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Youth Work

Limerick Youth Service is a leading provider of quality youth work projects and programmes for young people.

Click on the title below for more details on the respective projects:

  • Comhairle na nÓg
  • International Youth Work
  • UBU Youth Work Projects
  • Youth Diversion Project
  • Youth & Family Support
  • Youth Information Centre
  • Youth Work Programmes

 

The Youth Work Act, 2001 and the National Youth Work Development Plan 2003-2007, which underpin policy at present, provide both a clear definition and direction for Youth Work. Youth Work is defined 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 complementary to their formal, academic or vocational education and training; and provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.” (Youth Work Act, 2001)

This definition clearly articulates youth work as being educational and elective, structured and systematic.

Youth work operates in various settings spanning the non-formal education through to informal education.

Youth work engages young people from 10-24 yrs, at a significant period in terms of both development and duration. Therefore as an educational methodology, it is in a pivotal position to contribute to the educational welfare of young people. Youth work is predicated on the voluntary participation of young people. Flexibility of approach and emphasis on the interpersonal, enables it to offer an educational process complementary to that provided through formal education.

In addition, Youth work often acts as the point of contact and referral in the interface with other youth- related issues spanning the realms of care, health, and welfare.

Youth work is both a sustainable educational strategy and a significant educational support to young people, who may be either inside or outside the formal education system.

The stimulation of critical reflection and action facilitates the cultivation of active citizenship and the enhancement of sustainable personal and social competencies and capacities. Thus, Youth work has a defined position on the continuum of educational and lifelong learning provision.

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.