Welcome
Hello and thanks for visiting our website. We have developed it in an effort to help friends, supporters and all who are interested in what we are doing in our projects at Youth Initiatives. YI has been working hard since 1991 to deliver quality youth programmes to thousands, that make a life changing difference.
I hope that in these pages you'll find something that sparks your interest in YI. You will also find various ways in which you can support our work. Please feel free to contact us for more information about Youth Initiatives and our youth work, I hope you enjoy our YI Website.
Doug Smith - YI Director
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You can make a difference! Support us today and help change the lives of young people in Northern Ireland.
News
Lisburn Mayor Awards for Volunteering
General | Jun 14, 2013
Thursday 13th June 2013 saw the Annual Mayors Awards for Volunteering in Lisburn held at the Lisburn Civic Centre with Mayor Alderman William Leathem. Hosted by John Daly the event gave recognition to all those nomitated for the endless hours of volunteering in the Lisburn City Council District. Volunteers from Youth Initiatives were nominated in two categories - Young Volunteer of the Year with Luke Robinson, Christopher Doonan and Curtis Harmon nominated and Large Volunteer Group Award with Tara Gallagher and Aine Mc Ilhone representing the YI Volunteers.
YI Summer Schemes 2013
General | May 31, 2013
With the summer fast approaching the YI Staff and Volunteers are getting ready for the YI Summer Schemes. This year the summer scheme has changed its name from Chunky Monkey, a name that has served us well, to LIFE Summer Schemes. Life Summer Scheme will be taking place in West Belfast, East Belfast, Downpatrick and Banbridge from 15th July to 26th July 2013.
Belfast Marathon - We broke the 3hr mark!
General | May 16, 2013
The YI staff team broke the 3hr mark running the Belfast Marathon on 7th May. With a time of 2hrs 59mins 07secs, they came in 17th out of almost 2000 teams!
Well done guys! And thank you very much to everyone who has sponsored the team. With your help, we have raised £350 which will help fund NUTS, our 11-14s programme.
If you're impressed with their Marathon result, you can still donate today and support our youthwork project! Donate online or by text.
Text YINI13 £5 to 70070 to donate by text (e.g. text YINI13 £2 to 70070 and donate £2.)
Click here to donate online.
Support our Marathon team!
General | Apr 22, 2013
Belfast Marathon fundraiser 2013 launched
This May, 5 YI staff are running the marathon to raise funds for our 11-14s youth work in West Belfast and other areas. Will the team break the 3hr mark?
Spur them on and make a donation today!
"Breaking News" in Belfast City Hall
General | Apr 8, 2013
Young performers from across the city encourage us to move forward and take steps not sides. Be there on April 21st & 22nd - Belfast City Hall.
Call Jen Russell at 02890301174 for info & tickets.
Youthwork Programmes
The Target project has been running for over 5 years and is aimed at males from the Colin Area aged 16 and upwards.
The Girls Project (formerly RELAY) has been running for 4 years. It is aimed at Young Women aged 14-18 years old.
Crosslinks is a cross-community, cross-cultural arts-based youth project that seeks to break down barriers and address misconceptions.
N.U.T.S stands for Never Under-estimate Teen spirit. This project is for 11-14s and runs in West & East Belfast. Come along for creative arts, learning something new, community service projects and lots of banter.
Funded by Lisburn Peace III Phase II, the Youth
Engagement Programme (YEP) reaches out and
engages young people from isolated, religiously
polarised areas and create the basis for meaningful
cross community contact.
Lifeline runs in East & West Belfast for 14-18s. It's an activities night once a week plus mentoring, life skills, sports and volunteering opportunities.
Lifeline is part of the Second Chance Project funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Lifeline Downpatrick has been on the go since 2007 thanks to a grant from the International Fund for Ireland.
Trevor Mc Daid and Heather Torney run Youth Initiatives' outreach youthwork in the Banbridge Area.
YI currently has over 90 Youth Volunteers helping to deliver our programmes in East Belfast, West Belfast, Banbridge and Downpatrick
Our Faith Development team work with schools and parishes in the Colin area assisting with the delivery of religious education and spiritual growth. It is a means for some of our volunteers to share their faith with others through small groups and special events.
Protect yourself Online
If you suspect it, report it!
Funded by Lisburn Peace III the TRIBES Programme reaches out and engages young people from isolated, religiously polarised areas and create the basis for meaningful cross community contact.
Youth Initiatives is established as a NI charity, Inland Revenue number XR 19757
