Right on cue in Ballina
The ‘Involve’ group can play snooker several nights a week and also take part in tournaments on a regular basis.
Walking in the door of Century Snooker Club Ballina it’s immediately obvious that Mayo Involve Youth Services is well named – every young person is busy, engaged and completely involved in their activities. This activity is of course snooker which is an accessible sport and particularly attractive to young men. The clunk of snooker balls, click of cues and sporadic celebratory utterances by one or other of the dozen or so lads playing on the six championship size tables create a warm and happy atmosphere. The ‘Involve’ group can play snooker several nights a week and also take part in tournaments on a regular basis.
‘Involve’ is a youth, community and communications organisation with a strong focus on positive mental health which has headquarters in Athlone. In Ballina Mayo North East SICAP works in partnership with Involve Youth Services to support the ongoing engagement and development of young Travellers through a range of activities including health and fitness, circuits and training. It’s all aimed at young adult males aged 18-25 and a clever incentive system organised by Mayo North East SICAP gives them free membership for a week, once they turn up for classes. Originally set up by James Maughan as co-ordinator of Mayo Involve Youth Services, it is now run by Paddy Maughan, Traveller Wellbeing Support Worker with Mayo North East.
Darren Flaherty who owns Century Snooker Club in Ardnaree is both a championship snooker player and a youth worker himself. This is the second year of snooker for ‘Involve’ and the group were in dire need of their own snooker sets. That’s where HSE’s SlainteCare Healthy Communities Programme became involved and funded six sets. The goal of the SláinteCare Healthy Communities Programme is to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of certain communities across Ireland so this fits perfectly with their aims.
Clive Muldoon helps run the snooker and other ‘Involve’ services on a Community Employment Scheme. A self-assured and competent young man, he began joining in ‘Involve’ activities as a teenager and now works with them. Clive is a shining example of how successful the programme is. He integrates seamlessly with the service users, leading by example in an easy fashion.
Involve is primarily concerned with members of the Traveller community and is the main provider of youth work services to young Travellers in Ireland. As part of the delivery of this service, the organisation also focuses on young people from marginalised backgrounds. ‘Involve’ also provides after school programmes for young people ages 10–25 in the Ballina area.
Mayo North East implements the Social and Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which is co-funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus.
