Mullingar needs a youth cafe say teens

group of young people from Mullingar on a mission to secure a Youth Café for the town, held a meeting last night, Tuesday, for local businesses and representatives, to rally support for their cause.The Youth Action Group, which has been set up by 25 teenagers involved in Comhairle na nÓg, in conjunction with the Midland Regional Youth Services and Mullingar EYE located on Spoutwell Lane, hope to show Government that a Youth Café is needed locally.The action group was set up after Comhairle na nÓg failed to receive funding from the Department of Health and Children for a café earlier this year.However, the Youth Action Group say they need a café to provide a safe and alternative hang-out facility, to discourage anti-social behaviour and to provide a central facility where young people can get information that is relevant to them.Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Joan O'Connor Coordinator of Mullingar E.Y.E said a Youth Café in Mullingar is badly needed:"From our point of view I think it would be fantastic for them to get the Youth Café," said Joan. "It is something that these young people are hugely enthusiastic about."The meeting was an opportunity for them to talk to the local business community and politicians, as well as representatives from the different agencies to rally support. They want to raise awareness about the Youth Café, while also learning how to lobby Government," she explained."They're looking for professional advice from the businesses to help them promote their project, it's not a hand-out they're looking for.""The kids are still intent on fundraising however, because while they might hopefully get the funding to set up the Youth Café, they do understand that it has to be maintained, it still has to run," she added.The Youth Action Group, which now includes a fundraising, publicity and youth awareness department - all run by the young people involved, hope to get as many young people, aged between twelve and nineteen years, involved from Mullingar and its surrounds to help with the project.In the meantime, Joan says the whole experience has been greatly beneficial for the young people involved as they are constantly learning new skills:"This whole experience is brilliant for them because they are learning public speaking, communication and active listening skills through this whole experience. So while some people might sit around belly-aching about not getting the funding, the kids are actually rallying together to try and achieve their goal," she finished.For more information on how you can become involved, simply email joan@mrys.org or call 0449335609.