The Southill Area Centre (SAC) board of management in consultation with local people identified the lack of services for mainstream young people aged 10-25 years in the area. In 2008 funding was secured for the establishment of The Community Youth Work Team to recognise and develop young people’s potential and their ability to play an active role in the development of their community. The new service Southill Club2gether now fills that gap in service provision for mainstream young people in the Southill Area Centre.

Funding for the development of The Southill Area Centre was sourced in 2005 and the community centre was built in 2008 after a ten year lobby by local groups and residents. The Southill Area Centre which is located in O’ Malley Park was officially opened by President Mary Mc Aleese on 27th October 2009.

The staff do this by directly engaging with young people and their families and by developing programs based on their needs. This is done by working with the wider community and other service providers to create a more inclusive community.Southill Club2gether provides personal and social development and puts realistic goals in place for mainstream young people aged 10-25 years from the Southill Area.

Based on 2006 Census-Focus on Young People:

• There are 822 young people aged 10-24 years (25% of the total population) living in Southill.
• Almost 55% of children from Southill come from lone parent families. Southill is almost 10 times the State average and almost 10 times the Limerick city average for lone parent families.
• 24% of the total population of people with disabilities living in Southill are young people aged between 0-24 years. It is five times the city average and almost five times the State average.