By Rose Barrett
Ballyfermot BMX Club is seeking your support, for a community venture that only has positives for the youth of Ballyfermot and beyond.
Youth worker Ger O’Reilly is leading the charge to get a BMX bike club up and running – building on the success of the skate park which opened last year.
Ballyfermot Youth Services worker Ger told Dublin Gazette: “My role is as an outdoor education instructor. We use the strengths and purposes of outdoor education to work with youth.
“BYS helped to get Ballyfermot BMX Club up and running, supplied bikes, instruction, safety equipment, guidance and support to get set up – plus the belief in the ability of Ballyfermot’s youth.
“We had close to 1,000 users before lockdown. Then we were hit with lockdown, we remained open adhering to the restrictions but at Level 5 restrictions, we are now closed.”
Ger stated that often people see youth gathering as anti-social. “Now we have an official skate park, Dublin City Council has provided us full use of the old scout building which faces directly onto the skate park.
“The former den is our official BMX Clubhouse where we store equipment, bikes, etc and with further equipment and training, we have the potential to be a world-class club based within a world-class facility.”
Ballyfermot has high unemployment, along with poor records of students advancing to third level and further education. And sadly, high levels of suicides.
Ger said: “So, all engagement and stimulation with the youth here is vitally important. We get inundated texts from young people awaiting the re-opening, youth who now rely on this facility which is great for their physical well-being and positive mental health.”
He has set up a GoFundMe page, to help with the purchase of essential equipment including bikes, safety equipment; tools and servicing equipment; first aid and training; cleaning equipment as members assist in the upkeep of the park; IT and software, etc.
Ger also feels that membership of the BMX Club should be affordable to all youth in the area.
To support, see the GoFundMe page here.
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