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It consisted of four activity residentials which created contact between 120 young people from throughout the north west. Staged at the Kilcronaghan Centre, Tobermore, the activities included laser quest at Randalstown and ice-skating at Dundonald. Members were recruited from all local schools and, as a result of the residentials, new friendships were established and new opportunities have arisen. Members are now meeting weekly at our new facilities within the Diversecity Partnership building in Bishop Street and have been offered places on follow-up development opportunities that include digital media skills, the ‘Cook It’ initiative, Young Women’s Project, band skills and DJ skills. Forthcoming opportunities include Community Relations training, a ‘No Electrics Night’, a day trip to a Scottish theme park, and the Young Women’s Project will be hosting a self-esteem course titled ‘Beyond Belief’.

REACH Across also hope to provide international youth exchange opportunities for 24 young people in Napoli, Italy and Varna, Bulgaria. There is also a possibility of a multilateral youth project in southern Spain at Halloween. Also, during the Summer months, REACH Across are planning a multimedia skills scheme, activity residential and a week-long Summer Scheme.

Meanwhile, as far as the Schools Programme is concerned, in addition to its youth programmes, REACH Across also have an intense schools programme that provides contact and educational development opportunities for young people in post primary schools. The 2013-14 Schools Programme has included accredited courses in community relations, citizenship and leadership. Courses have been delivered in schools throughout the North-West and Donegal. During the Citizenship and Community Relations courses, students discuss a range of peer and cultural matters such as stereotyping, symbols, cultural traditions, policing, politics, drugs awareness and youth rights.

The Schools Programme also included training for Prefects and Leadership Teams, which covered positive and negative leadership, reporting procedures in schools, Prefect codes of conduct and child protection guidelines. Students from a number of schools also took part in education trips to historical, cultural and interface locations that included Milltown Cemetery, the Shankhill bomb site and Crumlin Road Gaol.

Noted for its volunteer training, REACH Across will be hosting a training night for new Volunteers on Monday, May 12, the DiverseCity Partnership Building in Bishop Street.

Volunteers are required to assist with the organisation’s summer activity camps, international youth exchanges, training courses and weekly group meetings.

Training will include child protection, residential planning, volunteer codes of conduct and team-building.