Youth Workers discussing their youth work in the North of Ireland

Alastair Scott-McKinley Male Magherafelt, United Kingdom: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

Blog Posts (14)
Discussions (112)
Events

Alastair Scott-McKinley's Apps (1)

Alastair Scott-McKinley's Friends

View All

Alastair Scott-McKinley's Discussions

Future of the Network
13 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Tom Brennan Sep 22, 2011.

New Youth Service Budgets, How are they impacting you and your work?
3 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Alastair Scott-McKinley Apr 30, 2010.

What do you do with the Video/ DVD's you make with young people

Started this discussion. Last reply by Michael Logan Feb 4, 2010.

View All

Gifts Received

Alastair Scott-McKinley has not received any gifts yet

Give a Gift

Alastair Scott-McKinley's Page

Latest Activity

Alastair Scott-McKinley left a comment for Rachel Collins

"Rachel, Welcome to the network, I hope you find it useful and some where you can contribute. Alastair"

Oct 1, 2011

There are 714 members on Youth Work Northern Ireland

Oct 1, 2011

Alastair Scott-McKinley posted an event

Working with young people who are new to Northern Ireland or from a Minority Ethnic Background at Grosvenor House,

October 11, 2011 from 4pm to 9pm

A series of workshops for youth workers (including volunteers) to explore how youth work can respond to the needs of children and young people who are new to Northern Ireland or from a Minority Ethnic Background Developing a trust relationship Working with parents, teachers, community leaders to engage with young people who are new to NI or from a minority ethnic background. Supporting transitions and moving beyond one off cultural exchanges Creating a welcoming and inclusive spaceExploring how…See More

Oct 1, 2011

0 Comments

There are 713 members on Youth Work Northern Ireland

Oct 1, 2011

Tom Brennan replied to Alastair Scott-McKinley's discussion Future of the Network

"Hi, it is interesting to read all the comments about the future of the site and costs, etc. Maybe if you look at why it was originally set up, and see now (a) if that has changed (b) if so/not - then why (c) and then if these aims can be…"

Sep 22, 2011

Darren Linton replied to Alastair Scott-McKinley's discussion Future of the Network

"Hi all, When i am on the network i enjoy it, and i most certainly enjoy the information that comes my way via email around the goings on of youthworky stuff which benifits young people. However i have to say i dont get on as much as i would like but…"

Sep 20, 2011

Fergal Barr replied to Alastair Scott-McKinley's discussion Future of the Network

"Hey really nice to see more comments up here, thanks for this and lots of ideas.... I appreciate the comments re facebook in terms of costs and access and whilst a very viable way or promoting a site like this my fear would be that it would…"

Sep 20, 2011

Stephen Hughes replied to Alastair Scott-McKinley's discussion Future of the Network

"Hi Alastair, this is a much needed site and maybe just needs some more marketing. Maybe it needs. Team of people to manage it. I would love for the youth workers association to manage it and with your permission if you wish to hand it to them s a…"

Sep 20, 2011

Profile Information

Where are you currently involved in youth work?: I am a lecturer in Community Youth Work with the University of Ulster based in Magee, L'Derry

What types of youth work are you interested in?: All types of youth work but at the minute I have a keen interest in participation and use of social media

Tell us a little about yourself: I have been involved in youth work for over 20 years now as participant, volunteer and worker. Previously I have worked in project and centre based work in Belfast and Portadown YMCA. I have been involved in developing outreach/ detached work, gender conscious work, family based youth work, community relations work and drug education work during that time.

I am passionate about the potential of social media in youth work, hence the creation of this site. I believe that youth workers and young people have so much to contribute if only they have access to the right tools, I hope network is one of them.

I am a keen gardner, growing my own fruit and vegetables, I am passionate about the environment and local nature and my vision is to have a linear nature reserve in the lanes around and near my house.

For 9 months of the year I also run a bed and breakfast near Ballyronan about 1 mile from the shores of Lough Neagh, were we share the beauty of Northern Ireland with guests and interesting people from all over the world.

If I get any spare time I also like to canoe on the Lough and and sub aqua dive in the waters around Northern Ireland.

Alastair Scott-McKinley's Blog

Social media, God and suicide

This year I was privileged enough to take a class in the University of Ulster's Community Youth Work course, were together we explored the social significance for young people of mobile phones and in particular social media and networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and BEBO.

