What is Yapp?

YAPP is a group of young people (aged 11-25) who meet regularly to discuss things that are important to young Catholics. Anybody can be a member of YAPP. It is made up of young representatives from a cross-section of the various youth groups within the diocese.

Our mission
Is to be the voice of young people in Down and Connor.


We want
To act as an advocate for the rights of young people in the diocese.
To present an accurate representation of the opinions of Catholic young people in the Diocese.
To create an environment where young people can actively participate in their setting.
To encourage communication between young people and adult church leaders.

What does that mean?
It's not always easy getting your voice heard as a young person. It can feel like your opinion doesn't matter. But when you make your confirmation, you become an adult in the Church's eyes. This means you have an important contribution to make.

Yapp wants young people's opinions to matter, we want to be heard by the higher authorities within the Diocese and to have a say on anything that impacts us.

Yapp also wants young people to be more included at local level. We want youth activities to be promoted and encouraged in local parishes and communities, and we want young people to be respected and not stereotyped or patronised.


How do I get involved?
You can get involved in two ways:

1) Would you like to represent your parish or youth organisation? Contact us and ask to become a member of YAPP.
OR
2) Tell us your thoughts about the issues that are important to you. We will try our best to deal with your problem or pass it on to a higher authority.

Contact us

Write:
Yapp
Youthcom
68 Berry Street
Belfast
BT1 1FJ


Or phone:
(028) 9023 2432. Leave your details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

What are we Yapping about?

In 2008-2009, Yapp has 3 main objectives:

1. To present the Diocese with accurate information about what young people see as the key issues that need to be addressed.
2. To establish a system whereby young people's opinions have a sigificant effect on the decision-making process of the Diocesan Youth Forum.
3. To provide local parishes with guidelines on how to be inclusive of young people.

At the moment, we are working on the first of these three objectives. A survey will be circulated to diocesan youth groups in the next few weeks.