Contact

Mountmellick Development Association , Irishtown, Mountmellick, Co. Laois.
Phone : +353 (0)57 8624525
Fax: +353 (0)57 8644343
E-mail: info@mountmellickdevelopment.com

Mountmellick Youth Development Centre (MYDC)

The Mountmellick Youth Development Centre (MYDC) was established in 1997 as a distinct programme of the Mountmellick Development Association.
The Centre works with approximately 100 children from 71 families living in Mountmellick with a priority focus on those who are most disadvantaged.
The aim of the MYDC is to support children/young people to stay in school and to build their confidence and capacity to grow as individuals and as part of their community through a wide range of interventions at the centre.
MYDC functions at many levels working in partnership with local schools, parents, volunteers, HSE, DSP, OMC and St. Vincent de Paul. It offers support to parents, children in primary and post primary education and preschool children. The Centre is the only youth centre providing such services in Mountmellick.

The Mountmellick Youth Development Centre aims to add value to the work of families and individual agencies by:
• Engaging with children and young people by providing preventative educational programmes.

• Engaging with parents to maximise their capacity to support their children.
• Working in partnership with schools to ensure timely referral of children requiring services
• Liaising with other services to maximise resources and minimise duplication of services.

• Utilising volunteer resources to support the work of the centre and to add a community dimension to its work.

Contact: Audrey O ReillyTel: 057 8624525
Email: mydc@mdaltd.ie

Our core beliefs are
Our core values and our approach to our work:
We hold as our Mission
Preschool and early years
Support to Parents and Volunteers
Primary School
SHAPES
Counselling for Children
Secondary School / Teenage Years

Our core beliefs are:

• We believe in the need to retain a strong focus on young people who are most vulnerable, especially in a downturn in the economy.

• We believe in the power of young people to contribute to their future and the need to ensure their voice is heard

• We believe that the work undertaken within the MYDC which focuses on early educational intervention makes a positive impact on the lives of young people and plays a role in breaking the cycle of educational disadvantage.

• We believe that the broader social and personal development work undertaken within MYDC provides children with a positive dimension in their lives which helps young people reach their personal potential and to live self motivated, enriched and fulfilled lives.

• We believe in the need for an evidence based approach based on a solid understanding of needs and informed by relevant and timely information on key priorities.

Our core values and approach to our work:

The approach offered by MYDC is such that it ensures that its work is
• Respectful of young people and founded on a belief that young people can identify and respond to the issues facing them
• Founded on the needs of young people themselves and a sensitivity to those needs
• Reaching a wide number of young people through a variety of programmes aimed at different life stages and age categories
• Delivered by staff who have passion and commitment to youth work
• Founded on team work and a professional approach to our work encompassing openness and support between colleagues
• Supported by a team of volunteers who are trained and supported by our staff
• Based on a commitment to working in partnership with schools

Our approach to our work is governed by a set of guiding principles. We take these directly from the Office for Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

We hold as our Mission

“To facilitate through quality youth services, the holistic development of young people receiving our services.”

