Conference empowers professionals working with children and young people

Conference empowers professionals working with children and young people March 2, 2026 42 Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray and Chief Executive of Youth Action, Dr Martin McMullan. More than 100 professionals supporting children and young people attended the recent ‘All About YOUth’ conference at Craigavon Conference and Civic Centre. The conference provided an opportunity for youth workers, teachers, community representatives, volunteers and partner organisations to connect, learn and share best practice in supporting their health and well-being as they continue to deliver invaluable services to children and young people across the borough. (L-R) Darren Curtis (CYPSP), Timothy Conn (ABC Community Development), Michael McKenna (Youth Action), Nicola Mahood (ABC Community Development), Adrian Hutchinson (EA Youth Service), Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray, Dr Martin McMullan (Chief Executive of Youth Action), Lucinda Love-Teggarty (Future Proof NI), Joanne Patterson (CYPSP), Deborah Millar (Home Start Craigavon) and Sophie Lester (ABC Community Development). Speaking at the conference, Lord Mayor Alderman Stephen Moutray said: “In this rapidly changing world, it’s imperative that children and young people have access to support networks that are strong, connected and responsive. Therefore, this conference is an invaluable opportunity for professionals to learn about supporting their health and well-being so they are best placed to face challenges experienced by children and young people in areas such as mental health, digital well-being, inclusion and community safety.” The conference featured a keynote speech from Dr Martin McMullan, CEO of Youth Action and laughter yoga from Sunshine Project. Interactive workshops and panel discussions focused on mindfulness and self-care activities and dived into the challenges of working with children and young people. Participants also took part in collaborative sessions designed to build stronger partnerships and to ensure that services remain responsive, inclusive and aligned with the needs of young people in the borough. The Conference was organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, the Education Authority and funded through The Executive Office District Council Good Relations Fund. The conference forms part of the council’s ongoing commitment to championing youth development, supporting community-led initiatives and creating environments where young people feel safe, valued and empowered. Previous article Armagh gears up to welcome festival goers for 2026 home of St Patrick Festival Next article New engagement process launched to unlock the future of Armagh Gaol