Youthcape+ The Buzz - Issue 1

The Buzz Issue 1 Welcome to the Buzz! Produced by the SWC Youthscape Plus team, this brand new publication will bring you the latest news from the programme and give you a greater insight into what our young people are getting up to.

This is a space shaped by young people, powered by partnership, and focused on what really matters. Youthscape Plus is about listening well, acting boldly, and sharing what works. Across our community, young people are leading change, finding their voice, and building confidence — and this newsletter is where we tell those stories.

About Us Youthscape Plus exists to support young people aged between 14 & 24 who aren’t in full time education, employment, or training! We help you take your next step.

We are currently working with over 180 amazing young people in Dungannon, Enniskillen, Omagh, Cookstown, Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim who want to build their skills and confidence levels, meet new people, make friends and above all, have fun

Big Days Out! Over the past few months our participants have taken part in a series of Cultural Host Day visits and group trips visiting the Peace Walls in Belfast, trying their hand at Archery, wall climbing and bushcraft at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea, exploring our history at the Heritage Museum in Letterkenny and much much more.

Bringing our young people together from across the project region is a vital component in forming new relationships and friendships and equipping them with teamwork and communication skills.

Award Winners In January we presented six former Youthscape Plus participants with a series of bursary awards as part of the Jackie McDowell Distance Travelled Bursary.

These awards set up in memory of the former Youthscape Programme Manager recognise the achievements of programme participants and the bursary has been designed to support the recipients’ future education, training or employment goals.

Congratulations is extended once again to: Tee-Jay Smith, Wandile ‘Enock’ Dhlodhlo’, Jack McCaffrey, Orla Kearney and Leticia Soares Da Silva on their success. Oran Quinn, an Omagh based participant who is currently continuing his studies at South West College was selected to receive the first Jackie McDowell Distance Travelled Trophy and his prize was presented by Brian McDowell, Jackie’s husband and SWC Principal, Celine McCartan who said: ‘I am very proud of the fantastic achievements of these young people, and their success is a testament to the hard work and engagement from their tutors and support officers. I know that they will continue to be strong ambassadors for the Youthscape Plus programme and I am delighted that Jackie’s spirit continues to live within the college through these awards.’

Meeting President Connolly President of the Republic of Ireland, Catherine Connolly recently met with representatives of the Youthscape Plus programme during her first official visit to Northern Ireland.

Project support officers and participants from Donegal Youth Services had a roundtable conversation with President Connolly in Derry-Londonderry where they talked about the impact of youth work programmes and the importance of continued supports for young people across the island of Ireland.

President Connolly also paid a visit to the Foroige facilities at the Crib in Sligo in January where she met with programme staff and participants and even showed off her footballing skills which she became known for during the presidential campaign.

Cooking up a storm The Youthscape Plus Programme is designed around activities that our participants enjoy and which align with our delivery themes. Over the past few weeks our Omagh based participants have enjoyed a number of sessions in the kitchen exploring foods from around the world.

Under the guidance of culinary experts and our delivery team, we have been treated to some home-made Spaghetti Bolognese and Chili ConCarne.

We look forward to the next culinary classes and trying out the participants’ next creations.

What people say about Youthscape Plus ‘I am indebted to Youthscape. Having a programme like this has helped save my sons life. Before this he was severely depressed. Youthscape has given him many things. It have given him structure where he had none. Opportunity, opening a whole new life for him. Meeting new people face to face, making friends, knowing he is not alone. Being patient with him, letting him go at his own pace are a few examples.

I will be forever grateful to this program, especially the people who have worked with my son. You have help change his life for the better.’

- Parent ‘Being in Youthscape helped me to grow as a person. It taught me the importance of working with others, listening to different ideas and supporting each other. I also became more confident in speaking up and getting involved in activities.

These skills are things I can take with me even after the programme ends.’

- Participant ‘Even though it has only been 9 months, I can already see a huge difference between the 17 year-old that I was when I joined Youthscape and the 18 year-old that I am now. Without Youthscape I would not have applied for college or figured out what I want to be or learned to embrace and trust in myself and others.’

-Participant ‘I would very much encourage anyone who’s thinking about joining Youthscape to give it a go—everyone on the project is helpful and you’ll make lots of friends before you know it!’

-Participant

Diary Dates We are now accepting applications for the next Youthscape Plus Cohort starting in April 2026.

To find out more, come along to one of our SWC Open mornings: Dungannon - Thursday 26 th February 11am - 12:30pm Cookstown - Wednesday 11 th March 11am - 12:30pm Omagh - Friday 13 th March 11am - 12:30pm Scan the QR code to register your attendance or visit www.swc.ac.uk/youthscapeplus