Transition Programme

First year students at Desmond College, Newcastle West and Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale recently participated in Limerick Youth Services primary to secondary transition programme. The programme features workshops such as communication, friendship, peer pressure and bullying. While the start of secondary school can be an exciting time for students, for some it can be quite a daunting experience. “Some students can find the move from a small rural school with 20 students to a big school with over 500 quite daunting” explained programme co-ordinator, Sasha Noonan. Any schools interested in taking part can contact Sasha Noonan at [email protected] for more information

Facing the Fear

A new Marie Keating cancer awareness programme for schools aims to promote awareness among second level students about various forms of cancer and to help them understand the importance of detecting cancer at an early stage. By making cancer ‘less’ frightening by enlightening for students with age-appropriate interactive and informative material. The eight-module programme is available free of charge and is part of the suite of supports available to schools form the Professional Development Service for Teachers. For more information see www.mariekeating.ie

Volunteers needed

The West Limerick Children’s Services in conjunction with the Newcastle West Youth Club and Limerick Youth Services is looking for volunteers to support the setting up of a youth space for young people with a disability. The club will run in Newcastle West on a weekly basis and will provide young people with a supervised and supportive environment where they can engage in activities such as sport, art, dance, drama and information workshops. An information session will be held in the Newcastle West Community Centre on Tuesday, 30th September at 7.30pm. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age.

Limerick Youth Service Celebrations

Limerick Youth service is inviting past and present volunteers, participants and staff to a celebration evening at the Strand Hotel on Friday, September, 26th at 7.30pm. The event marks the formal end to the organisation’s 40th anniversary celebrations. The evening will include the regional leg of Youth Work Ireland’s Volunteer Achievement Awards, with local volunteers nominated in a number of categories. Volunteers from this year’s local awards will be put forward for selection for Youth Work Ireland’s National Volunteer Achievement Awards to be held in Dublin in October.

Anyone interested in attending the event can contact Dermot Troy at [email protected].

Going Green

Young people across Limerick are being encouraged to get their hands green and take part in this year’s Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA). The awards, now in their 16th year, are run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation. The initiative is open to young people aged 10-18 years form across all 32 counties in Ireland. The programme sees groups from school s and youth and community organisations come up with solutions to local and global environmental issues. Registration to the YEA will close on November 28th. Participants will have until the end of February 2015 to complete their project in one of 10 categories.

Safety Information Day for Limerick’s Elderly People

Older people from across Limerick City and County are being invited to a safety information day which takes place on Tuesday 30th September from 11am to 4pm at St. John’s Pavilion on Mulgrave Street, Limerick. Hosted by Limerick City Community Safety Partnership the event will feature important personal and home safety information and demonstrations for older people as well as nutritional advice and literature on a range of issues will be provide on the day by agencies including An Garda Siochána (personal safety), Limerick City and County Council, Home Instead senior Care, Limerick Fire and Rescue Service (home safety), Tait House Community Enterprise  (insulation), The HSE (occupational therapists). Further information on the Safety Information Day for older people is available from Limerick City Community Safety Partnership – 061-221994.

Chief Fire Officers Issue Carbon Monoxide Warning

The Irish Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is urging householders to be aware of the dangers associated with carbon monoxide (CO) build-up in the home as part of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2014. The main aim of the week is to raise public awareness or the causes, symptoms, prevention and protective measure for the highly poisonous gas which can kill in minutes. Seamus Murphy, chairperson of the FOA, explained the potentially deadly gas can build up to dangerous concentrations indoors when fuel-burning devices are not properly vented, operated or maintained. Because it has no odour, colour or taste, CO cannot be detected by our senses. Symptoms associated with exposure to CO include a mild headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and drowsiness. Fortunately, simple measures can be taken to prevent CO problems. One such action is the installation of a CO alarm to detect potentially deadly conditions. Householders should also make sure that all fuel burning appliances and heating devices are properly vented and maintained, while knowing the symptoms of CO poisoning is important. For further information on Carbon Monoxide and advice visit www.carbonmonoxide.ie