were also over 20 sports activities for guests to try out including gymnastics, high jump and table tennis.

Ballymun Youthreach presented two stalls – one from Yvonne and the Cosmetics group (pictured above) demonstrating manicures and facials, and one from Joe and Martin highlighting our penmaking workshops. Both were huge successes. Our former co-ordinator Jacqui Caulfield was also interviewed onstage. The overall event was attended by over 1500 people and emceed by Emma Power (2FM) and Eavann NiCuileann (RTE).

Ballymun Youthreach wishes to extend a hearty welcome back to all our students for the new academic year. We would also like to wish all our leaving students the best of luck in all their future endeavours and hopefully we will see you all on Friday, October 26th for certification day.

Below are some photos from our summer project in July.

Ballymun Youthreach visited Google HQ this week as part of their current work with Innovate Dublin. The students would like to thank Annabelle and Keith from Innovate Dublin and all the staff at Google for making them feel so welcome.

The cosmetics group undertook a very successful cosmetics morning in the Ballymun Family Resource Centre to celebrate International Women’s Day. The students provided an array of treatments and the feedback was extremely positive.

Ballymun Youthreach celebrated International Women’s Day in the Reco today. Ciara Lennon performed songs and there was nail treatments, facials, dancing, arts and craft and lashing of sandwiches, biscuits and tea. A great day was had by all.

Group C had a wonderful Outdoor Pursuits in Glendalough in quite beautiful conditions yesterday with Jack and JC. See below some of the pictureseque surroundings.