Newry & Mourne and South Armagh Schools Networking Event 2026

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Sharon

Three photos showing people visiting information stalls at a community event, with tables displaying brochures, banners, and materials from various local organisations

Feedback from discussions held at Department of Education RAISE Locality Reference Group meetings for Newry, Cloughreagh and Bessbrook had indicated that local schools were unaware of the range of existing support services they can link into in the community.

The Newry & Mourne and South Armagh Schools Networking Event aimed to raise awareness of local support services in both the Newry & Mourne and South Armagh Areas with school staff, including services for children, young people and families/parents/carers.

Taking place at Newry High School on Wednesday 4^th February 2026, the event brought together a wide range of local organisations from statutory, community and voluntary sectors, offering a unique opportunity for both primary and post-primary schools to engage directly with local service providers, while enabling local organisations to strengthen connections and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

Download the Event Scorecard HERE.

View a List of all the Stall Holders from the day, along with a short description of their service, HERE.

(The Newry & Mourne and South Armagh LPGs are a partnership of statutory, voluntary, and community organisations working to improve outcomes for children and young people in the Newry & Mourne and South Armagh Areas. The groups are supported by the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) and each meet five times a year, to share information, build connections, identify local needs, and work together to address them.)

Issue 162 – Southern Area FYI – 19 February 2026

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Louise

Welcome to Issue 162 of our newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

A cover page for the “Southern Area Locality Planning Groups” information update, Issue 162 dated 19th February 2026. On the left side, an illustrated pair of hands holds a tablet displaying the CYPSP “FYI – For Your Information” logo inside a circular badge. Above this, a blue banner with white text reads “Southern Area Locality Planning Groups,” followed by two right‑pointing chevron arrows. On the right side, the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) logo appears at the top. Below it is a grid of coloured squares in green, purple, and blue. Each square contains a communication‑related icon, including an email envelope, a telephone handset, a globe symbol, and a person with a checkmark.

Download Issue 162

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device. Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)

The health & wellbeing of children and young people is always a top priority. Last week was Children’s Mental Health Week, Tuesday 10^th February was Safer Internet Day, and this week is Sexual Health Week, so, as well as the plethora of useful information which we normally include, we are also sharing information relevant to these specific areas which has been submitted by our contacts.

Thanks to all who have provided information on upcoming training opportunities, events, parenting programmes, reports, surveys, resources and funding opportunities for inclusion.

We hope that this issue is helpful to practitioners working across, and parents/carers living in, the region.

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

Issue 161 – Southern Area FYI – 29 January 2026

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Louise

Welcome to Issue 161 of our fortnightly newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

A promotional graphic for the Southern Area Locality Planning Groups’ “FYI – For Your Information” newsletter, Issue 161 dated 29 January 2026. The left side shows illustrated hands holding a tablet displaying the FYI logo. The right side features the CYPSP (Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership) logo and a grid of icons, including an email envelope, a phone, a globe, and a person with a checkmark.

Download Issue 161

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device. Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears)

Another jam-packed edition and thanks to all who submitted flyers on upcoming training opportunities, events, parenting programmes, youth programmes, resources, funding opportunities and surveys for inclusion in this issue.

Please continue to share these important details with us, so that we can further spread the word to practitioners, parents & carers working across / living in the Southern Trust Area during 2026!

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

Schools Networking Event – Newry, Mourne & South Armagh – 4 February 2026

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Sharon

Upcoming networking event for schools in the Newry & Mourne and South Armagh areas, with the aim to raise awareness of local support services in this area with school staff, including services for children, young people and families/parents/carers.

📅 Wednesday 4th February
⏰ 2.00pm–5.00pm
📍 Newry High School

Over 30 services will be attending, hosting information stalls and sharing details of supports available to schools and families.

School staff are invited to drop in at any time to get information as well as some light refreshments.

If you are a service provider, register your information stall for FREE here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PNMGDBB

Download Information Flyer

A promotional flyer for a “Networking Event – Connecting Schools with Local Support Services.” The flyer invites school staff from primary and post‑primary schools, along with local service providers, to attend a networking event about support available for children, young people and families in Newry, Mourne and South Armagh. The event takes place on Wednesday 4 February 2026, from 2pm to 5pm, at Newry High School. Light refreshments will be available. There is a button labelled “Register to Attend,” with instructions for service providers to register stalls via a link and for school staff to email localityplanning@ci-ni.org.uk. Logos of CYPSP and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council appear at the bottom

Youth and Future Talent Awards (YAFTAs) 2025-26

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Louise

A banner featuring three logos. On the left, the YAFTAs logo with a large gold star and smaller stars, and the text “YAFTAs” in elegant script, followed by “Youth and Future Talent Awards” in smaller print. In the center, the Education Authority logo with a green and blue abstract shape and the text “ea Education Authority.” On the right, the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council logo with a green and blue design and text in both Irish and English: “Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin” and “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.”

Newry, Mourne & Down Youth Voice are a district wide consultative group under the Northern Ireland structure of Youth Voice which gives young people the opportunity to engage with decision makers and have a say on local issues. The group is supported by the Education Authority.

The Awards

The Youth and Future Talent Awards (YAFTAs) were created in 2012 by the Newry & Mourne Youth Council to help raise the positive profiles of the work young people are involved in across our district. The aim was to highlight the “unsung heroes” who don’t normally receive recognition. This year will be the ninth awards ceremony and they will be hosted within the council area. All aspects of this programme have been designed and managed by young people for young people. An independent panel will shortlist the nominations, without knowing names of nominees or nominator, so they cannot be influenced with their decisions.

YAFTAs nomination invitation letter

YAFTA categories and how to nominate