Y-Zone offering hope to young people

Carla Lockhart MP • April 4, 2022

Local MP Carla Lockhart has visited the Y-Zone in Portadown to meet Campbell and Gail Best, and see the new Youth Hut Initiative that is the latest addition to the work of Portadown Elim in the town to engage with young people.

Carla Lockhart said:


“Campbell and Gail have such a heart and zeal for transforming the lives of local young people. I know of many examples of people who were on a downward spiral, came along to the Y-Zone, and turned their lives around. What an amazing legacy to give to a community!


The new Youth Hut Initiative is the latest addition to the work of the Elim Church in this area through the Y-Zone scheme. It is very much focused on helping young people who are maybe going through a difficult period, need some support, need some practical interventions and skills, and can then gain those skills to live their lives fulfilling their potential. 


I am delighted to have helped the group secure funding for this scheme and I want to thank funders like Live Here Love Here, ASDA, NIHE, for their support in making this really positive vision and reality. 


Of course I would also encourage young people to engage with Campbell, Gail and the team here. It is a step you will not regret, but will only benefit from. 


Portadown is blessed to have such wonderful people in Campbell and Gail Best who just have the best interests of our young people at heart, and get on with doing all that they can to help people. I wish them many more years of blessing in this work.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP February 12, 2026
DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has raised concerns about the lack of financial support for young people in Northern Ireland who are serious about a future in farming.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 12, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart is urging the government to listen to the electorate and reconsider its controversial approach to British farming.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 12, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart pledged her support for the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies Mind Your Head campaign, during this week’s parliamentary drop-in event at Westminster.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has praised the talent, creativity and confidence shown by local pupils at the Young Enterprise Big Market Trade Fair, held at Rushmere Shopping Centre . Schools from Banbridge , Lurgan and Portadown were well represented at the event, which showcased a wide range of student-led business ideas and products. 
By Carla Lockhart MP February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed the reopening of Captain Cook’s, describing the revamped Banbridge eatery as a real boost for the local area.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 10, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has strongly condemned the decision to approve participation in a UK wide puberty blockers clinical trial involving children, describing the move as a serious failure of safeguarding and child protection.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 9, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has secured a high-level meeting with senior management from Royal Mail in London to address ongoing and unacceptable postal delays in Banbridge and across the wider Upper Bann constituency, with particular concern around delays to vital correspondence such as hospital appointment letters.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 5, 2026
Confirmation that the High Court has ordered an urgent judicial review into inheritance tax reforms has been welcomed by the DUP’s Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 5, 2026
The DUP’s Westminster Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has accused Shared Environment Services (SES) of paralysing Northern Ireland’s planning system.
By Carla Lockhart MP February 4, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that shocking new figures on cancer treatment in Northern Ireland expose a health service struggling to deliver timely care and has called for urgent action including free travel support for patients and ring-fenced funding to address chronic delays.