Youth Services

So What is Youth Work?

Under the Youth Work Act 2001, the definition of youth work is:

A planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young people through their voluntary participation, which is complimentary to their formal, academic or vocational education and training; provided primarily by voluntary youth organisations.

Under government legislation, Co. Cavan VEC has a statutory responsibility for the implementation of the Youth Work Act 2001. As Youth Officer for Co. Cavan VEC, Maureen McIntyre is responsible for the provision of youth services with Co. Cavan. 

In order to ensure the highest and most comprehensive quality of service is delivered to young people in Co. Cavan, the Youth Officer ensures that there is:

• Co-ordination of plans, proposals and activities regarding youth work 
• Provision of financial assistance
• Preparation a Youth Work Development Plan
• Compilation of a Youth Work Annual Report
• Designation, review or withdrawal of designation for local youth work/service organisations
• Establishment of a Youth Work Committee to advise and make recommendations to the VEC on the performance of its youth work functions
• Establishment of a Voluntary Youth Council to advise on matters relating to the Youth Work Development Plan and to act as a forum for voluntary youth organisations

The Youth Service Directory provides a complete list of all Youth Clubs and Groups that are providing youth services within the county, including:

• Bands
• Community and Independent Youth Groups
• Community Games
• Foroige
• Macra na Feirme
• Paid Staff Projects
• Pioneers Total Abstinence Association
• Religious Youth Groups
• Uniformed Organisations

Registration of Youth Groups

Registration with the VEC is the first step in the co-ordination of youth work provision in a VEC area. The benefits of registration are that it will give youth work organisations access to training, networking, support and information sharing. In addition, from 2008, voluntary youth groups must be registered with the VEC in order to be eligible to apply for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme.

Following registration, the Youth Officer will conduct a survey of all youth work programmes, services and activities in their area. Registration is a voluntary process.  

Under the Youth Work Act, a Voluntary Youth Council will be elected for each VEC area. In order to be eligible to vote, a group/club must be registered with the VEC.

You can download a Registration Form here.

Please Note: The registration conditions are outlined in the final page of the application form.  Your application to register with the VEC will be reviewed by Co. Cavan VEC. 

Child Protection Awareness Programme - Good Practice for the Youth Work Sector

Co. Cavan VEC Youth Service in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland are rolling out a Child Protection Awareness Programme - Good Practice for the Youth Work Sector. This training is for volunteers over the age of 18 who work with young people in any of our registered Youth Clubs and Groups throughout the county.

Training Programme Content

Aim: A basic awareness in relation to Child Protection

Session 1

Definition of Youth Work & Child

Legislation and Guidelines

Definitions and Examples of Child Abuse

Other Factors in relation to Child Abuse

Forms of Inappropriate behaviour

Best Practice in Child Protection

Indicators of Concern

National Child Abuse Statistics

Session 2

Recruitment Pathway

Dealing with a Disclosure of Abuse from a Young Person

Confidentiality

Reporting Procedures

If your club/group is interested in availing of this training, contact

Maureen Mc Intyre, Youth Officer    Tel: 049 4353955 or E-mail: mmcintyre@cavanvec.ie

Up for Diversity Press Release

UP for Diversity Information

DIVERSITY AWARENESS TRAINING

2-hour training session focusing on diversity and exploring issues around racism, sectarianism, prejudice and intolerance delivered by peer trainers

This course aims to explore the issues of diversity, challenge prejudice and discrimination, promote equality and nonprejudice behaviour and explore positive action.

The course will be delivered through a number of participative, interactive and fun exercises, which will include:

• Exploring Diversity

• Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination

• Understanding racism and sectarianism

• Exploring ways of reducing prejudice

LEARNING OUTCOMES

    At the end of the session, the participants will be able to:

Describe issues which exist for some minority citizens in Ireland;

Describe behaviour which amounts to Racism and Sectarianism and the impact of such;

Explain the variety of responses individuals have to prejudice;

State the steps young people can take to promote and role model non prejudiced behaviour;

Explain the importance of language and impact of labelling;

Explain aspects of Cultural Diversity;

For further information on this training, please contact Maureen Mc Intyre, Youth Officer, Telephone: 049 4353955 or E-mail: mmcintyre@cavanvec.ie

1. Local Youth Club Grants Scheme

Annually, Co. Cavan VEC administers a Local Youth Club Grant on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMYCA), Department of Health and Children from the proceeds of the National Lottery and supported by the National Development Plan.

In recognition of the diverse range of voluntary youth clubs/groups in existence, this scheme provides grant-in-aid under the following categories:

a) Youth Work Club Grant
b) Youth Activity Club Grant

This scheme supports voluntary youth club activities for young people; with priority being given to young people between the ages of 10 and 21.  The primary focus of this scheme is to assist local voluntary youth clubs who offer a youth work response to young people.  However, other clubs/groups that work with young people who are not specifically youth work are also entitled to apply for funding under this scheme.  Closing Date for Application is on the 30th September 2011.