While we need to take seriously the dangers of cyber-bullying and predators on social networking sites I would have to agree with… Continue

Posted on August 6, 2009 at 20:30

Mixing Children Reduces Division

Not having any children of my own and never having faced the decision to support integrated education in a personal capacity, I found this article an interesting read. Interesting that mixing reduces division.

"Maurice Stringer, the psychology professor at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, who led the study, said the report provides… Continue

Posted on August 5, 2009 at 20:00 — 1 Comment

New Part-Time ‘Conversion Course’ for Community Youth Workers

From 2010 the professional qualification status of Community Youth Workers will be upgraded from a DIP HE to a BSc (Hons) degree. After consultation with key individuals in the field and previous students it was agreed that those holding the DIP HE in Community Youth Work should be given the opportunity to ‘convert’ their existing DIP HE to a BSc Honours degree that gave primary recognition to the previous and considerable experience of practitioners who already have professional… Continue

Posted on May 21, 2009 at 15:09

Volunteer Organisations for youth organisations list

Ok I have been working on creating a sibling site of this one that is for organisations but with reduced functionality. In effect 'members' would become the organisation themselves. The groups function would become the type of youth organisation, effectively a youth org could then be in multiple categories. All other functions would be removed. This way info on the groups would be their responsibility.

I am looking for about half a dozen youth work organisations to test this out in… Continue

Posted on November 13, 2008 at 17:44 — 5 Comments

Explaining the youth work sector....

Have you ever tried explaining the youth work sector in Northern Ireland to anyone from outside the sector? In my job, I need to do this on an occasional basis and I am always struck by how difficult it is to do. When you add to that explaining what youth work is...telephone conversations can take on a surreal quality.

With Youth Councils, ELB's, training boards, inter-board training panels, curriculum development units, youth service liaison forums, not to mention, uniformed groups,… Continue

Posted on October 17, 2008 at 21:30

Comment Wall (77 comments)

You need to be a member of Youth Work Northern Ireland to add comments!

Join Youth Work Northern Ireland

At 6:00 on May 27, 2010, Michael Logan said…: Hi thanks for advertising the jobs can i ask you to remove it tomorrow friday.

Thanks
Michael.

At 19:39 on September 25, 2009, Michael Logan said…: Alastair

hi thanks for advertising our post at the bridge can I ask you to please remove it from the site as we have filled the post.

Thanks again
Micky Logan

At 20:16 on September 8, 2009, Michael Logan said…: Thank very much

At 10:22 on September 7, 2009, Michael Logan said…: Alastair
hi i forwarded an email to you last week with a job descrition for a 25 p/t youth support workers post to advertise on the site, can you let me when you think this will appear on the site.
thanks
Michael

At 11:39 on August 1, 2009, Lisa Sanders said…: Hi Alastair, I know I am new here and currently in the states, but I am very interested in youth work in Northern Ireland. My first love coming into this field was youth work in the community and I am currently in child protection as an investigator. I am looking to find work hopefully around the Ballymena area as that is where my fiance lives and I am planning to move. One of the things that drives me is a need to give back to the community in which I live. I don't feel right moving to a place without knowing about it and then summarily being actively involved. I have been traveling back and forth for the past 5 years and have learned much about the area, the issues and come up with some ideas however, I am lacking in advice as how to move forward with them. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Lisa

At 14:21 on July 2, 2009, Stephen Hughes said…: Hi Al, can you give me some more information on CASCADE p[lease, I'm very interested.

At 7:52 on June 16, 2009, Rodney Green said…: Thanks Alastair - took me a while! Thanks for the welcome. Hope you are well.

At 19:15 on June 14, 2009, Richard O'Neill said…: Well thanks for the welcome Allister, 500th member!! I guess its good to have milestones in my life. Bit like that number above less one of the zero's, but less said about that the better.

As I've said to a couple of others who have made contact on the site, I'm a bit slow sometimes at getting back to people, but I'll make an effort to keep in touch with anyone who writes.

That's it for now, thanks for the welcome.

Richard.

At 22:01 on June 11, 2009, sean Montgomery said…: Alastair,its the same old problem for some reason i cant get in on the old one,could you deleat the other one,more faces than the albert clock.ha ha

At 11:34 on May 23, 2009, Paddy Mooney said…: Thank you alastair. I am just exploring the site at the moment. It is pretty impressive and I have no doubt it will be useful to me in my work.

Paddy