Leisure directory offers information to young people with ‘nothing to do’

Ballyfermot Youth Service (BYS) has launched a ‘leisure directory’ that will provide a valuable resource for young people to discover local performing arts, sports, health and social groups, reports Avery Lin.

Alongside a summary of their activities and the days they meet, the directory lists contact numbers and email addresses for each organisation as well as links to their websites and any social media accounts.

Funded by a microgrant through the European Union’s Year of Youth, the project originally intended to develop a digital app containing such information, but unforeseen expenses mandated a change in direction.

Instead, physical copies of the directory are now available for collection with 1,500 copies set for distribution to youth in the Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard area.

To realise the project, BYS gathered a group of 10 young people last summer with the addition of researchers Aaron Leddy and Jessica Fenech when collecting all the necessary information proved a challenge.

Through this collective multi-month effort, the researchers assembled a list of over 70 groups and clubs in which young people can engage to meet people, be active and contribute to society while getting involved with their community.

The resource debunks former beliefs that the area offers “nothing to do” for young people according to Gerry McCarthy, Youth Service Manager for BYS.

Demonstrating the range of groups, the performing arts section includes information for circus, hip-hop/freestyle and Irish dancing groups as well as recording studios among others.

Meanwhile, the sports and fitness section covers BMX, equestrian, gymnastics, handball, hiking, kayaking, martial arts, racquetball, rowing, skateboarding and squash groups among others.

The directory further provides a comprehensive list of youth services alongside a list of community centres.