Youth Challenge

Almost one quarter of the total population of North Belfast is made up of young people between the ages of 5 and 25. Therefore young people have the potential to positively or negatively impact on community relations. It is widely acknowledged that the youth-related problems in North Belfast in many cases arise because of scarcity of resource and facilities and the resultant boredom, rather than any inherent malice on the part of the young people.

Urban II have supported the six inner North Belfast Community Empowerment Partnerships to come together to design a "conflict resolution" project targeting primarily youth stakeholders at interface areas across North Belfast. The two main aims of the project are:

• To address the needs of youth groups and groups aimed at supporting youth so they can effectively carry out their work with young people
• To create the conditions necessary to increase the degree and quality of dialogue, interaction and mutual support that is happening within the youth sector of the two main traditions of Northern Ireland.

Phase I of the project, funded by Urban II, saw the distribution of £274,000 of equipment commonly owned by six geographical Community Empowerment Partnerships within the Urban II area and utilised by 94 youth and community groups in order to facilitate youth programmes within and between their communities.

A further £166,000 has been awarded to employ a Project Officer and Strategist for two years to facilitate the development of a cross community Youth Forum, design a multi-stakeholder Youth Strategy for North Belfast and facilitate 50 single identity/parallel programmes. These programmes, which will increase cross community activity and understanding, will focus on the following themes:

• Sport
• Camping
• Arts (music, video and D.J)
• IT Skills (complimenting ICT initiative)
• Resource Library/Area Strategy

It is anticipated that there may be additional programme costs awarded at a later date.

For further information on the Youth Challenge project please contact Ciarán Shannon on 028 9075 2990 or email ciaran.shannon@nthbp.org