SIPTU has called on the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) to commit to the continued funding of the Ballymun Young Women’s Project in north Dublin. SIPTU Organiser, Karen Smollen, said: “The Ballymun Young Women’s Project has been in place for 13 years and has given invaluable help to young women in the local community who are at risk due to problems associated with social depravation. “The Project was originally part of the Ballymun Women’s Resource Centre, which closed in August last year. Following this the Project was transferred to the Ballymun Whitehall Area Partnership. However, earlier this year, the Partnership failed to secure funding from the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme resulting in its closure.” She added: “As the Young Women’s Project is funded through the CDYSB, there was no immediate concern for its future despite the changes in the organisations managing it. Following the closure of the Partnership a transfer of undertakings was due to take place with Ballymun Regional Youth Resource (BRYR) taking over the management of the Project. “Six weeks into this process, which would normally take four weeks to complete, the manager of the BRYR stated that it would not be taking on the Project due to fears over its continued funding. A number of alternative host organisations have expressed an interest in housing and developing the Project in a way that would allow for its service delivery to continue. The offers from these organisations need to be seriously considered by the CDYSB. “The three SIPTU members employed to deliver the Ballymun Young Women’s Project have been treated in an appalling manner throughout this process. Our members intend to fight for the maintenance of the Project to secure their jobs and this vital service for the community in Ballymun.”
SIPTU calls for future of Ballymun Young Women's Project to be secured
