‘Best Decision of My Life, I now realise how important my Friends are’ Scott, England

‘I lost my Faith in God a long time ago, but this week has been something special and has restored my faith’ Toby, Germany

‘Amazing week! Worth every penny so bring on Finland!’ Tom, England

Preston held this year’s international youth festival. The main venue was Our Lady’s Catholic High School, Fulwood, where all main activities took place. Young people from 15-20 took part from England, Germany and Finland. Ecumenical and Social events, with workshops lasting throughout the week, brought young people together and celebrate this years theme ‘Being Young’.
Easter Monday saw a rush to get the school ready for our guests, with classrooms being transformed into bedrooms within 2 hours! 80 nervous faces came into the school and were invited to create their own IYF T-shirts to take home with them.
Tuesday included an intense international bowling session at Lakeside Super Bowl ,the evening session was a Celidih, however some of the English group blamed the Chelsea game for their inability to keep up with Terry.
On Wednesday, the group visited a Hindu Temple in Preston, and others decided to have a wander around the city centre. Some of the guests were most curious at the red phone boxes! which was followed by a very nice hot pot. The evening was gratefully presented by the ‘One Voice Choir’, whom got the whole group singing and dancing until late in the evening.
Thursday was all about a trip to Liverpool. Some people viewed the Slave Trade exhibition, whilst others had a look around Liverpool One, and bought gifts to take back with them. The Evening Meal was at the Phantom Winger, with a very nice atmosphere and an intense pool session later.The last day of the Festival saw an end to the workshops. All these workshops were presented at the final mass of the festival. The Mass included Drama, Music, African Drumming, Art, Dance and Prayers written by young people. The evening was a disco held at St. Anthony’s Social Club and everyone who had helped make the festival possible was thanked, followed by a very long applause. We would like to thank Lancashire Young Peoples Youth Opportunities Fund in Preston for financial support to the Arts Project on the festival, Cafod Lancaster,Cafod Development Education Fund for financial support Global Workshop on the festival.
Saturday saw a very tired group of Germans head back home, but the Finnish people stayed an extra day to watch PNE thrash Cardiff 6-0! Proper Football! The foreign groups were also taught very peculiar phrases in English by Terry, such as:
‘I’ve got two words to think about: Are we Human?’
‘Right guys! This applies particularly to…everyone.’

On July 3rd Young People are invited to celebrate the end of school year with a Youth Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, Preston, followed by a Disco at the social club. Please see ‘http://prestoncys.blogspot.com/#ymass’ for more info


Shaun Morgan

Youth Mass

Youth Mass to be held at St. Anthony’s Church…
…followed by a Disco at St. Anthony’s Social Centre for Young People in Preston
BRING YOUR MATES!
ALL WELCOME!

3rd July 2009
7pm –11:30pm
£3 admission

Please Confirm if you are able to attend by emailing:
iyf2009@live.co.uk

YOUTH EXCHANGE

IMPACT Youth Group

PRESTON CITY 2 MOSTA, MALTA
Flying Manchester to Malta
23 July - 4 August ‘09
Cost approx £350 - £400.
Places are limited.
Ages 14 - 18years.
For more information, text or phone
Terry: 07715 320218, or e-mail:
terry.mattinson@ycs-in-preston.co.uk
Visit our web site: www.iyfimpact.co.uk

Impact Youth Group at Castlerigg Manor, Keswick

On the 3rd-5th October, the Impact Youth Group had their annual residential at Castlerigg Manor. The years theme was ‘Being Young’, this was shown in the workshops which were created by the young people.
Friday evening started with a workshop on dreams; this included activities on people we are inspired by, films/music related to dreams, and teamwork guiding people around a course blindfolded. The next workshop was on how the media influences young people, this included topics on teenage pregnancy and knife crime. The workshop represented how young people can be stereotyped. The members of the group who went on the diocesan trip to Lourdes gave a talk on their experience of Lourdes, which concluded with a question and answer time. The Saturday afternoon consisted of a damp walk into Keswick, were the group got the afternoon of free-time. During the evening, we celebrated mass with Fr. Bernard Woods, the impact youth group’s chaplain. In the evening, the group had the opportunity to get to know more about each other, and represent people’s interest with art, when the group made a banner about the weekend. Sunday morning’s workshop was about stereotyping, and how young people don’t specifically fall into a certain stereotype. The weekend concluded with a discussion about the future of the group.
The group would like to thank the Castlerigg Staff, Terry Mattinson, Fr. Bernard and all the young people who made the weekend possible.
(http://www.iyfimpact.co.uk/)
Shaun Morgan

YOUNG CHRISTIAN WORKERS

This group is only in the development stage and has met on three occasions
to meet socially and plan it’s programme.
All the groups are supported by volunteer youth workers and we are involved in other local, national and international activities and projects.
We are developing our own website http://www.iyfimpact.co.uk/, Page on Facebook,
Email addresses mobile & text numbers to keep young people up-to-date what is happening in youth groups.
Terry, Chris, Emily, Francesca, Helen and Emily
Impact Youth Groups

WICKED DYNAMIC YOUTH

This is a new youth group and is only being developed has a youth group, we meet every two weeks at St. Clares Parish Centre on a Thursday 7.30-9.00pm, young people attend from three parishes in the Fulwood area St.Clares, St. Anthony’s, Our Lady & St. Edward’s.
WYD is for young people aged between 12-14 years old and we offer various activities for the young people.

IMPACT YOUTH GROUP

We meet every Monday evening at Our Lady & St. Edward’s Social Centre,
Fulwood, Preston from 7.00-9.00pm, young people attend the group from different parishes across Preston and various high schools, colleges, sixth form colleges.
Impact is a action packed programme for young people between 14-18 years old, brings young people together, in groups, to plan action and make a difference.