Young people enjoy PEACE IV Waterways Programme on Upper Lough Erne
30th July 2019
Young people from the Upper Lough Erne region of County Fermanagh have been taking part in fun and exciting water-based activities at Share Discovery Centre, Lisnaskea as part of the PEACE IV Waterways Programme
The Waterways Programme is being delivered by Share Discovery Village on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. The programme is one of 16 projects identified in the Fermanagh and Omagh PEACE IV Local Action Plan to benefit from a total funding package of £2.8m to deliver projects across three key strands; Shared Spaces and Services, Children and Young People and Building Positive Relations at a local level. The project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The Waterways Programme, is aimed at two distinct age groups, ‘Island Life’ for 7-11 year olds and ‘Waterways in Motion’ which caters for young people aged between 12 and 16 years.
The ‘Island Life’ group have had the opportunity to try canoeing and kayaking as well as learning about islands on Upper Lough Erne. The focus of the programme has been on water confidence and water safety. The young people have been learning all about the equipment needed for water activities, how to stay safe and have even learned some water rescue techniques.
The ‘Waterways in Motion’ group have been developing new skills and building water confidence by taking part in a range of water-based activities like sailing, canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and banana boating.
Both youth groups have two more weeks of learning new skills, building confidence, having fun and developing new friendships before a summer break. The groups will meet back after summer with a fun day trip for the “Island Life” group and an, overnight camp for the “Waterways in Motion” group together with participation in fun workshops.
Match-funding for this project was provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
For further information, please contact Bryan Owens, Share Discovery Village, by email at BryanO@sharevillage.org or by telephone on 028 6772 2122.