INTRODUCTION
TO THE
YOUTH AFFAIRS SECTION
Floor 2, Block 2
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Tel : 01 889 2179
Fax : 01 889 6536May 04
Youth Affairs Section
The Youth Affairs Section is concerned with the non-formal education of Ireland’s young people and provides support by way of financial and other assistance to those providing youth work programmes and services.
The main aim of the youth work service in Ireland is to help all young people to realise their full potential and to become active participants in a democratic society. Youth projects and organisations present valuable opportunities for the social and personal development of young people.
What is Youth Work?
Youth Work has been placed on a statutory basis with the enactment of the Youth Work Act, 2001. The Youth Work Act, 2001, repeals the 1997 Act and provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services by the Minister and the Vocational Education Committees (VECs).
The Act defines Youth Work as:-
a planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary participation, and which is –
a)complementary to their formal, academic or vocational education and training;
and
b)provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.
For the purpose of the act, a young person means a person who is under the age of 25 years.
Particular regard is given to young people between the ages of 10 and 21 and to those who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
Contents :
Schemes & Programmes assisted or administered by the
Youth Affairs Section:
- Youth Service Grant Scheme
- Special Projects to assist Disadvantaged Youth
3.Local Youth Club Grant Scheme
- Youth Information Centres
- Gaisce – The President’s Award Scheme
- Youth Exchange / Transnational Programmes
- National Youth Health Programme
- National Youth Arts Programme
- Local Drugs Task Forces
Policy and the Youth Affairs Section:
- Youth Work Act, 2001
- Proposals for a National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007
- Code of Good Practice; Child Protection for the Youth Work Sector.
1.Youth Service Grant Scheme
Funding for the support of voluntary youth work is made available on an annual basis to national and major regional voluntary youth organisations through the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The continued funding of voluntary youth organisations through the Scheme is intended to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people. The work of these organisations is based on the following philosophy:
it is educational in design and objective
it is concerned with the personal, social, recreational, cultural and spiritual development of young people
it rests upon the concept and practice of voluntary adult involvement with and for young people
it promotes the concept and practice of youth participation in the programme and life of the organisation itself, local communities and society in general
it promotes co-operation among youth and youth work organisations
it seeks to respond to the real needs of youth.
This Scheme is administered directly by the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science.
For further information contact:
Michael Wootton,
Youth Affairs Section
Department of Education and Science
Floor 2, Block 2,
Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1
Tel:01 889 2380
Fax:01 889 6536
Email:
2.Special Projects to assist Disadvantaged Youth
A scheme of grants is made available in respect of special out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. Priority is given to projects in the spheres of special youth work initiatives, young homeless people, young substance abusers and young travellers. Grants are allocated to organisations and groups for specific projects which seek to address the needs of young people who are disadvantaged, due to a combination of all or some of the following factors:
high youth population
youth unemployment
dependence on social welfare/unemployment assistance
social isolation
drug/substance abuse
homelessness (including temporary homelessness)
problems of juvenile crime, vandalism and truancy
failure or non-existence of mainline youth services
inadequate take-up of ordinary educational opportunities.
The grant-aided youth work initiatives aim to facilitate the personal and social development of participants to realise their potential and in particular to equip them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for their appropriate integration in society. In addition, they present opportunities for young people to undertake actions corresponding to their own aspirations and to assume responsibilities within their local communities.
This Scheme is operated by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science.
Further information is available from your local Vocational Education Committee or by contacting:
Eithne O Neill
Youth Affairs Section,
Department of Education and Science,
Floor 2, Block 2,
Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1
Tel:01 889 2088
Fax:01 889 6536
Email:
3.Local Youth Club Grant Scheme
This Scheme aims to make provision for the support of youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to youth clubs and groups through the local Vocational Education Committee. While the scheme is open to all those involved in the provision of youth work services at a local level, disadvantaged and marginal groups are a priority target.
This scheme encompasses a number of grants that can be grouped under two headings:
Youth Grants
designed to aid the ongoing costs of youth clubs and groups
Special Youth Grants
these grants are once off in nature and intended to aid special youth work initiatives, particularly those aimed at disadvantaged young people.
This Scheme is administered by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science.
Further information is available from your local Vocational Education Committee or by contacting:
Niamh Mc Keon
Youth Affairs Section
Department of Education and Science,
Floor 2, Block 2,
Marlborough Street,
Dublin 1.
Tel:01 889 2102
Fax:01 889 6536
Email:
4.Youth Information Centres
The Youth Affairs Section provides the resources for the development of a network of Youth Information Centres and the Youth Information Resource Unit.
