'My job is to make sure that kids have opportunities': Talks to open Cobh youth club

An information meeting will take place in Cobh on Wednesday to discuss with local teens and parents a potential youth-engagement club.

Jack Courtney, the new youth ambassador officer for Cobh Lions Club, will host the meeting, and is calling on interested locals to attend.

Mr Courtney’s aim is to set up Cobh’s first ‘No Name Club’, in conjunction with re-establishing a Foróige Club for teens within the area of East Cork.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Courtney said that locals have been vocal about a need for a youth-engagement plan, which inspired his decision to host tomorrow’s information meeting.

“The more people who know about it, the more likely it is to succeed, and the more likely it is to succeed, the better chance we have at helping the young people in the town,” said Mr Courtney.

“My job is to make sure that kids have opportunities, that they’re advocated for, that they feel listened to, and that they have a safe space where they can come once a week. It’s about building relationships and connections, and I can tell you that I’m still very good friends with a lot of people I met at the no-name club I attended eight to 10 years ago.”

Mr Courtney further described his plans for the youth club, stating that activities could range from weekend trips away to outdoor education camps in Galway and Sligo, to local cinema viewings at Mahon Point Shopping Centre.

Building on the work he completed in New York in 2018, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, Mr Courtney said he wants to provide a space for children where they can express their opinions freely and without judgment, while encouraging them to engage with their local community.

“If this works it’ll be a national success, and I have every intention of replicating this across Cork,” he added.

Wednesday’s meeting takes place at Cobh Community Centre at 7:30pm.