Foyle Youth and Community Association

Public benefits

PUBLIC BENEFIT – OUR OBJECTS Children, Our group accommodates children from the age of 30 months to adulthood Our programs/activities/workshops (P.A.W) are of public benefit as they, encourage children from a very young age to lead a more active and healthier lifestyle educating them to get active, eat healthy and to say NO to drugs and

alcohol. These preventative measures will reduce the growing levels of obesity and the medical implications obesity causes for the next generous of adults. Social inclusion is also a major factor in Northern Ireland for the public benefit, with the growing number of different cultural backgrounds in our country their needs to be associations like ours where every child is treated the same and to educate the children that they should all be the same. Integrating children with disabilities with able bodied children is of public benefit as they are encouraged to have more confidence and independence and again it educates the public to accept and encourage socialisation for everyone. Our association targets children from a young age to educate them. RESPECT is our association’s motto and this is crucial in all aspects of our lives to ourselves and to others. All the (P.A. W) we do, the RESPECT element is the background Respect your health, Mind and everyone around you. Our (P.A.W) also includes re-educating children who already have obesity/drug/alcohol and/or behavioural problems. These problems often stem from our past troubles and broken homes due to a variety of domestic issues. I.e. the parents could have drug and alcohol problems or there is domestic violence within the home. Reducing all the above factors in our children will benefit the public at present avoiding anti-social behaviour in our communities and also for the next generation of health in our society. DISABLED ADULTS We strongly believe giving a disabled person the tools to have more independence, confidence and acceptance in our society is of great public benefit not only for themselves but in educating our younger generation that’s its ok and acceptable. DIFFERENT CULTURES We have many different cultures now in our communities and again RESPECT is paramount in educating both children and adults that everyone deserves to be treated and accepted as one. Our (P.A.W) include all cultures on a daily basis actively participating together. ADULTS/SENIOR CITIZENS We have many daily (P.A.W) which again encourages a healthier lifestyle by means of diet and fitness but also social integration and RESPECT from our younger members. We encourage our older members to volunteer with supervision of our younger groups, also educating them to RESPECT others. Isolation within older members in our community can be reduced by encouraging them to take part in our ( P.A.W ) and this is of public benefit within the community as it reduces mental health problems and also encourages our younger members to have RESPECT and so reduces anti-social behaviour in the communities. Deputy Minister Mr Martin McGuinness, recently on hearing of our associations work and ethos said , quote, Every town and city should have a centre like ours and the ethos we hold, for our communities wellbeing now and for future generations , unquote. We think that statement alone confirms what we already know and strive to do on a daily basis is to “BENEFIT THE PUBLIC “ The benefits can be demonstrated by feedback from beneficiaries and there is no private benefit. Safety measures are in place to deal with any possible harm from injury.

What your organisation does

Our organisation brings Families together who wouldnt normally interact giving them the opportunity to lead a more healthier and fitter lifestyle with lots more confidence and independance. We do this by our varied timetable of both Dance and Fitness classes,workshops, Masterclasses and open days.