Official Opening of Youth Link Training and Resource Centre –9 December 2010

Today Youth Link celebrates the official opening of its new Training & Resource Centre on Springfield Road.  

 

The move to new premises is about launching a new phase in Youth Link’s developmental process and its contribution to youth and community work and to the desired future for the community. 

 

This moment is not possible without the past. Youth Link was an initiative of the Churches’ willingness to collaborate and work together in youth work provision. The partnership had its origins in 1992 and from the outset the organisation has been driven by the need for ongoing development, dynamic, contextual youth work programmes of training and empowerment. At no stage during the past 18 years has the organisation remained static or settled for some kind of status quo youth work. Its objectives have always been a high level of professional delivery, appropriate innovation and cutting edge development. 

 

Youth Link is a good news story of Churches in partnership and of significant achievement over the years of its existence. There are a number of flagship developments of which we are intensely proud: 

 

• The ETI report of 2008 awarded the organisation a Grade 1 level of excellence.

 

• In 2005 Youth Link achieved Investors in People Award which recognised a level of excellence in human resource management.

 

• Another significant development in Youth Link was the creation of a BA Hon Degree in Youth and Community Work and Practical Theology. This integration of youth and community praxis with theological reflection provides a unique approach to youth work within the faith sector. We currently have 50 students on the degree programme.

 

• Youth Link’s training programmes have now expanded to the Border Counties which is in keeping with the larger integrated approach to peace building programmes in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties and also reflects the totality of relationships which was an important  base for the Good Friday agreement.

 

• It is significant that Youth Link has become the largest provider of accredited youth work training programmes in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. That is not just a quantitative statement but is also a qualitative one and is derived from the vision, commitment and professional engagement of many people over the 18 years of Youth Link’s existence.

 

• At present Youth Link has a full-time staff team of 12 people plus 50 sessional workers delivering high quality programmes of knowledge and skills. Professional staff development also runs in parallel with organisational development with a number of full-time staff currently engaged in masters’ programmes.

Youth Link’s programmes and training have moved from origins at the edge to mainstream. That our provision is now mainstreamed does not mean that we are content with achievements to date or that we intend to settle into some kind of respectability.

 

The launch of this new building today provides a new energy which releases fresh creativity and imagination. It renews our vision and commitment to young people and enhances our determination to be at the cutting edge of strategic development and delivery of youth work training and programmes. 

 

What we have achieved to date and what this new building represents would not have been possible without the financial contributions of the International Fund for Ireland, Department of Social Development, the Department of Education, Ulster Garden Villages, The Church of Ireland, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Methodist Church in Ireland, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland and The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. 

 

We can assure IFI, government departments and other investors that you have invested in front line provision that will make a very significant contribution to moving this society from its violent antagonisms, benign apartide and managed segregation to a desired and shared future where the values of justice, peace and compassion will be core. 

 

Today is a proud moment for all at Youth Link and its member Churches.