Youth Information Centres provide young people with easy access to information on rights, opportunities, benefits, health, welfare and other matters. This service also helps those looking for advice and help concerning emigration and mobility within Europe.
For further information contact:
Youth Affairs Section
Department of Education and Science
Floor 2, Block 2
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Ph: 01 889 2179
Fax:01 889 6536
5.Gaisce – The President’s Award Scheme
Funding is provided by the Youth Affairs Section for the operation of Gaisce, the President’s Award Scheme. This is a programme of merit awards designed to facilitate personal development through participation in a series of challenges which test a young person’s initiative, discipline and caring skills.
It is a non-competitive programme in which young people between the ages of 15 and 25 set goals for themselves in consultation with trained voluntary leaders and teachers who monitor their progress towards their target.
The programme areas are:
community involvement
personal skills
physical recreation and venture projects.
For further information contact:
The President’s Award
Gaisce
The State Apartments
Upper Castle Yard
Dublin Castle
Dublin 2
Tel.01 475 8746
Fax.01 475 8749
6.Youth Exchange / Transnational Programmes
The Youth Affairs Section provides financial assistance to a number of youth exchange programmes.
International exchange schemes are administered on the Department’s behalf by Léargas - The Exchange Bureau. Funding from the Department of Education & Science is provided to Léargas towards its operating costs and the cost of administering its exchange programmes. Léargas is the Irish agent for the EU “Youth Programme” (which includes what was the European Voluntary Service, Future Capital and Youth for Europe Programmes).
Co-Operation Ireland administers exchange schemes with Northern Ireland.
Causeway - the British-Irish Exchange Youth Programme is co-funded by both Governments and is administered in Ireland by Léargas.
Exchanges also take place under the auspices of the various cultural agreements to which Ireland is a party.
For more information contact:
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau
189 – 193 Parnell Street
Dublin 1
Tel. 01 873 1411
Fax. 01 873 1316
or
Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science.
7.National Youth Health Programme
The National Youth Health Programme is a partnership between the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science, the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children, and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The Programme aims to provide a broad-based, flexible health promotion/education support and training service to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in the non-formal education sector.
This work is achieved through the development of programmes and interventions specifically for and with youth organisations throughout the country and the training and support of workers and volunteers implementing these programmes.
For further information contact:
The National Youth Health Programme
National Youth Council of Ireland
3 Montague Street
Dublin 2
Tel. 01 478 4122
Fax. 01 478 3974
Web:
8.National Youth Arts Programme
The National Youth Arts Programme is a partnership between the Youth Affairs Section of the Department of Education & Science, the Arts Council and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The programme is dedicated to the development and advancement of youth arts in Ireland. It aims specifically to realise the potential of young people through good quality arts practice in the Youth Service and to develop appropriate policies and activities at local, regional and national level.
For further information contact:
The Youth Arts Officer
National Youth Council of Ireland
3 Montague Street
Dublin 2
Tel. 01 478 4122
Fax. 01 478 3974
Web:
9.Local Drugs Task Forces
The Local Drugs Task Forces were set up in 1997 to facilitate a more effective response to the drug problem in the areas experiencing the highest levels of drug misuse. The Task Forces comprise a partnership between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors. They were mandated to prepare and oversee the implementation of action plans which co-ordinate all relevant drug programmes in their areas and address gaps in service provision.
Over 200 separate measures, mainly community based initiatives, were funded to complement and add value to existing programmes and services under the themes of education, prevention, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation and reducing supply.
Arrangements have been made with effect from 1 January, 2001, to mainstream 122 of these projects/initiatives following positive evaluation by independent consultants during 2001.This number includes 36 measures under the education/prevention scheme which will receive funding directly from the Youth Affairs Section.
For further information contact:
Denis O'Brien
Department of Education and Science
Social Inclusion Unit
Tel. 01 889 6492
Fax. 01 889 6536
Emaildenis_obrien @education.gov.ie
10.Principal Features of the Youth Work Act, 2001
The purpose of the Act is to provide a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services by the Minister, the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and by National and Regional Youth Organisations. The principal features of the act are:
To define Youth Work in a clear and concise manner
To detail policy, budget, research, monitoring and assessment function of the Minister for Education
To define the function of Vocational Educational Committees regarding Youth Work, particularly the procedures, planning and prioritising of funds and the reporting on the provision of Youth Work programmes and services
To establish a special Youth Work Committee in each VEC area
To provide for the structure of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee
To formalise the allocation of grants for Youth Work
To establish Voluntary Youth Councils to represent the needs and demands of the voluntary sector at local level and
The appointment of a National Assessor of Youth Work to ensure the best possible use of public money in youth work programmes and services.
