Funding appeal made to keep youth club open

The concerned parent of a teenager who attends the Enable NI Banbridge club says the local facility, based at Ballymoney Hill on a Friday night, will close its doors at the end of the month.

She said: “This youth club is for young people with learning disabilities who can’t go to just any youth club and they need it.”

She continued: “My daughter has been going for a good while and she really gets so much out of it. It really has made a difference as she prefers to spend time on her own and the club has helped her socialise.”

The concerned mother added: “We were aware that the funding was due to end soon but it is such a shame as the young people who attend it really do benefit from it.

“Maybe there is someone out there who could help us keep it open or knows how we could get funding. If there is anyone who can help us please come forward as we need help.”

The youth club is run by the non profit organisation Enable NI based in Richhill which exists to promote meaningful opportunity for people with a learning disability and aims to improve the quality of life of individuals with a learning disability, enabling them to participate in the community and give respite to their carers.

Enable promotes the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities as active members of society and works with children and adults who have an intellectual disability in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area of Northern Ireland.

No one was available for comment from Enable NI at the time the Leader was going to press.

If your child is affected by the closure contact us on 028 92 679111.