At their celebration event in Fermanagh House, the ‘Grant To Give Back’ team, a grant making committee run by young people for young people, awarded grants totalling just under £4000 to five local projects.
Grant To Give Back was established by the Fermanagh Trust, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, to allocate resources to youth based initiatives, tackling issues of direct importance to young people. This group took complete ownership of the programme, leading their own research, planning, promotion and decision making.
Back L-R Aideen McGinley Chairperson of Fermanagh Trust and Eibhlinn Fee grant maker. Front L-R Aine Cox Boho Youth Club and Emma Corrigan grant maker.
First to receive their award was St Kevin’s College, Parent and Teacher Association were awarded funding to carry out an ambitious emotional and mental health well-being programme for their students. A variety of workshops including reflexology, mindfulness, yoga, arts and crafts, nutrition, and coping techniques for managing stress and anxiety.
Devenish Partnership Forum will use their funding to carry out a Mental Health Programme, delivered as part of their summer activities for young people. Using arts, crafts, camping, bushcraft, cooking and outdoor games to improve well-being, they are also planning to facilitate workshops on anxiety, sleeping techniques and mindfulness to encourage positive coping techniques for young people experiencing stress or anxiety.
Enniskillen Rugby Club will use their grant to make rugby accessible to boys in traditionally ‘non-rugby’ schools. Their plan is to provide equipment to these schools, provide coaching and have a Rugby tournament with the aim of increasing access to sport to improve physical activity, have fun and enjoy new experiences. Through participation boys will not only improve their physical well-being but they will improve their confidence, their teamwork skills and their emotional well-being.
Belcoo GAA were awarded funding to carry out a 10-week programme introducing football skills specifically for young girls who have never played before. Using a variety of fun games and activities they will encourage girls to get outdoors, off screens and participate in outdoor activity, their aim to help girls build new skills, gain confidence, and improve their mental health.
Finally Boho Youth Club will use their grant award to carry out a series of summer activities. As a rural area with poor transport links, they are aiming to reduce isolation, encourage friendships and improve young people’s emotional well-being. A wide range of activities are planned including nature trails, music sessions, meditation sessions, arts & crafts, games, and team-building sessions.