LIMERICK YOUTH SERVICE SUBMISSION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW LOCAL ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY PLAN (2023-2028) FOR LIMERICK

Unique Reference Number: 
LCC-C170-LECP-6
Status: 
Submitted
Author: 
Limerick Youth Service
Consultation: 
Local Economic and Community Plan for Limerick City and County 2023-2028
No. of documents attached: 
0
Boundaries Captured on Map: 
No
Author: 
Limerick Youth Service

Cover Letter

LYS Mission is ‘Connecting with young people and supporting them to reach their full potential’. Our Strategic Plan 2023-2027 outlined our aims and priority areas of work as follows:

1. Youth Work - Deliver high quality youth work that fosters meaningful outcomes for young people

2. Education, Training & Employability - Provide Further Education, Training & Employability opportunities that empower young people to fully integrate and participate in society

3. Volunteer Opportunities & Support - Attract, support and sustain volunteers so that they may positively contribute to improving the lives of young people

Our values prioritise community, integration and collaboration, young people at the centre of all that we do, learning, creativity and innovation and equality, inclusion and diversity.

Our youth work objectives for 2023-2027 include ensuring that young people are physically healthy and enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing; are learning and developing and safe and secure; are active citizens, engaging in political, social and cultural life, and are accessing the information and knowledge they need to make informed choices about their lives.

Our education, training and employability objectives are to enable young people to gain critical, employability and key life skills; to progress within further education, training and employment; that those most marginalised young people are actively included and that young people are accessing integrated teaching and learning supports tailored to their needs.

Our objectives with respect to volunteer opportunities and support include the promotion and development of volunteering opportunities for young people, the development of Youth Leadership programmes, to increase the number of volunteers working with young people in their local communities, to support and train volunteers to provide a high quality and safe experience to young people and to strengthen the provision of volunteer-led youth clubsacross Limerick City and County.

Our submission prioritises the need for the LECP to recognise the need for safe, accessible, youth friendly spaces and facilities with a focus on disadvantaged communities including Garryowen and Southside communities such as Southill, currently served by LYS 'The Factory'. Large population increases (CSO, 2016, 2022) also highlight the need for infrastructure in in outer suburban Metropolitan EDs including Ballycumin, Ballysimon, Corbally, Annacotty, Coonagh/Caherdavin and in rural areas including Adare South, Askeaton West, Croom, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle Urban, Newcastle Rural, Bruff , Bruree and Kilmallock.

Observations

Substance Abuse Amongst Young People

Chapter: 
Chapter 2 - Socio-economic Highlights
I would like to update or add information: The 2019–20 Irish National Drug and Alcohol Survey: Main findings

The above study identifies that 15–24-year-olds are most likely to report drug use and that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) increases from one-in-five  to one-in-three among drinkers aged 15–24 years. The Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study 2018  Growing Up in Ireland - ’98 cohort at 20 yrs  2018/19 outlines that in 1975, childhood obesity affected just 1% of children in Ireland According to the latest Growing Up in Ireland survey 20% of 17-to-18-year-olds are overweight and a further 8% are obese. 30% of young women likely to be overweight or obese compared to 25% of young men. These findings evidence the need for drug and alcohol supports for young people and a need for improved resources and facilities to encourage people to take part in healthy, active past-times. 

As part of our Strategic Planning 2023- 2027 process (https://limerickyouthservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Strategic-Plan-Consultation-Report-2022.pdf), LYS conducted focus group discussions with 111 young people across the city and county, interviews with young people and disseminated surveys to young people, volunteers and LYS staff .  Findings highlighted a need for youth work interventions addressing substance misuse, healthy eating and physical activity.

 

 

Main requests: 

A need for youth work interventions addressing substance misuse, healthy eating and physical activity.

Main reasons: 

To ensure that young people are physically healthy and enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing.

Safe Accessible, youth friendly spaces and facilities

Chapter: 
Chapter 2 - Socio-economic Highlights
I would like to update or add information: Feasibility Study for a MultiPurpose Community Centre for the Dooradoyle, Raheen & Mungret Area, LCCC 2022; CSO 2016

LYS supports the LECP statement: 'Based on surveys with children aged 10-17 years, children are less satisfied with the environment of their area - 60% of children in the Mid-West Region report that “there are good places in their area to spend free time” compared with 67% across all regions and 78% in the region with the highest satisfaction rates on this indicator (the South East region)'.

Consultations conducted with young people, stakeholders and LYS volunteers and staff, as part of LYS Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027, highlighted the existence of Unsafe community environments enabling access to drink and drugs for young people.  There is a need for increased access to community-based, safe, friendly, recreational youth spaces, particularly within communities experiencing high levels of deprivation.  Older young people participating in our consultations also highlighted the need for youth spaces which are not traditional youth clubs- a more updated approach to provision for older young people.

CSO 2016 figures identify:

  • Population increases in Metropolitan inner-city district EDs, including Shannon A & B, John C (Athlunkard St./George’s Quay), Dock A (Upper Henry St./ Steamboat Quay), Custom House and Market (Upper Mulgrave St./Cathedral Place)   

  • Increased urbanisation of the city.  

