The group provides services for young people in the most deprived communities in the West Armagh City area. These young people are often marginalised or disadvantaged in relation to educational provision, educational attainment, and training and employment opportunities. Services offered by the group are developed by local young people, under the stewardship of a committee, to meet their own defined needs. These services help young people to develop a purpose in their lives, improve their confidence and self-esteem, encourage community participation and active citizenship and enhance their education and employability opportunities.
SPRING works with other community-based organisations and statutory agencies, including Youth Action NI, Start 360, West Armagh Consortium, the Education Authority Youth Service, Youth Justice and Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon Council. These collaborations involve either the joint delivery of or direct funding of projects.
SPRING are overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors/Trustees and currently employ 2 full-time members of staff. They are supported by
an 8-person youth steering group, and a team of up to ten volunteers.
SPRING was originally founded in 1996 by a group of women from the West Armagh area. The group’s formation was in response to a range of issues that arose in the post-cease- fire period, marked by an increase in anti-social behaviour, and drugs and alcohol misuse mostly amongst young people. Although youth provision in the area was very limited the group initially provided a broad range of community-based services including women’s support programmes, childcare and youth services. However, over time the increasing demand for youth provision led to the group evolving
into a youth provider to meet identified needs in the area.
