Youth work 'a transformative force for young people'

Ireland’s Educations and Training Boards (ETBs), including Longford and Westmeath ETB, have called for sustainable investment in youth services and better collaboration across education, youth services and families to tackle child poverty, school absenteeism and mental health challenges, and to support young people to thrive.

Speaking before the national Youthwork Matters conference (which was in Galway on Thursday 29 May), Paddy Lavelle, general secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), said: "Against the backdrop of growing concern about child poverty, school absenteeism, and mental health challenges, we’re shining a light on youth work as a transformative force for young people, even in the face of adversity.

"Youth work is not just a service – it is a lifeline for young people in communities affected by economic hardship and child poverty. Youth workers help our young people build resilience, develop skills, and access education and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach."

In a message of support to the 160+ youthwork leaders, practitioners and participants attending the event, hosted in partnership with Galway and Roscommon ETB, President Michael D. Higgins highlighted the "crucial role" of youthwork: "Its contemporary focus, and it is so important now more than ever, is on those who face particular challenges or who live on society’s margins, young people experiencing economic hardship, social exclusion, or cultural displacement, members of the Traveller community, our migrant communities, LGBTQ+ youth, and all those who may find themselves isolated or vulnerable."

A theme of the conference was the relationship between youth work and education. The recent move of youth work policy and funding to the new Department of Education and Youth has been welcomed as a step in the right direction. ETBI’s Youth Support Services manager Ruth Griffin, stated: "This move reflects a growing understanding that supporting young people’s wellbeing, school attendance, and life chances requires a holistic approach – one that values both formal education and non-formal, community-based learning.

"The shift must, however, be matched with sustainable investment, better integration across services, and meaningful collaboration among schools, youth services, and families. We cannot expect youth work to plug the gaps in education, housing, and mental health support without the resources to do so, but with proper funding and recognition, youth work can be the glue that holds communities together, and the spark that ignites change."