Summer schemes and street outreach stepped up to keep Mid and East Antrim young people safe

(From left) Youth workers Matthew Simpson, Jonny Farrell and Johnny Crymble.

Support services for children and teenagers across Mid and East Antrim are being expanded this summer amid growing concerns around anti-social behaviour, safeguarding risks, mental health pressures and the dangers young people can face when schools close for the holidays.

Youth workers, police and community organisations told a public meeting in Ballymena this week that summer can become a particularly vulnerable period for some young people who lose the structure, routine and support networks normally provided during term time.

Speaking at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) at The Braid on Wednesday evening, 20 May, senior Education Authority youth worker Johnny Crymble warned that the long summer break can become a “risky” time for some children and teenagers.

He said summer schemes and outreach programmes are designed not simply as recreational activities, but as an important layer of protection and support for vulnerable young people across the borough.

‘Summer schemes are all about safety’

Education Authority youth summer schemes will operate at seven venues across Mid and East Antrim during the school holidays, with most youth centres expected to open three nights a week.

Activities will include sports, cookery, arts and crafts and community-based programmes aimed at reducing isolation and helping young people stay connected during the break from school.

Mr Crymble told the meeting the programmes are heavily focused on safeguarding and relationship-building.

“That is our opportunity to create some safety nets,” he said.

“For most, summer schemes are all about safety. It is about keeping young people safe.”

He also pointed to growing social pressures affecting young people locally, including the cost-of-living crisis, mental health difficulties, social media influences, rural isolation and anti-social behaviour.

“This area has had more and more risk factors for our young people,” he said.

“There is excitement about seeing a police Land Rover or seeing a bonfire.”

Mr Crymble explained that youth workers are increasingly trying to build resilience and emotional wellbeing through summer engagement programmes while also helping young people understand differing viewpoints within communities.

“Young people are trying to find out their role in the community,” he said.

“But when you stand up for what you believe, you have to understand another person’s views.”

Concerns over poverty and safeguarding during school holidays

The meeting also heard how economic hardship continues to affect many families across Mid and East Antrim, with youth workers seeing the impact directly during summer programmes.

“A lot of our young people live on free school meals,” Mr Crymble said.

“Making a pizza, for example, for some can mean they have some food that day.”

Emotional health and wellbeing remain a major focus for youth services, alongside healthy lifestyles, inclusion, accessibility and community relations work.

Safeguarding concerns were also highlighted as a key pressure facing youth organisations during the summer months when vulnerable young people can disappear from daily contact with schools and teachers.

“We have two months every year when no-one sees them,” Mr Crymble said.

“Over the summer, we are dealing with random safeguarding issues.”

He said the long-term impact of youth engagement can include increased confidence, reduced isolation and more positive involvement in local communities.

YMCA outreach teams preparing for busy summer period

Carrickfergus YMCA chief executive Jonny Farrell said the organisation’s work is centred on helping young people build safer and more stable futures.

“The work we do is about helping young people to build a better future,” he said.

“We want them to have a safe place to live and to have the opportunities needed to realise their full potential.”

The YMCA currently delivers a range of programmes across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne, including youth clubs, engagement services, outreach programmes, independent living support and PAKT (Parents and Kids Together).

Outreach workers regularly engage directly with young people on streets and in public areas throughout Mid and East Antrim in an effort to divert them towards positive activities and reduce anti-social behaviour.

YMCA youth worker Matthew Simpson said the approach during the summer months focuses heavily on harm reduction and safety awareness around bonfires and July celebrations.

“This time of year, our focus is about safety and bonfires and telling young people how to participate in a safer way,” he said.

“We focus on diversionary activities coming up to July 11 and 12.”

Racial tensions, fireworks and derelict buildings among concerns

Mr Simpson also revealed that youth workers had dealt with significant tensions during unrest last summer.

“Last June and July, there was a lot of racial tension due to riots which we tried to de-escalate,” he said.

He noted that Carrickfergus waterfront can experience spikes in anti-social behaviour during busy periods such as funfairs, although he believes some summer months can actually ease pressure on teenagers compared to term time.

“The least anti-social behaviour is in July and August when teenagers do not have a pressure cooker of school,” he said.

However, he warned that Halloween and fireworks season remains “busy and dangerous”.

Concerns were also raised over what youth workers described as a growing trend of “urban exploring” involving young people entering derelict buildings.

Mr Simpson told the meeting one teenager in Larne suffered a “very serious accident” linked to the activity.

PSNI stresses importance of early intervention

The PSNI told the meeting there is increasing recognition that early intervention with children and young people can prevent future offending and reduce harm.

Police highlighted joint working with organisations including the YMCA, schools and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service on issues ranging from misogyny to AI-generated images and online safety concerns.

A PSNI officer explained that community resolution orders can sometimes offer opportunities for early intervention when young people first come into contact with police.

Sergeant Chris McIlroy said anti-social behaviour remains a significant policing demand in parts of Carrickfergus.

“The greatest area for demand is Carrickfergus town centre, the Castle ward, around the leisure centre and Marine play park,” he said.

“Our response for the past year is high visibility patrols every Friday and Saturday night. We are doing the best we can with what resources we have.”

He stressed that building relationships with young people remains essential to preventing escalation and helping reduce long-term problems within communities.

One recent initiative highlighted at the meeting was ‘Hit the Pads’, a drop-in hub for young people aged 11 to 17 run in partnership with Carrickfergus Amateur Boxing Club.

The discussion at The Braid reflected growing concern among frontline organisations about the pressures facing young people locally — but also a belief that early support, trusted relationships and visible community engagement can play a major role in keeping children and teenagers safe over the summer months.