A number of city organisations have joined forces to provide a safe social outlet for the 900 city students who will receive their Junior Certificate results on Wednesday next.
For the seventh year running the agencies - the HSE, Foróige, Galway City Partnership, Galway City VEC, An Garda Síochána, Galway City Council, Youth Work Ireland and the Galway City Post Primary Schools, will provide a drug-and alcohol-free venue for those celebrating completing their first State exam.
Students will get a free invitation to the party which will take place at Leisureland from 8.30pm to midnight. It will be supervised by more than 50 experienced volunteers, drawn from the agencies involved.
The HSE says in the past young people often socialised in unsuitable venues with resultant antisocial behaviour.
“In previous years, there has been a well-documented view of a lack of appropriate events organised for young people after the announcement of the Junior Certificate results, and the follow-on from this has tended to be a night fraught with antisocial behaviour as young people socialise in unsuitable venues.
“In an effort to combat this the agencies concerned have come together in partnership to provide this safe social outlet for young people to celebrate.”
Frances Ford from the HSE West says this a great example of agencies working together in partnership for the common good.
“It is only right and appropriate that these students get some recognition for sitting their first State examinations. Our goal is to make it a memorable and safe night for everybody involved.”
Young people who wish to attend the event must complete an application form from the school, which includes a passport photograph and contact details for their parents. These forms will be returned to the school and stamped. The young people will then register their attendance on the night. Parents are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure the safe arrival and collection of their son or daughter from the party.
This invitation-only party is a drug-and alcohol -ree event. However, should a student arrive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their parents will immediately be contacted and expected to collect their son or daughter. A contact mobile number is issued to parents should they need to get in touch with the committee on the night.
For further information on the Junior Cert party contact Paul Tannian at (086 ) 8590871 or Frances Ford at (087 ) 6423141.
