Fermoy's long-awaited youth cafe is now up and running. The youth cafe is among the range of services being offered by the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service (CDYS) at its new premises on the first floor of the old McCarthy Insurance building at Fitzgerald Place.

The large premises has its own separate entrance. Fermoy Boxing Club has the ground floor of the building. The CDYS youth project, a drop-in service, counselling service and the community drugs project, will also operate in the building.

Staff and the young service users are delighted with the move from Pike Road to the more central location and pleased with the spacious new premises which has also allowed them to set up a music room and set aside rooms for one-to-one counselling services. While the new premises are still being refurbished, a lot of their groups are up and running, youth worker Martina Daly explains.

"We've had a lot of new young people since we moved. We have room for more and welcome new members. We would love to have more young people to fully utilize the new premises," she said. Young people are invited to call in to view the facilities they have any Thursday during the drop-in hours of 4pm to 7pm or during their upcoming fundraising coffee morning which is being held on Wednesday, August 21st at their new premises. 

Last week saw young people involved in an art project at the centre, creating colourful murals for the stairway.

The music group which runs from 5-7pm on Wednesdays is a popular aspect of the services they offer, Martina says. Young people between the ages of 12 and 18 interested in singing, learning an instrument, being in a band or simply jamming, are invited to drop in. Local musician Johnny 'Bongos' Horgan helps out at the music sessions. They also have overnight trips from time to time such as a recent one to Sherkin Island. Martina says the services can evolve to cater for young people's needs and interests.

She works four days a week with the Fermoy Youth Project. The Director is Brian Williams and Siobhán Mackey is the community drugs worker. She works in providing support services to young people aged from 12 to 25 who are at risk or are misusing drugs or alcohol. Services are offered to young people in a safe, friendly and confidential environment.

The counselling service offered is the Rainbows Grief and Loss programme, a support group curriculum for children who have suffered significant loss in their lives through death, divorce or separation or other painful transitions. Referrals are being taken for the service. People can call Martina on 086-8031200.

A youth council comes up with ideas for the service and they also give feedback and fundraise for them. Members of the council recently underwent training.

Martina and Siobhán were delighted with the support and practical help they got from volunteers and from John and Pat Bowes of Fermoy Boxing Club in moving into the new premises. They'd now like to hear from anyone interested in doing volunteer work with them.

"We will provide training," Martina points out. Anyone interested can call her. They also welcome everyone along to their fundraising coffee morning on August 21st. It'll be a chance to view the facilities ahead of the centre's official launch in November.

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