Youngsters from the Rathcoole estate and beyond are being praised for their new video encouraging others to stay Covid-safe.

The clip was filmed at NACN’s Coole Studios during a Zoom call with the group, at the request of the Township Minister.

Lotto-funded Coole Studios’ Dee Crooks said young people from as far and wide as Millisle, Carrickfergus, Ballysillan, Monkstown and Rathcoole were involved in the project from start to finish.

In it, the incredibly creative young people are calling on people to keep their distance, wear face masks, download the StopCovid NI app and wash their hands.

“We can do it together,” they said.

Minister of the Municipality, Carál Ní Chulín, said: “I recently met with the team at NACN Coole Studios and after seeing the incredible work they do to empower young people through creativity, I asked them to make a video about safety during the Covid-19 crisis.

“I am so proud of what they have achieved with this work and I am delighted that they, along with our T:BUC Young Ambassadors and the Street Soccer NI team, have delivered these very important messages of protection.”

NACN project manager Dee added: “There were two groups involved. We have a singing academy and then we have a group of young people who make films, so all the editing was done by them.

“I think there are a lot of young people who don’t really take it seriously. During the lockdown we just didn’t meet at all and we still had our Zoom meetings and we realized that there are still a lot of young people walking around in groups.

“It’s something that young people have raised on their own, so if it’s young people making this stuff, maybe it’s more appropriate that other young people pay attention to it.

“It is great that the department has recognized the value of young people. We are very grateful that the department gives us the opportunity to show what young people can do in communities.”