Note:

1. Groups/clubs must be volunteer led and based on the voluntary participation of young people.
2. Applications should be made directly by local units/clubs as opposed to regional/county based structures.
3. At least 75% of the members of the club must be aged under 21 years.
4. The maximum grant to any one club is €3000.
5. Clubs whose primary focus is sport are not eligible for funding under the terms of this scheme.

Guidance Notes and the Local Youth Club Grant Application Form are available by clicking on the following PDFs

Guidance Notes 2011

Application Form

Club Report Form VEC

2. Local Voluntary Youth Club Awards 2010

Three Awards of €500 are being made available on a once off basis to all registered local youth clubs/groups in Co. Cavan.

Calls are now been made for all youth clubs/groups to nominate their club under the following categories:

Award for Youth Club/Group of the Year

Award for the most effective Community Based Youth Initiative

Award for the most Inspirational Youth Leader or Volunteer

Closing Date for Application is 12 Noon on the 15th of November 2010

For Application forms contact Maureen directly on 049 4353955 or e-mail on mmcintyre@cavanvec.ie

3. Other Grant Sources

Outside of this there are many avenues local and voluntary youth clubs and groups can investigate when it comes to looking for further funding for their groups.  This handy pocket size Funding Directory may be of some help to leaders.

1. FACE-OFF Project

The FACE-OFF project is for young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age and is designed to build positive relations at a local and cross community level. The project focuses on providing capacity supports to help young people become more integrated and less prejudices towards their counterparts throughout County Cavan. Young people can access and participate in youth activities through two different strands, listed below. This project is staffed by youth worker Natasha Cassidy and Lisa O 'Neill.

The FACE-OFF project is run by Co. Cavan VEC and is funded by the PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the County Cavan Peace III Peace and Reconciliation Partnership. 

Local Youth Drop-In Service

The Drop In provides a space where young people can engage and interact with other young people from various communities. They are supported by youth workers and have the opportunity to integrate with each other in a comfortable, non-judgemental environment. Activities on offer include computers, computer games, pool, board games, arts and crafts and informal discussions.

Social and Personal Development Programme

Young people engaged in the Face Off project have the opportunity to take part in structured training programmes. The programmes address issues of Culturalism, Relationships, Effective Communication, Sectarianism and Alcohol and Drug Misuse.  

Schedule of Activities

2. Up 4 Diversity - Accredited Peer Education Training

UP for Diversity Information

Up for Diversity Press Release

For further information on our UP 4 Diversity training programme, contact Natasha Cassiy at natashacassidy@cavanvec.ie or Maureen on mmcintyre@cavanvec.ie

The Up 4 Diversity Project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the County Cavan PEACE III Peace and Reconciliation Partnership.   

3. Co. Cavan Youth Consultation Group

Co. Cavan Youth Consultation Group is a representational body made up of all of the Youth Groups in County Cavan.  Members include representatives from Foroige, Macra na Feirme, Pioneeers, Uniform, Religious Groups, Voluntary, Family Resource Centres, Breiffne Integrated and the Council.  The Terms of Reference for Youth Consultation Group

Aim of the Youth Consultation Group:

‘To work collaborately for the benefit of all young people in County Cavan.’

Objectives of the Youth Consultation Group:

To address the needs of young people by providing specific educational workshops/events as highlighted by our young people in the Youth Needs Analysis. 

To further identify the needs of our young people within our individual youth groups

Share information and pool resources

Identify the needs of the youth organisations involved in the group

To work on two identifiable actions a year

To agree a work programme for the youth consultation group

Vision:

Through developing an awareness and sensitivity to issues of young people ‘Staying Safe’, we believe our programme will equip our young people with life skills and knowledge that will result in a greater parity of esteem and tolerance of others.

Stay Safe Leaflet

Positive Mental Health and Happiness Leaflets

Co. Cavan Youth Consultation Group is supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the County Cavan PEACE III Peace and Reconciliation Partnership.   

Documents and Website Links

Documents

Profile of Youth Service Provision in County Cavan

Youth Service Audit

Co. Cavan’s Youth Needs Analysis 2009

IVEA 2009 Summary Report on Youth Work Provision Nationally

New and Emerging Needs of Youth People

Youth Services Directory

Funding Directory

Stay Safe Leaflet

Positive Mental Health and Happiness - Youth Leaflet

Positive Mental Health and Happiness - Youth Leaders Leaflet

Activities for Youth in Cavan and Neighbouring Counties

Casting Light Programme - Art Project

Links

Youth Work Act 2001

Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Department of Health and Children

Community Youth Projects Cavan

National Youth Council of Ireland

LGBT Diversity