‘DYCW is a key community service from the heart of the city!’

PICTURED ABOVE: SUPPORTING THE SKY HUB PROJECT AT DYCW. . . . .Group pictured on Tuesday outside the Derry Youth and Community Workshop to celebrate the ‘One Stop Shop’ – Socially Konnected Sky Hub Youth Project. DYCW recently celebrated a five year funding for the project totalling £497,969. Included from left are Eleanor Conaghan, Rosemary McKinney, Youth Support Mentors, Declan Doherty, CEO, DYCW, the Mayor, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, National Lottery's Gillian Irvine, Funding Manager, Alison Fraser, Senior Head of Funding, Lisa Boggs and Thomas Carlin, Funding Officers. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Following on from the recent announcement of Derry Youth and Community Workshop (DYCW) receiving a whopping £497,969 from the National Lottery Community Fund for their ‘One Stop Shop’ – Socially Konnected Youth Project, the Mayor and senior National Lottery representatives paid a visit on Tuesday last. 

The new venture was funded through the National Lottery Community Fund and is a five-year project.

Welcoming Tuesday’s follow-on visit, DYCW’s Declan Doherty said he, the Sky Project staff and all at DYCW were delighted to see the Mayor and National Lottery staff endorsing the new venture.

The visitors were given a tour of the building then met with the young people who’ve signed up for the programme, and also were given an overview of how the project will progress over the period.

Rosemary McKinney, Youth Support Mentor added: ‘It was great to see our Mayor take the time to visit the new Hub based in Society Street and talk to some of the young people.  This project will provide a safe space for our youth 16-25 to meet up, take part in activities and improve their well-being.’

Fellow mentor Eleanor Conaghan also paid tribute to the senior National Lottery staff who also visited the project.

‘The project has been made possible by funding through the National Lottery and staff were delighted to host today’s event with the Mayor and National Lottery representatives.

‘As well as the two local funding officers Lisa Boggs and Thomas Carlin, it was great for our young people to receive a positive endorsement from the Lottery’s Gillian Irvine, Funding Manager, and Allison Fraser, Senior Head of Funding. We believe this project will be successful and fully supported by the young people who will sign up for it.’

Thanking DYCW’s Declan Doherty, the Sky Project staff and all at DYCW for inviting her along, Mayor Lilian Seenoi-Barr paid tribute to the excellent work carried on at Derry Youth and Community Workshop. 

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi-Barr pictured during Tuesday's visit to the Derry Youth and Community Workshop's Sky Project Hub at Society Street. Included are National Lottery representatives, Gillian Irvine, Funding Manager, Allison Fraser, Senior Head of Funding, Lisa Boggs and Thomas Carlin, Funding Officers. Also in picture are Rosemary McKinney and Eleanor Conaghan, Youth Support Mentors, Sky Project and some of the young people involved in the project.

‘I was delighted to visit the DYCW’s new premises in Society Street which will allow them to deliver their key community service from the heart of the city.

‘It was a great opportunity to learn more about the work they do to address social problems, improve communities and create opportunities for young people who find it harder to enter the labour market.

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‘Good luck to the team on this new chapter in their long history of supporting our young people and local businesses by providing mentoring, support and training to meet the needs of local industry.’