The Minister was introduced to the Regional Director of Youth Work Ireland, Laois, Mr Clive Davis and was taken on a tour of its headquarters in Portlaoise. The Minister was briefed by Mr Davis on the work being carried out in the community. “Youth Work Ireland Laois are delighted to be in the position to deliver the Positive Laois programme in Laois. The project objectives came from interactions and listening to issues directly facing young people. As the only Laois based Youth Organisation in the county, we are so proud to be able to share our amazing space with as many young people as possible. We continue to use Youth Work to facilitate change to support the development of our Young People throughout the County”
“The Art Therapist Programme was also a key initiative delivered by Youth Work Ireland Laois” continued Mr Davis. He outlined that “young people who present with emotional intolerance/stress often have not developed the verbal skills required to express this distress, and Art therapy provides the model for non-verbal communication and expression in a safe and therapeutic environment. Art Therapy uses creative and adaptive skills in providing varying treatment intervention modalities to address these varied presentations in a client friendly and responsive manner”.
Minister Frank Feighan said “I am so impressed with the breadth of work, that is being undertaken in Laois for the Health and Wellbeing of the various communities. Over the last number of years, Healthy Ireland has invested in several initiatives, in partnership with the Local Community Development Committee and the Children and Young Persons Services Committee. I can see today the benefit of ensuring that these structures are empowered to design and deliver actions locally, that support people in Laois to live healthy lives.”