During National Youth Work Week (4 to 10 November), community groups across North Ayrshire have been highlighting the power of youth work and its role in early intervention and prevention.
A youth work project making a positive impact is the Cyber Explorers community mural, underway at Towerlands Community Centre, Irvine.
Created in partnership with the Irvine Locality Partnership and Locality Team, North Ayrshire Council, Connected Communities, Police Scotland and committee members from Towerlands Community Centre, the new project aims to restore relationships following a recent surge of vandalism at the local community hub.
With five young people involved, the restorative mural project was established as part of the Locality Action Plan for a targeted group of Greenwood Academy pupils who had played their part in recent anti-social behaviour.
Mrs Hegarty, Headteacher of Greenwood Academy explained:
“We are lucky enough to already have a brilliant relationship with the Irvine Locality Officer and the team, who have supported this project. Part of the Council’s Connected Communities team, we work closely with them to support young people beyond the classroom.
“We believe in second chances instead of immediate punitive measures and we’re proud to collaborate with them on this proposal of a restorative mural project that aims to re-engage and re-focus the young people so that they can work towards making amends for their behaviours.
“I am really proud of this group for stepping up to this opportunity. It is clear that our young artists are passionate about making a difference and it is amazing to see the power of restorative youth work in action as they turn their boredom and disengagement into creativity, forging a lasting and positive legacy here in North Ayrshire.”
With the help of local graffiti artist Tragic O’Hara, the pupils have taken part in six restorative youth work sessions over the past few weeks at Towerlands Community Centre.
The aim of the Cyber Explorers mural project is for the young people to come up with a historic graffiti-inspired design where they can come together to celebrate the value of their local community centre and give something back to the community.
So far, the team have collaborated to map out a design with key elements celebrating groups like the knitting club, Irvine Pipe Band and the dachshund group that all operate out of this important community hub.
The group are also taking part in a cyber resilience programme with the help of a dedicated Cyber Explorers youth worker.
This is a wider initiative that will see 500 young people across our six localities working towards a national Cyber Explorers qualification that will increase cyber awareness and ensure children and young people can understand their rights online.
As part of this, the young people are also in the process of creating their very own cyber magazine. The magazine will be one of two national projects identified to create publications that will be distributed within the local authority, with a focus of promoting measures of how to stay safe online.
Tragic O'Hara continues:
"Graffiti has always been a revolutionary movement often for the disenfranchised. This project is as much about breaking the stigma of the art form as it is to change the public’s perception of young people who are still finding their way in the world. They may have made mistakes, but they are willing to put in the hard work to repair relationships and steer themselves on a better path.”
The first phase of the Towerlands Community Mural is planned to be completed early next week.
Through engaging with committee members from Bourtreehill and Broomlands Community Association (BABCA) - responsible for operating the centre - the courtyard mural will celebrate what the vibrant community hub offers such as events hire, community groups, youth clubs and more…
Phase two will also see the creation of a mural facing the car park to promote the centre to passers-by. This will depict the history and development of the community centre and how the hub will set its sights towards the digital age.
Councillor Alan Hill, Cabinet Member of Communities and Islands said:
“Well done to Irvine Locality Team, BABCA, and most importantly to the young people who are working alongside the talented Tragic O’Hara on this vital restorative youth work project.
“This is a brilliant example of emancipatory youth work in action – a critical youth work practice that encourages active citizenship where young people are empowered to realise their potential and create a world that that they are proud of and want to live in.”
If you aren’t involved in youth work already and want to find out more, drop an email to youthwork@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Alternatively, visit Youth groups and organisations to find out more about how you and your local area can thrive too.