Youth Work
The Origins of Youth Work at Londonderry YMCA
In the first century of its existence, the organisation mainly provided services for adults. In 1967, it was reported that there was quite an active group of teenagers being catered for, and it was felt that the future of the YMCA lay in the formation of a youth centre.
Taking advantage of significant grants, which were available from government resources at the time, part of the East Wall premises were renovated for the express purposes of youth work.
In late 1969, the membership of the youth club continued to increase, and nightly figures were recorded as 37 boys and 17 girls. By March 1970, the membership had almost doubled, and the youth centre was running a seven-day programme.
The Move to Drumahoe
The youth club initially struggled with the move, with competition from the youth club in Faughan Valley School. But, it was flourishing by 1993, providing activities for children up to the age of 14, led by Janet Norris.
The Infinity Project
Infinity was a youth project established in 1994, run and led by young people under the guidance of Mark
Patterson. The project built on the cultural movement of rave music to host “Infinity Discos”. Young people aged 16 plus were able to attend gigs in a drug and alcohol free environment. Funding from the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT) allowed the group to purchase high-quality equipment, including smoke machines, DJ decks and lighting. The discos ran from the centre for two years and attracted top DJs from across the country.
The project spanned several years of the 1990s and engaged marginalised young people. It had a successful music festival, “Weeville” which drew a crowd of 40 people in 1994 and 1,500 people in 1995. They even went on a sailing voyage to Iceland, where they encountered killer whales, dolphins and braced gale force winds.
and find out who you are."
2002 to 2026
From 2002 to 2015, the youth club continued to grow and develop under the management of Lesley Nicholl and a team of dedicated part-time staff and volunteers. Projects during this time included: The Prince’s Trust XL Club, Summer Schemes, Pony Camp, 1st Derry Presbyterian Youth Project, Ulster Scots Programme, Girls Allowed, Beyond Barbie and Happy Snappers.
Under the leadership of Youth Work Manager, Catriona Coyle, from 2015, the organisation has significantly expanded its reach. It operates youth clubs in four other communities: Tullyally, Currynierin, Lettershandoney, and Eglinton, as well as its main centre in Drumahoe. The organisation provides inclusive, youth centred spaces and services to over 800 young people. At the annual awards night in March 2026, it was reported that 122 active young volunteers recorded over 1,932 volunteer hours between 2025 and 2026.
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Preserving Our Past, Inspiring Our Future © 2026 by Londonderry YMCA is licensed under CC BY 4.0