  • Large populations in outer suburban Metropolitan EDs including Ballycumin, Ballysimon, Corbally, Annacotty, Coonagh/Caherdavin 

  • Limerick Municipal EDs including Caherconlish West and Aughinish have seen population increases with large populations in EDs such as Adare South, Askeaton West, Croom, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle Urban, Newcastle Rural, Bruff , Bruree and Kilmallock. Very strong population increases in Adare, Castleconnell, Clarina and Ballyneety  

  • The regeneration areas of Moyross, Southill and St Mary's Park have high young age dependency ratios. Some of the newer suburbs in the outer periphery of the city in the south-west also have high levels of dependency.

 

 

 

 

Main requests: 

Our submission prioritises the need for the LECP to recognise the need for safe, accessible, youth friendly spaces and facilities with a focus on disadvantaged communities including Garryowen and Southside communities such as Southill, currently served by LYS 'The Factory'. Large population increases (CSO, 2016, 2022) also highlight the need for infrastructure in in outer suburban Metropolitan EDs including Ballycumin, Ballysimon, Corbally, Annacotty, Coonagh/Caherdavin and in rural areas including Adare South, Askeaton West, Croom, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle Urban, Newcastle Rural, Bruff , Bruree and Kilmallock.

Main reasons: 

Support young people's physical and mental health and wellbeing, and their safety and security.

Cultural Assets, Venues and Other Resources

Chapter: 
Chapter 2 - Socio-economic Highlights
Yes

LYS agrees with the LECP statement: 'Involvement in cultural and creative projects gives community and voluntary groups and interest groups in society (e.g., young people) opportunities to work together. It can build community spirit and promote social inclusion'.

Findings from recent LYS strategic planning consultations highlighted the need for diverse recreational opportunities related to the arts, culture, outdoors/nature and play.  Young people outlined how there is often an emphasis on competitive sports to the neglect of other recreational areas and spaces.

Main requests: 

Need for recreational opportunities and spaces for young people

Main reasons: 

Support young people's physical and mental health and wellbeing

Inclusive participation in the preparation of the LECP framework plan

Chapter: 
Chapter 4 - Vision and High-Level Goals - Backgro...
Yes

LYS agrees with the LECP statement: 'Inclusive participation in the preparation of the LECP framework plan and implementation plans and reviews of implementation including consultations with groups that are not traditionally involved in such processes'.

LYS suggests that young people should be included in the preparation process of the LCEP Plan in line with our Strategic Plan 2023-2027 objective 'Enhance youth participation and voice in local and national structures and forums'.

Main requests: 

To include young people in the development of the LECP Plan

Main reasons: 

To ensure that young people's voice is strengthened in local and national structures and forums

Opportunities Social/Education

Chapter: 
Chapter 3 - Economic and Community SWOT Analysis
Yes

Findings from consultations with young people, stakeholders, volunteers and staff as part of LYS Strategic Plan 2023-2025 highlighted the debilitating impacts of an over-emphasis on academic success on young people, and the need to engage young people who are disengaging from mainstream education,  LYS supports the development of  'Alternative Centres Of Education/Based Outside Of Mainstream Schools' as evidenced in a recent evaluation of Rethink Ireland's Education Fund (https://rethinkireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Education-Fund-Evaluation-Results.pdf).

This model would provide a unique alternative environment for education for children and young people who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from mainstream education.  It would incorporate a one-to-one and small group learning environment with wraparound support and outreach service.  It would offer innovative and flexible online and blended learning for early school leavers.  It would emphasise holistic, as well as academic development. Personalised and online modalities of intervention would be provided to each student based on their needs, interests and abilities.  It would be accessible, city centre-based and rooted within the local community.

Main requests: 

Support alternative centres of education with an equal emphasis on holistic and academic development, flexible and innovative delivery, small group methodologies and wrap around supports.

Main reasons: 

To ensure educational equity and inclusion.

Community & Voluntary Sector

Chapter: 
Chapter 3 - Economic and Community SWOT Analysis
Yes

In line with LYS Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the National Volunteering Strategy 2022 (https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/100239/8e18fb45-6e72-47f9-a1fb-7dcd59105c1a.pdf#page=null), we recommend support for volunteers and volunteering, with an emphasis on the provision of volunteer-led youth clubs.

LYS facilitates volunteer opportunities and support, both within LYS and across volunterr-led youth clubs.  Volunteers contribute towards improving the lives of young people and to strengthening communities and civil society.

Main requests: 

Support for the contribution of volunteers to the community and voluntary sector, the importance of volunteer-led youth clubs particularly in rural areas

Main reasons: 

Volunteers contribute to improving the lives of young people, and to stregthening communities and civil society.

Information

Unique Reference Number: 
LCC-C170-LECP-6
Status: 
Submitted
Date Submitted: 
06.04.2023 - 11:00
No. of documents attached: 
0
Boundaries Captured on Map: 
No
Consultation: 
Local Economic and Community Plan for Limerick City and County 2023-2028

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