Issue 163 – Southern Area FYI – 12 March 2026

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Sharon

Welcome to Issue 163 of our newsletter, ‘FYI’ (For Your Information).

A cover page for the “Southern Area Locality Planning Groups” information update, Issue 163 dated 12th March 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.

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

It’s that time again where we review and look at possible improvements for ‘FYI’ based on your feedback and ideas. Go straight to page 3 to get involved and give us your feedback – Any ideas and queries you may have about ‘FYI’ can be made and we will act and respond to these accordingly. We want to make this resource as user-friendly and useful as possible to all.

In this edition, we also have the usual range of information, opportunities and resources across the Southern Area for children, young people, parents/carers and practitioners. Please feel free to spread the word!

Locality Development Team, Southern Area

Clanrye Group Programmes

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Louise

Please find information below outlining Clanrye Group Skills for Life & Work, Youth Academy and Apprenticeships NI programmes:

Standard Programme (2–3 Years)

This programme is designed for young people aged 16–17, or up to 22 years old if they have a recognised learning difficulty or disability, and up to 25 if they are care experienced. We have expanded the range of occupational areas available, which now include:

Construction (in partnership with SRC Newry and Portadown)
Catering & Hospitality (in partnership with SRC Newry and Portadown)
Retail & Customer Service (Slieve Gullion and Lurgan)
Horticulture (Slieve Gullion)
IT Technician (Banbridge)
ICT (Lurgan)
Business Administration (Armagh and Banbridge)
Warehousing (Newry, Armagh and Banbridge)

In addition to vocational training, the curriculum includes:

Essential Skills (Literacy, Numeracy, Digital Skills)
Personal Development and Employability

Participants will also gain work experience with local businesses, tailored to individual needs to ensure a positive and educational experience.

The timetable incorporates weekly workshops and activities focused on mental well-being, resilience, and employability through interactive sessions, external courses, and community projects.

Subject to Department approval, trainees may avail of taxi transport for training or work placements.

Attendance is:

9am to 3.30pm – 3 days per week for the first 26 weeks (or 4 days if on placement)
9am to 3.30pm – 4 days per week after 26 weeks

Clanrye Group Skills for Life & Work Flyer

Youth Academy Programme (Fast-Track)

This is an accelerated version of the standard programme, designed to be completed within one year. While all terms and conditions remain the same, this option offers one vocational qualification:

General Occupational Area

Alongside this, participants complete Essential Skills, Personal Development, and Employability modules.

We currently have groups based at:

SRC Model Campus, Newry
SRC Lurgan Campus

Depending on demand, we may expand to Armagh and Banbridge.

Clanrye Group Youth Academy Flyer

Apprenticeships NI

ApprenticeshipsNI allows individuals to gain a recognised qualification while working and earning. Participants develop practical skills with an employer while completing a fully funded Level 2 apprenticeship in their chosen industry.

We offer Apprenticeships in the below vocational areas:

Warehousing & Storage
Customer Service
Retail
Horticulture

Clanrye Group Apprenticeships NI Flyer

You can find more information about both options and other Clanrye programmes on our website https://www.clanryegroup.com/.

Public Health Dietitians Team Newsletter

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Louise

Welcome to our Newsletter! A warm welcome to all the new Tutors who have completed training with us this year. We offer tailored sessions for organisations, including health stands and wellness talks. We are also now offering bespoke training. If you have a number of staff wishing to be trained in a particular programme, let us know!

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A colourful newsletter cover for the Public Health Dietitians Team. At the top, there is a row of illustrated flowers. Below, a heading reads “Public Health Dietitians Team.” A blue text box welcomes new tutors, describes tailored training sessions for organisations, and mentions bespoke training options. A pink section titled “In this issue” lists various items including Welcome, Lunch & Learn event, Recent Tutor Training, Health Stands, Public Health Dietitians YouTube, New Protein Resource Box, Team update from Belfast Health Development Unit, and “Is dark chocolate good for you?”. To the right, a small notepad graphic displays the words “Upcoming tutor training dates.” At the bottom are three logos: Health and Social Care, Public Health Dietitians Group Northern Ireland, and Public Health Agency.

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.)

FREE gaming and gambling harms training for staff

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Louise

A promotional poster for free gaming and gambling harm prevention workshops for education professionals in Northern Ireland. The top section features a circular pink graphic containing a quote from a teacher in Belfast praising the training and resources. Below, a teal box announces the free workshops and provides instructions to register by scanning a QR code or using a link. The date and time shown are Friday 27th March 2026, 15:30–17:30. The QR code appears to the left of this text. A list of topics covered is displayed near the bottom, including gaming and gambling harm, influences on young people, mental health and wellbeing, blurred lines between gaming and gambling, how to spot signs of harm, and where to access help and support. At the bottom of the poster are the YGAM logo, a link to their website, and a CPD Certified badge

Ygam are providing free workshops for educators and youth workers in Northern Ireland with the opportunity to enhance their CPD and receive free resources to safeguard the children and young people you are working with.

Upon completion of our workshop, you will receive a certificate, a digital credential, and free access to our resources which can be downloaded and are mapped to the Welsh curriculum.

What you will learn:

How young people encounter gaming and gambling in their daily lives
The role of advertising, social media, and evolving gaming mechanics
Gaming, gambling, and their impact on mental health and wellbeing
The blurred lines between gaming and gambling
Understanding in-game purchases, microtransactions and virtual currencies
Spotting the changes in behaviour that may signal harm
Supporting young people through effective conversations
Signposting and connecting young people with appropriate support

This training is open to any staff in your organisation and if you all wish to attend, please can all staff register individually so that they can receive their individual certificates.

Friday 27th March 2026

3:30pm – 5:30pm

Download poster