Everybody deserves a chance

Programmes

The Service at present runs the following programmes alongside individual work done with each client:

Bullying Programme

The service runs an anti-bullying awareness programme in the Primary and secondary schools. This involves the officers talking to each class of the school. They highlight the different forms of bullying and how bullying can effect young people. The school policy of bullying is looked at and also the consequences of bullying. After each session there is a feed back to the staff so that the authorities of the school can put in place guideline to help the victim but also the bully. At each school there is a major art project designed and placed on a wall and this picture gives a strong message that the school does not tolerate bullying.

Transfer Programme

The service delivers a transfer programme in partnership with Sligo City Completion Programme to prepare children for their move from Primary to Secondary school.  This programme runs for twenty schools in County Sligo. The first strand of the programme contains 10 sessions which are delivered to children in 6^th class, sessions include coping with change, self-esteem, friendship, and looking at practical issues such as reading a timetable or using a locker etc.  After this there is a Transfer form, which is filled out by the primary school and forwarded on to the secondary school, this form contains information in relation to the young person at primary school, which will be beneficial for the secondary school, and the young person. The final part of the Transfer Programme is delivered in the first few weeks of Secondary school and aims to assist young people in settling in and finding their feet in their new adventure! As a base for this programme we work from an existing Transfer Programme called “OK, lets go”, which we have adapted to suit the needs of young people in Sligo.

Mentoring Programme

The service helped the students to organise mentors (senior students) to get actively involved with first years so as to make the transfer from primary school to secondary more enjoyable and also help them to settle into their new environment.

Student Council Training

The Service met with the representative of the student councils in a number of secondary schools and helped them set up their committee and helped them understand their roles as representatives of the school

Anger Management Training

Throughout the year, a number of young people attended the service for Anger Management Training.  This training helped the young people to understand the reasons behind their anger and how best to deal with it. 

Re-Integration Group

Re-integration is focused on three main areas:

1. Learning to be part of a group again, and looking at communication and social skills.

2. Bringing young people to a level where they are able to keep up with the academic work expected of them when they return to school.

3. Individual counselling and support in relation to individual difficulties being experienced by the student.  This support continues when the young person returns to school. The numbers in this group change from time to time.  Given the time scale in which it was agreed with the school regarding re-integration.

Bereavement Counselling

A number of young people attended the service because they had lost someone close to them through death or separation.  The Service helped those young people through the whole process of loss and dealing with that loss.

Parental Support

A number of cases, which came to the attention of the Service involved, working with the parents of the students.  This involved regular meetings with the parents in helping them to set boundaries and structures for their child.  Some of this work also involved facilitating meetings between the parents and the school. It is the intention of the Service not to dis-empower these parents and make decisions for them.  The Service views this work very much as a partnership between family, school and the Service in its role of empowering the parents to take positive action towards the educational and other needs of their children.

Residential Work

Weekend Project

The service runs a joint project with the HSE in taking young people who are involved with the social work department for a weekend to Co. Donegal, Co. Louth and Co Limerick. Each month six young people get involved in outdoor pursuits, Quad Biking, bowling, cinema, quizzes etc. Also, there is an emergency bed made available to the HSE for each of these weekends. These weekends provide a forum for the young person to get away from the present difficulties.  After each visit, a detailed report is sent to the social work department.

 Summer Programme

The HYLS provides residential summer breaks for a limited number of Social Work referred young people. The camps were activity-based programmes and are run from June to August.

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