Big windfall for Strabane AYE

A YOUTH project in Strabane is to receive a substantial windfall as part of a wider funding package which will benefit this and similar projects across Tyrone.

The Strabane AYE (Access Youth Engagement) initiative is set for a boon of £81,267 which will help deliver a Personal Youth Development Programme for young people in the area between the ages of 16-25. It is anticipated that the funding will be used in assisting 15 young people within the initiative.

Paul Gallagher of Strabane AYE couldn’t be happier with the news.

“It’s wonderful to see that we have gotten a sizeable amount which will enable the project to continue delivering on our various programmes,” he explained.

“Strabane AYE has been going for a considerable amount of years, enabling and empowering young people from across the district who are marginalised through poverty and deprivation which has blighted the area.

“It is vital that we are able to continue all our projects to ensure that young people do not go unnoticed or become trapped in the pitfalls which will lead to a downfall. This money will go quite a way to make sure that Strabane AYE can continue to achieve its goals.

“When it comes to helping young people, we aim to tackle all the aspects of what is keeping them down so we’re able to lift them up again and we have a terrific success rate in doing just that and ensuring they stray on the right track.”

The money is coming through the International Fund For Ireland (IFI) which released over £4 million pounds to assist peace building programmes throughout the North as well as border counties.

funding

Funding under the IFI’s new ‘Connecting Communities’ strategy will roll out core programmes that create meaningful collaboration and sustainable peace across the island of Ireland.

The funding package announced this week will benefit 29 community projects across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.

Three Tyrone Projects will receive a combined £238,249 under the Personal Youth development Programme, funding which will last for two years.