What is Enniskillen YouthBank?
Enniskillen YouthBank is a unique, innovative, grant-making programme which is run by young people for young people. Youth Bank involves members from all sections of the Community ranging from 16 to 23 years of age. Following a successful pilot year the Fermanagh Trust has agreed to both host and co-fund a youth bank in the County in 2010.
The Youth Bank was initially established at the end of 2008 involving 16 young people. The young people formed themselves into a local grant-making committee and were responsible for the distribution of funding to youth led projects in the Fermanagh area, resulting in awarded of grants to a number of youth led initiatives across County Fermanagh. Some of these young people were still at school whilst others were in employment.
The members of Enniskillen YouthBank worked as a team taking all the relevant decisions for themselves. It is they who set themes, create application procedures and criteria, undertake publicity work, interview young people, write reports to assist decision making and to undertake the monitoring and evaluation of the entire process.
The YouthBank members had the opportunity to complete OCN Level 2 in Grantmaking. This qualification is unique and an excellent addition to the members’ CVs. The Fermanagh Trust was delighted the 2009 Youth Bank members benefitted from this opportunity and recently received their OCN Level 2 awards in a special event in Fermanagh House to coincide with the launch of the 2010 Youth Bank.
The 2010 Enniskillen Youth Bank will continue to provide grants to youth led youth based projects in Fermanagh and this year will have a special focus on Financial inclusion issues. Enniskillen YouthBank is enabling these young people to take responsibility for making decisions over grants and to be accountable for how the money is spent. This is adding to their skills, knowledge and experience by resourcing and equipping them through training, learning by doing and evaluation so that the outcomes belong to them.
