Clare Youth Service launches The Book

This week saw the launch of the second edition of Clare Youth Service’s highly acclaimed The Book, a publication designed to provide young people with the best information about the key issues in their lives.

Aimed at the 15-18 age group, the first edition of The Book in 2006 proved a big hit with Clare’s young population and there has been huge demand for an updated version.

Clare Local Development Company and the HSE have now helped to fund a new edition. The content has been determined by young people through an extensive countywide consultation process.

Not surprisingly, much of the new content areas relate to the digital era but traditional issues also remain prominent. Social networking and cyber bullying are included for the first time while sexual and mental health, healthy eating and attitudes to the body also have their own sections, as do ‘leaving home’ and study tips.

The Book has been produced to address difficult areas of young people’s lives, especially those areas that are prone to misinformation. Margaret Slattery, CEO of Clare Youth Service, explained, “Accurate up-to-date information in an accessible format is vital for young people. There has never been more information than we have today but finding what is accurate and useful is harder than ever as information, misinformation and rumour all compete for attention online, offline and wherever we go.

“Clare Youth Service and our Youth Information Bureau has been providing accurate information to young people for over a quarter of a century – including responding to 250,000 individual queries, enabling young people to make informed choices on issues that matter to them.

“The Book extends that service and brings the facts directly to young people wherever they are in County Clare. It is their compass to navigate a safe course through key challenges in life.”
Sarah Duggan is a member of Younger Voices, one of the groups who shaped the content of The Book. She felt the process used in its production would mean that it will be particularly relevant to young people in the county.

“The Book will be something that will be used widely because it is young people talking to and about themselves. The content, design and format were all driven by groups of young people and they will be the ones to read it and use it. It will help people get an accurate grip on tough issues in their lives,” she said.

Eight thousand copies of The Book are being distributed to all secondary schools in Clare as well as Youthreach centres, libraries, family resource centres, FÁS training centres and other outlets. Further copies are available from Clare Youth Service’s Youth Information Bureau in Carmody Street, Ennis and through youth clubs across the county.