This article is from page 29 of the 2007-07-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
YOUNG people from Every Moment Counts (EMC) Youth Group in Scar- riff and the Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initiative put their heads together at the weekend to raise some much needed funds to meet the transport costs of their youth groups.
Last year the transport costs for EMC Youth Group were a massive € 2,600, which they met by constant JaUUeTebR-BEcyDEnoe
The youngsters, parents and vol- unteers came together on Saturday
to push a purpose built bed from Youthreach in Scariff the 11 miles to the Family Resource Centre in Kul- laloe.
“In Scariff we have developed very strong cross county links with Coun- ty Kilkenny and County Laois and we have developed and run projects between us but we are finding it very difficult to cover transport costs to maintain these links,” said Tracey Doyle, EMC youth leader.
“We asked people to please be generous to this worthy cause.” The ‘bed’ was made by two Scariff men
who scoured the area for recycled stuff for the project.
“Little wheels would never have lasted the pace, so they went looking for bicycle wheels,” said Tracy.
Part of the high cost of transport 1s having to hire a bus and although the local bus hire company gives EMC a very good rate, Tracy said “there is still money being paid out.”
“What we were hoping was that if there is any politician out there that used a minibus when campaigning for the elections that would like to donate it to us we would be thrilled
to take it off their hands. Or indeed anyone who has a bus that would be willing to part with it – you never know. Other community groups could use it as well and we could maybe split the cost of insurance,’ said Tracey.
Once they have recovered from the exertions of the bed push, EMC members are planning another ses- sion of workshops, following on the recent successful “Drums not Drugs’, sessions and they are plan- ning a musical show which they hope to take on the road.