Northern Ireland’s leading energy provider has donated £1,000 to a rights-based charity that supports disadvantaged young people through recreational and physical activities.
Include Youth was established in 1979 to empower those aged between 16 and 21 who either risk coming to the attention of the local criminal justice system, or are known to it.
The support from Power NI will go towards Include Youth’s ‘Give and Take programme’ – an initiative designed to help care-experienced young people across Northern Ireland. It does this by offering post-16 education, employability skills and personal development support to those individuals who are not currently in education, employment, or training.
The funding, in this case, will be used to provide a range of positive activities, including day trips, sports and art workshops, social events, visits to local attractions as well as one-to-one sessions that will focus on physical, emotional, social and mental wellbeing.
From an Include Youth perspective, these opportunities are vital for young people who are often isolated – and face barriers to accessing the same experiences as their peers. Helena Thornton – Include Youth’s Area Manager of the Give and Take Programme in Armagh – said: “We are incredibly grateful to Power NI for their generous support through the Brighter Communities initiative.
“This £1,000 will allow us to provide recreational and physical activities, healthy food, and enriching day trips for those young people from disadvantaged communities. These experiences are more than just fun – they offer a sense of belonging, boost wellbeing, and help build confidence and resilience. This support is helping us create brighter, more hopeful futures, for those who need it most,” continued Helena.
Ashleigh O’Neill – the Senior Marketing and Communications Executive at Power NI – said: “We are proud to support Include Youth through our Brighter Communities initiative.
“The Give and Take programme is a lifeline for many young people who need extra support, and we are delighted that our funding will help create fun – and meaningful –opportunities that support their wellbeing.”
Power NI’s Brighter Communities is a long-running programme designed to assist innovative and emerging community groups. Since the start of 2018, more than £95,000 in funding has been awarded to ensure the life-changing work of these organisations can continue.
Find out more on how Power NI is energising local communities.
