SUPPORT FOR YOUTH
SUPPORT FOR YOUTH
ONE of the most horrific statistics of the Market Street bomb was the fact that so many of the town's young people were either killed or injured.
And nowhere is that fact more pronounced than through the work undertaken by staff at the Western Education and Library Board in the past 12 months.
Under the guidance of the chief executive, Mr. Joseph Martin, the Board engaged the services of a consultant from the Centre for Crisis Management and Education to advise and support Board and teaching staff, as they prepared to embark on a new school term knowing that many of their pupils would need expert help.
In addition, the Board retained a senior member of staff to co-ordinate a support strategy and liaise with schools, youth groups, the library service and all other relevant agencies.
The Board also organised and provided seminars for teaching and ancillary staff in the post-primary schools in Omagh, which was done in conjunction with the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, and held briefing sessions for the school principals at both primary and post-primary level.
The heavy workload that caring for traumatised children generated also saw the Board providing materials for schools such as booklets and leaflets on dealing with trauma and bereavement counselling, loneliness and loss and tips on crisis counselling.
The Board also arranged a briefing of principals by teachers who had worked with pupils and young people in the aftermath of the Enniskillen bombing in 1987, and staff also liaised regularly with trauma and recovery team members about individual pupils.
Meetings were held with representatives of churches, businesses, commercial concerns, Omagh District Council, schools and community, voluntary and youth groups, as well as arranging evening and weekend training seminars for youth workers to help them recognise and deal with traumatised young people.
Resources
The Board has also provided resources and staff for the compiling of an archive relating to the bomb, and assisted with the funding of a youth project worker for West Tyrone Youth Council to work with leaders in Omagh and young people affected by the atrocity.
One of the most forward looking ventures the Board undertook was a one-day seminar for 100 young people to give their views on developing a vision for Omagh and the district, at which there were representatives from various organisations including churches, the council and education bodies, the Junior Chamber and the Department of the Environment.
The bombing has resulted in the establishment of an 'officer group', consisting of youth groups, schools, library and special education workers, who meet on a monthly basis to monitor and review developments, and staff have also participated in an Inter-Agency Co-ordinating Group which was established by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.
Another interesting way of dealing with the feelings and emotions experienced by the young people affected by the bomb was the provision of a series of writers in research workshops for Omagh's High Schools and a local youth group, as well as providing additional teaching support to both Omagh High School and St. Brigid's High School.
The Board also provided education welfare support to Foyle and Londonderry College, where the brother and sister of Buncrana bomb victim, James Barker, are enrolled. Other children were provided with home tuition, classroom assistants, home to school taxis and equipment was given to individual children who needed it.
Over and above that which the Board has already undertaken in the past year, it is also investigating the possibility of acquiring a 'Bytes Centre', for Omagh's 16 to 25-year-olds to develop computer skills.
Art therapy and bereavement counselling are also being included within the Board's Inset Programme which is run every year.
ONE of the most horrific statistics of the Market Street bomb was the fact that so many of the town's young people were either killed or injured.
And nowhere is that fact more pronounced than through the work undertaken by staff at the Western Education and Library Board in the past 12 months.
Under the guidance of the chief executive, Mr. Joseph Martin, the Board engaged the services of a consultant from the Centre for Crisis Management and Education to advise and support Board and teaching staff, as they prepared to embark on a new school term knowing that many of their pupils would need expert help.
In addition, the Board retained a senior member of staff to co-ordinate a support strategy and liaise with schools, youth groups, the library service and all other relevant agencies.
The Board also organised and provided seminars for teaching and ancillary staff in the post-primary schools in Omagh, which was done in conjunction with the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, and held briefing sessions for the school principals at both primary and post-primary level.
The heavy workload that caring for traumatised children generated also saw the Board providing materials for schools such as booklets and leaflets on dealing with trauma and bereavement counselling, loneliness and loss and tips on crisis counselling.
The Board also arranged a briefing of principals by teachers who had worked with pupils and young people in the aftermath of the Enniskillen bombing in 1987, and staff also liaised regularly with trauma and recovery team members about individual pupils.
Meetings were held with representatives of churches, businesses, commercial concerns, Omagh District Council, schools and community, voluntary and youth groups, as well as arranging evening and weekend training seminars for youth workers to help them recognise and deal with traumatised young people.
Resources
The Board has also provided resources and staff for the compiling of an archive relating to the bomb, and assisted with the funding of a youth project worker for West Tyrone Youth Council to work with leaders in Omagh and young people affected by the atrocity.
One of the most forward looking ventures the Board undertook was a one-day seminar for 100 young people to give their views on developing a vision for Omagh and the district, at which there were representatives from various organisations including churches, the council and education bodies, the Junior Chamber and the Department of the Environment.
The bombing has resulted in the establishment of an 'officer group', consisting of youth groups, schools, library and special education workers, who meet on a monthly basis to monitor and review developments, and staff have also participated in an Inter-Agency Co-ordinating Group which was established by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.
Another interesting way of dealing with the feelings and emotions experienced by the young people affected by the bomb was the provision of a series of writers in research workshops for Omagh's High Schools and a local youth group, as well as providing additional teaching support to both Omagh High School and St. Brigid's High School.
The Board also provided education welfare support to Foyle and Londonderry College, where the brother and sister of Buncrana bomb victim, James Barker, are enrolled. Other children were provided with home tuition, classroom assistants, home to school taxis and equipment was given to individual children who needed it.
Over and above that which the Board has already undertaken in the past year, it is also investigating the possibility of acquiring a 'Bytes Centre', for Omagh's 16 to 25-year-olds to develop computer skills.
Art therapy and bereavement counselling are also being included within the Board's Inset Programme which is run every year.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0710
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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