Stipulations and Provisions of the Youth Work Act, 2001.
The Act stipulates the responsibility of the Minister in the provision of this service for the first time. The Minister must develop and co-ordinate youth work programmes and services including co-ordination with education and other programme. The Act also allows for the Minister:
To provide annual funding for youth work programmes and services,
To carry out research or to commission research in respect of youth work,
To monitor once a year the youth work programmes and services of at least one organisation in receipt of funding,
To provide for the assessment once every three years of state funded youth work programmes and services funded by the Vocation Education Committees,
To appoint the National Youth Work Advisory Committee,
To give due regard to the treatment of male and females between the ages of 10-21 years and to those who are socially or economically disadvantaged,
To give direction to Vocational Education Committees or youth work organisations if this is required.
The Act makes provision regarding VECs that:
VECs must ensure that there is adequate provision of youth work programmes and services in co-ordination with voluntary youth organisations
VECs will have to prepare a three year development plan for their administrative areas
VECs will be able to grant, withdraw or reduce financial assistance to Youth Work Organisations
VECs will be able to arrange for the provision of Youth Work programmes and services where they are not being provided.
The Youth Work Act, 2001 makes provision for the introduction of the post of the Youth Work Assessor which will strengthen accountability and efficiency in the Youth Service. The Assessor will:
Provide information on the state of the youth work sector
Enable decision making on the basis of an appreciation of youth work provision
Enable Vocational Education Committees and the Minister to promote best practice and value for money.
The Youth Work Act, 2001 also provides for the expansion of duties of the National Youth Work Advisory Committee. This committee has been in existence since the 1997 Youth Work Act and is a valuable and important source of advice in the production of policy direction in the youth work area.
The Act states that membership of the committee should be not less than 31 members and not more than 33. It consists of:
3 Ministerial nominees including the chairman
2 representatives from the Department of Education and Science
8 representatives from other Government Departments
4 representatives from the Irish Vocational Education Association
15/16 representatives nominated by the National Youth Council of Ireland.
11. National Youth Work Development Plan, 2003-2007.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Youth Affairs in the Department of Education and Science, Ms Síle de Valera, T.D., published the National Youth Work Development Plan, 2003-2007 on the 5th August 2003.
The Plan, which is being managed by the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, will provide a blueprint for the development of Youth Work in Ireland for a period of five years.
The Plan has four broad goals:
- To facilitate young people and adults to participate more fully in, and to gain optimum benefit from, youth work programmes and services.
- To enhance the contribution of youth work to social inclusion, social cohesion and citizenship in a rapidly changing national and global context.
- To put in place an expanded and enhanced infrastructure for development, support and coordination at national and local level.
- To put in place mechanisms for enhancing professionalism and ensuring quality standards in youth work.
Two priority areas have been identified for 2003 – the implementation of the Child Protection Training Programme and the appointment of an Assessor of Youth Work. Further elements of the plan will be progressed on a priority basis having regard to available funding resources.
Copies of the Plan are available from the Government Sales Office, Molesworth Street on 01 679 3515 or by mail order on 01 647 6000. (€3 per copy).
A copy of the plan is also available on the Department of Education and Science Website at in html and pdf format.
Further information is also available by contacting:
Niamh Mc Keon
Youth Affairs Section
Department of Education and Science
Floor 2, Block 2
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 889 2102
Fax: 01 889 6536
Email:
12. Code of Good Practice; Child Protection for the Youth Work Sector.
The Code of Good Practice was published in September 2002. A second edition of the Code was published in May 2003.
The Code of Good Practice was prepared with the youth work sector specifically in mind. The publication in 1999 of Children First, National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children charged each and every organisation, whether statutory or voluntary, providing services to children, to produce a child protection policy tailored to their specific needs.
The Code of Good Practice was prepared by Youth Affairs Section of the Department and Education and Science, in consultation with partners in the Youth Work Sector and the National Youth Work Advisory Committee.
Copies of the Code of Good Practice are available from the Government Sales Office, Molesworth Street on 01 679 3515 or by mail order on 01 647 6000. (€2.50 per copy).
A copy of the Code is also available on the Department of Education and Science Website at in html and pdf format.
For more information contact
Niamh Mc Keon
Youth Affairs Section
Department of Education and Science
Floor 2, Block 2
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 01 8892102
Fax: 01 889 6536
Email: