St George's Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, IM1 2SG. Tel: (01624) 685810, email: youthservice@doe.sch.im website: www.iomyouth.com

The Youth and Community Division has the role of securing, developing and improving the physical, mental and moral welfare of young persons in co-operation with voluntary youth organisations.

It comprises the Youth Service, Careers Guidance Service and Library Service - see separate pages.

The aim of the Division is to 'meet the needs of individuals and groups within the community in order to enable them to develop their potential to become positive and contributing members of society with a caring and tolerant attitude to others'.

Young people choose to use youth service for many reasons - to meet friends, have fun, spend time in a safe environment, take part in specific activities, develop projects with other young people, build relationships with adults or to get help and advice. In turn, youth workers, together with young people develop a programme of activities which promote personal and social development, which are enjoyable, educational and challenging.

The play clubs and youth clubs must provide a varied and balanced programme to cater for the young people in the area.

Play clubs are activity based, and have staffing ratios of up to 1:15. In youth clubs the members have more involvement in the planning and organisation of activities.

The programmes are founded upon the youth work curriculum and vary from club to club, but will typically include sport, crafts, visits to places of interest, drama and outdoor activities such as canoeing, abseiling and walking.

For a list of venues and opening times click here.

Special projects provide opportunities for young people to develop and learn new skills in citizenship, alongside social development activities including, arts, music, sport and interaction with other groups.

Young people in these groups are actively involved in the planning and delivery of the youth work curriculum.

The Department has responsibility for outdoor centres at Ardwhallan in West Baldwin and Eary Cushlin, near Dalby.

It is also an operating authority for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

For more information on the Youth Service go to www.iomyouth.com

Youth and Community Division premises in the ownership of the Department are:

• Family Library, Noble’s Hall, Westmoreland Road, Douglas

• Castletown Youth Centre, Arbory Street, Castletown

• Douglas Youth Centre, Kensington Road, Douglas

• Laxey Youth Resource Centre, 19 New Road, Laxey

• Peel Youth Centre, Chapel Lane, Peel

• Pulrose Youth Centre, Heather Crescent, Douglas

• Ramsey Youth Centre, Waterloo Road, Ramsey

• Rushen Youth Centre, Bay View Road, Port Erin

• Youth wing, Auldyn School

• Youth Wing, Ballacottier School

• Youth Wing, Cronk y Berry School

• Youth wing, St. John's School

Clubs and projects also meet in other schools as well as premises hired from village and parish commissioners, in a variety of locations. The Department is also the trustee of the Ardwhallan Jubilee Trust, which owns Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre in West Baldwin.