Young people are the future and want their voices heard

“I DID a youth leadership programme in another centre. Now I am the manager of the Knockmitten Centre, this is the goal for the new generation”, reports Stephen Farrell.

So says Leah French, manager of Knockmitten Community Centre.

Since February the centre have been providing a youth leadership programme. “

We’re giving the children the materials and the experience we have in keeping young people in the area. The programme participants can put their own spin on it which they can then use to run events for young people in the future,” said Leah.

The idea for the course originated when Leah linked up with Citywise in Tallaght.

“I had a meeting with them, they were very helpful,” said Leah.

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) have also been instrumental.

“Myself and Lawrence Boran, from SDCC, we decided to have a youth leadership programme for young people in the Knockmitten area. For a long time I heard people saying there is nothing like this for young people in the area and I thought ‘that’s not going to happen again’,” said Leah.

The programme is aimed at the 12 to 15 year old cohort, a group that are sometimes forgotten, according to Leah.

“Sometimes there is a lack of activities, so we are looking to get them involved in the community. Young people are the future of Knockmitten and they want their voices to be heard,” said Leah.

The programme is all about the young people who take part in it.

“We are not teaching them, they can put their own spin on it. It’s young people’s ideas, their expectations. We want Knockmitten to be a safe place for young people, that they can come in [to the centre] and have a chat and a cup of tea,” said Leah.

The programme currently has twenty participants who will be volunteering at events and camps. “We’re doing the Active Youth challenge with Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education Training Board,” said Leah.

The centre linked in with Crosscare regarding the legalities and training aspect to the programme.

It is also an inclusive centre. “We have two staff trained in Lámh sign language, and we have a personal trainer who runs the sports side of the programme. My son Jackson (11) taught the group Lámh,” added Leah.

It is hoped that this youth leadership programme will be ongoing.

“We want a constant flow of new youth leaders, of new ideas and voices coming into our community,” said Leah.

It is free to sign up to the programme and while there is no cost associated with the programme, the participants are organising an event in November to pay for t-shirts and a Christmas day out.

Leah also wanted to pay tribute to the hard work of those involved with the course. “The staff, Leanne, Paddy and myself, and Crosscare are working tirelessly. They are giving their all to get the programme up and going,” Leah said.

The programme is run on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm in Knockmitten Community Centre and those wishing to take part in the programme should contact the centre and ask for Leanne, Paddy or Leah.