Target Group	Preschool and early years
Current service provision	A staff member supports the Parent & Toddler group to promote positive interaction between parents and children, promote and engagement of age appropriate activities at group / in the community and promote healthy eating. Staffs support the group to seek grants for the Parent & toddler group. Parents are invited to attend training throughout the year on issues they identify. The Family Support worker makes house calls.
Target Group	Support to Parents and Volunteers
Current service provision	• Parent Support • Counselling • Parenting Programmes • Training and Support
Target Group	Primary School
Current service provision	Early Bird Club: 13 boys & 13 girls from senior infants to sixth class Attendance during the year recorded by staff and award/trips take into account attendance and participation. The young people who had 80% attendance celebrated with a breakfast in a local restaurant. Homework Club: Participants attending are from 2nd class to 6th class. The teaching post in both primary schools provide direct support to the MYDC. Children entering class with homework complete, provides them with an equal opportunity in the classroom Creates very safe atmosphere during club time which allows individual time to intermix with peers and adult role models. Excellent communication and co-operation between staff and teaching staff allowing for feedback on amounts of homework given and child’s ability to complete it successfully. We have an additional staff member to work with a small group of children with special needs. PLAY (Playful & Leisurely Activities for Young People): Participants from 2nd class to 6th class. Excellent co-operation from school for free use of premises, indoor & outdoor, and equipment. Safe environment for children to play activities with peers, thus increasing self confidence and levels of physical activity. The provision of time in an after-school activity allows for parents to seek education/training/employment or time with other siblings. SHAPES (Supporting Home and Primary Education Strategies): Small group work – personal and emotional and social development to increase self confidence and self esteem and manage challenging behaviour. Grouped according to age and ability with programmes designed to meet the interests and needs of each group which helps the young people to explore and learn social and life skills. Activities included arts projects, games and a lot of work went into the preparation of the Christmas Concert. Each group is provided with a healthy meal at the beginning of each session where all children and staff sit around the table. Children learn to listen and respond, and for some speak for the first time in front of a group. It also allows the staff time to learn more about the children. Behaviour is monitored very carefully during the small group work. Youth Club New initiative where the focus is on fun. Two sessions are allocated each Friday evening for 2 hours per session. All young people get a light snack at the beginning of the group. Safe environment for children to cook, do arts and crafts and play activities with peers, thus increasing self confidence and levels of physical activity. Counselling for Children Available to those children/families who are experiencing difficulties as a result of a bereavement/parental separation. Large increase in demand for this service and increase in funding provided for service. Continued co-operation between schools in identifying those in need and referring them to the MYDC. Summer Link Project: Estate Fun Days 70 young people took part in the estate fun days. Working closely with the local residents associations we delivered a programme of activities for the young people living in the estates. The youth leaders assisted with facilitating the groups. Summer Link Camp This is a programme of activities to reward the children for their commitment to the various clubs throughout the school year and new referrals are also introduced at this stage and members of the post-primary programmes act as junior leaders during the activities. Activities chosen are ones that the young people would not normally have the opportunity to do. For example; multi-cultural sports day, cartooning, pyrography, boxacise, trips to the local woods, parks and Dublin Zoo. Children of the Volunteer Homework Helpers attended the camp free of charge to thank the volunteers for their time and effort during the year. Art- Summer Link Camp This activity rewards the children for their commitment to the various clubs throughout the school year, and it is an opportunity for new participants to become involved in the programme. 20 children aged 7 years – 13 years and three youth leaders attend the programme for the week.
Target Group	Secondary School / Teenage Years
Current service provision	Counselling for Young People: Available to those children/families who are experiencing difficulties as a result of a bereavement/parental separation. Co-operation between schools in identifying those in need and referring them to the MYDC. PASS (Programme to Assist Settling into Secondary School): Established to assist participants into settling into secondary school and supporting them to reduce school drop-out rates. Teenagers: Programmes supporting teenagers through Junior and Leaving Cert. Many are working towards achieving their Bronze/Silver An Gaisce Award and are volunteering with the younger participants groups. The young people have been involved in fundraising to secure funding for their activities. Tutorials: Small group exam support. Tutorial support is during school term two afternoons per week. Youth Leadership: The young people from 2nd year to college students are offered training to develop their skills to become youth leaders in the MYDC summer programmes: RECESS, Art Camp, Estate Fun Days and Summer Link Project. Participants worked on their skills including; conflict management skills, leadership skills, communication skills, team work skills and sports skills.

Staffing:

Audrey O’Reilly - Project Leader
Doreen Conroy - Family Support Worker
Aislinn Ui Bhuachalla - Part-time Youth Development Project Worker
Kevin Butler - Part-time Youth Development Project Worker
Robert Challenor - Part-time Youth Development Project Worker
Mary O’Connell - Part-time Youth Development Project Worker
Rose Turner - Part-time Youth Development Project Worker
Ann Marie Kearns - Cleaner

Volunteers:

Our very dedicated team of Volunteer Homework Helpers are the back bone of the Homework Club.
Currently we have 20 volunteers from the community who work on a rota basis for an hour once a week with the children in the Homework Club.
There they assist the children with the classwork and act as positive role models. We are always looking for new volunteers so please feel free to contact Audrey O’Reilly in the MDA. You need to be over 18 and no experience necessary.
Volunteers are offered training throughout the year to support them in their roles.