Current Topics

Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg were working on Youth Facilities and Amenities in 2021

Adapting their workplan in a time of lockdown

Roscommon have continued to work on their main topic for the year, mental health, by taking part in video diaries using Instagram stories here to promote a positive mindset #ComhairleAtHome. They are also continuing to plan in subgroups for their AGM and launched in June their drug awareness leaflet –  you can download it here – BURY DRUGS NOT YOUR DREAMS leaflet

They have been collaborating on this project with AlexsAdventures for over a year. Their hope is that this leaflet will educate young people about the dangers of drugs and will inspire people to lead a life without substances.

2020
Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg members voted that their workplan focus in 2020 would be on Mental Health. They have established an Equinox sub group to represent the balance of mental health, the balance of night and day. A there is uncertainty in relation to events,  they have started to work on an art project, working with an artist. They will use the Ying Yang symbol, and each member will have their own piece that they can design. Once they return it, it will be turned into a full Ying Yang collage. Once restrictions are eased, they can work on constructing a larger art piece

2019
Roscommon Comhairle are focusing on two key topics in 2019:

Drugs:  Creating awareness and highlighting the issue of drug misuse through engagement with relevant decision makers.
Equality/Discrimination:    Highlighting the barriers to equality for young people through an online campaign.

2018

Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg are focusing on the topic of discrimination as the primary issue affecting young people in the county. We coordinated a poster campaign #rosyouthstories requesting every young person in the county to give us their personal view, positive or negative, on the topic of equality in Roscommon. Young people were asked to contact us through any of our social media platform: they could tweet a sentence or one word to @roscomhairle on what equality means for them. They could also send a pic through Instagram, email us their story or post an anonymous letter. We used the feedback received to highlight this issue through digital media.

Our secondary topic is mental health. We have identified the most prominent matters influencing young people’s mental health in the county and our Comhairle plan to hold an event to highlight these topics and the strategies young people can use to cope with them.

Work already completed

In 2017 Roscommon Comhairle planned and successfully hosted an intergenerational event in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon Town. This event, named ‘Tea with Teens’ was intended to breakdown stereotypes and contribute to the elimination of barriers between young and older age groups in the county. It was attended by other Comhairle, Active Age, Older People’s Council and various services relevant to young and old. This event was such a fantastic success it will now be an annual occasion for generations to come together and realise they’re not so different after all!!!

Roscommon Comhairle also focused on Health Promotion in 2016-17. Our initiative was centered on healthy eating and the provision of healthier options for young people. We also intend putting together an on-line directory of amenities in Roscommon County.

Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg have been continuing their work on the provision of transport for young people in Co. Roscommon since 2015. They will also commence work on the topic of Young people’s mental health and Facilities for young people.

Transport for Young People: The NASA Initiative
The NASA Bus Initiative (No Alcoholic Substances Allowed) has recently been launched. This initiative arose for the need for all young people access to transport to and from under 18 events. The initiative has been developed in partnership with; Comhairle, An Gardai, Local Bus Operators, Comhairle Steering Committee, and Event managers, Comhairle have received backing from Roscommon Joint Policing Committee, groups using the bus services and sought advise from RSA. For more detailed information, click on link to PDF here: NASA information document

Young People’s Mental Health:
The Comhairle have co-designed with a Psychologist a workshop for young people called ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’. Young people can sometimes find themselves with a situation where a friend, or some other young person in their company, is in distress. They can be left wondering what can or should they do to help. This workshop and brochure gives some important tips to help young people cope and offer assistance where appropriate.
The brochure goes hand in hand with the workshop and is designed to fit inside a phone cover. The workshop was piloted at the 2014 AGM and has now been reviewed by the designers, the participants and the facilitator. It is hoped to roll out the programme in 2015.

As part of our mental health topic, we hosted a #LetsGoMental2015 event in August 2015. Click here for pictures and more information.

Young People’s Facilities:
Work in progress on young person friendly information on what is available to them in their own areas. Their ‘own areas’ is vital as Roscommon does not have a public transport system. Co. Roscommon is the third most rural county in Ireland.

LGBT Community:
Comhairle would like to become ‘Ambassadors’ for young people in the LGBT community in Roscommon. This is a new Topic and at its infancy stage. Work will begin by young people and workers/volunteers taking part in a workshop where they will educate themselves on the Topic.

Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg have been working on the provision of transport for young people in Co. Roscommon, and also facilities for young people in the county. We are in the process of creating a website for facilities for young people across the county – working with Youth Work Ireland Youth Information, and the Galway-Roscommon ETB on this. We will also continue to work with the JPC (Joint Police Committee), the Gardaí and transport providers in relation to youth friendly/alcohol-free bus services in the county.

In addition, we are also part of a Garda Initiative with DCYA (Dept of Children and Youth Affairs) and two other Comhairlí (Wicklow and Dublin City) which involves improving relations between Gardai and young people.

In 2012-2013, we worked on  building self-confidence and self-esteem in young people. As part of this topic, we produced a series of positive message wristbands focusing on young people’s self esteem and confidence. We sold these to young people throughout the county. We completed a training workshop in young people’s self confidence, completed training in animation and filming, created a storyboard and script, shot a short film, which is at editing stage at the moment.

We also produced a Sexual Health Leaflet for young people focusing on STIs. The launch was attended by young people, school principals, Mayor of Co. Roscommon, Roscommon County Council,  GPs TDs, HSE and others.  We distributed the leaflet to schools, GP surgeries, youth centres and other Comhairlí.  The leaflets were promoted during Sexual Health Awareness Week (SHAW)