31 youth councils across the country
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Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg
- Coordinator name: Edweena Farrell
- Contact email: efarrell@youthworkmidlands.org
- Address:
C/O Annette Barr-Jordan,
Westmeath County Council
Community and Enterprise Section
County Buildings
Mullingar
Co. Westmeath - Tel: Annette: 044 9332138 Edweena: 090 6477075 / 086 7955684
- National Executive representative: Tori Trower
- Twitter: @ComhairleNa
- Facebook: Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg
- Instagram: westmeath_comhairle_na_nog
- The Environment: Key Actions: to create a project to deepen the understanding of the need for environmental changes in Westmeath, create events and presentations to educate on the notable changes happening and top tips on how to prevent and minimize their personal carbon footprint in Westmeath
- Road Safety Event: Key Actions – to create awareness on the issue of road safety in Westmeath, particularly for young drivers and pedestrians and cyclists
About us
Current Topics
Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg are working on the following topics in 2021:
What they’ve been up during lockdown
They have circulating posters and resources with useful numbers for services supporting children and young people in Westmeath and Longford. They have also been sharing positive #EveryDayHeroes stories, photos and posters.
2020
1. Environmental Awareness
2. Road Safety (continued from 2019)
These were the two main topics being worked on by Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg in 2020.
Road Safety was the topic being pursued by Westmeath Comhairle in 2019. Road Safety made real – ‘Make our Roads Safe Again‘ was a very successful event run by Westmeath Comhairle members, Youth Work Ireland Midlands and Westmeath County Council on Fri. 10th May at Athlone Town Stadium
17 organisations got on board to help young people learn and gain practical experience of road safety including An Garda Síochána Order of Malta Ireland Ambulance corps Road Safety Authority Ireland Gamepod.ie Irish Rail Athlone, among others. The turn out was fantastic with 471 young people participating and 60 adults.
2018
Westmeath Comhairle focused on the topic of Sexual Health Education in 2018. They worked with a number of secondary schools in Westmeath to ensure that Sexual Health has as much of a priority as Mental and Physical Health in the school. Three members sat on the Advisory Committee to plan the consultation of the RSE Reform which took place in March.
Previous topics
Westmeath Comhairle’s key topic for 2017 is mental health. We aim to host the largest positive mental health & well-being event for young people in the Midlands. Aim: to give young people the tools to build their self-esteem and resilience, to develop the ability to problem solve, and to adapt to life stresses in a more positive manner. We hope to produce six short videos promoting positivity, to be launched on the day of the event.
We will also continue our work on Education in Youth Voting. The second part of this 2 /3 year work plan is now in motion. The Youth Voting training programme developed in 2016 is being piloted to a group of 30 young people and after a thorough evaluation, the programme manual will be drafted. The draft programme manual will then be presented to the additional stakeholders and amendments made. The second draft will be developed (2018) in soft and hard copy and distributed to schools and other education bodies to deliver to students. It will also be gifted to relevant Government Departments and County Councils for inspection and possible use.
Westmeath Comhairle’s primary topic for 2016 was Education in Youth Voting. This incorporated voter training and a train-the-trainer programme for transition year students to deliver in their own schools.
We held a 2016 commemoration event on Young People in 1916. We created a child friendly version of the Irish Proclamation and held a youth event where this will be launched. Young people recognised their importance in making and influencing history and the future.
Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg are continuing work on the topic of Education. Westmeath Comhairle na Óg were one of the three county winners who represented County Westmeath in the All Island Pride of Place Competition in Ennis, Co Clare in November 2015.
In 2015, Westmeath Comhairle na nOg won the Young People in the Community Initiative under Westmeath Pride of Place Awards – see pic below:
Westmeath Comhairle na nOg were also part of the #LetsGoMental2015 campaign to promote positive mental health in young people. Their event took place on 22nd October and was combined with their AGM. 250 young people attended on the day and enjoyed some great activities from #GetMoving by trying some rugby, #Give by pledging and learning about Gaisce, #BeAware by trying mask making and drama, #Connect and #GetInvolved by being involved in a quiz and writing letters to their future self.
Here are some photos from their event:
Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg has achieved a lot, working hard as a team to get young people’s voices heard in their county. In 2013/2014, we identified cyber-bullying as a very common problem with young people, both regionally and nationally. To address this, we put together a DVD on the issue, and were involved in all aspects of this including script-writing, acting, filming, makeup and hair, and editing. We received input from the local youth community who helped us out through the completion of surveys. We launched this DVD in late 2014.
In 2014 we worked on the topic of education, another common cause of stress for young people in Westmeath. We have conducted surveys in seventeen schools in Westmeath and are going to put the findings of the research regarding the weight of schoolbags into a resource available to policy and decision makers.
Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg sucessfully lobbied for a youth café in Mullingar. We also held an interactive Drugs and Alcohol seminar. We highlighted the issue of peer pressure through producing a short film for young people by young people and produced an alcohol-awareness leaflet Alcohol Awareness for Life Leaflet
Westmeath Comhairle have been working to promote the Mental Health DVD made in 2013 and work on a Toolkit. We are also involved with a Leadership Programme and are working on Social and Political Awareness. Please see video footage below of our AGM 2014.