WPCA pilots ‘Dreamscheme’ for the youth of east Belfast
Willowfield Parish Community Association (WPCA) is currently working in partnership with Dreamscheme NI to deliver a pilot project in inner east Belfast.
Dreamscheme is a community youth development programme which inspires and enables communities to release the potential of their young people based on a simple concept of Work = Points = Trips.
“Young People can do Wonderful Things” – the project is providing positive work activities enabling teenagers to impact their community, combat anti–social behaviour, alcohol/ drugs misuse, interface tension and fear of crime among the elderly.
Although in it’s very early stages, the young people are already involved in community work activities and recently made and delivered Valentine’s day cards to some members of the community. Young Sam Spence is pictured right and below doing just that. This work is already breaking down some of the inter–generational barriers that exist and it is hoped that this is only the beginning of the impact that this project will have.
The project is funded by Belfast Policing & Community Safety Partnership and builds and adds value to the youth work that already takes place in the area.
“At a time when young people in East Belfast have been hitting the headlines in negative ways, it is great to see young people getting involved and actively making a difference in their community,” says David Jardine, Lead Youth Worker at Willowfield.