Monday, September 17, 2012

KiYC youngsters thinking, and acting, big



A group of young people attached to the Kilcullen Youth Club (KiYC) have been working hard to promote positive mental health among young people, writes Brian Byrne.

The project is in association with the O2 Think Big initiative and Headstrong, the national organisation for positive mental health for young people, and the group as individuals have organised a variety of events over recent months to further their aims.

They are sisters Sarah and Niamh Byrne, Conor Patrick, Gavin Byrne, Adam Treacy and Roisin Byrne (coincidentally, only Sarah and Niamh are related).

Sarah Byrne organised the recent and highly successful ’Oscars Kilcullen Style’, involving several groups within KiYC who wrote and filmed mini plays on the subject of mental health. The youngsters participated at three age levels, 7-10, 11-14, and 13+.

A launch night in July for the drop-in centre KiYC2 that operated on Thursday nights in the Tennis Club was organised by Conor Patrick and Gavin Byrne, and brought to the occasion a number of local bands. It was so successful that a similar Band Night is planned for 20 September.

Gavin Byrne, who is also a membe of the Flock of Budgies band is implementing a band mentoring programme called Music in Mind. Workshops are being organised around guitar, drums, and vocals and the series kicked off last week. A Facebook page on Music in Mind will keep those interested informed.

An initiative aimed at releasing stress by drumming is being organised by Roisin Byrne under the banner ’Bang it Out’. The first session last week involved actually making the drums, and subsequent drumming workshops will happen every five weeks from 21 September.

Adam Treacy is organising a Quiz Night which will help spread awareness of positive mental health, as one round of the Quiz concentrates on that issue. The quiz will be held probably in October.

A garden project called ’Illuminate’ is being developed by Niamh Byrne, with a view to providing an environment where people can go and relax. It is hoped to open it soon.

The linkage between all these projects are the core elements of maintaining positive mental health—getting enough sleep, keeping in touch with friends, exercising, getting out in the fresh air and sunlight, and eating properly.

The main events of the KiYC take place in the Parish Centre on Friday evenings and the drop-in centre is in the old Tennis Club on Thursdays. More information is available on www.KiYC.net and on KiYC2 on Facebook, or phone Olivia on 089 4484114.

Pictured above (top) Nana Azlan, Jade Bennett, Niamh Byrne, Sarah Byrne and Conor Patrick; (bottom left) Gavin Byrne; (bottom right) Adam Treacy and Adrienne Byrne.

This article was first published on the Kilcullen page of The Kildare Nationalist. Pics courtesy KiYC.