Youth Services

ETB’s YOUTH WORK FUNCTIONS

Under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013, the function of the ETB in relation to youth work is to:

“Support the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area and provide such information as may be requested by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to such support, and assess whether the manner in which it performs its functions is economical, efficient and effective.”

The Youth Work section of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB is primarily funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disadvantage, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Administer funding to youth work services on behalf of various government departments.
• Carry out quality assurance programmes with youth work services (National Quality Standards Framework) and with volunteer-led youth groups (National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups).
• Administer the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and other similar schemes, which provide small grants for volunteer-led youth groups. In Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, the ETB provides support each year to around 100 volunteer-led and operated youth groups, with approximately 5,000 members.
• Provide training and development programmes for youth workers.
• Promote the integration and coordination of youth work services with other services through participation in Children and Young People’s Services Committees, School Completion Programme and other networks.
• Report to government departments on projects and services funded through the ETB, including validating annual reports and funding applications.
• Promote initiatives that aim to increase the involvement of young people of all backgrounds in youth work.
• Contribute to the development of youth work at a national level by working with Education & Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the Department of Children, Equality, Disadvantage, Integration and Youth and other bodies.

 

QUALITY STANDARDS IN YOUTH WORK

The ETB is responsible to carry out quality assurance programmes with youth work services (National Quality Standards Framework) and with volunteer-led youth groups (National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups).  Please see below for more information on these quality standards.

National Quality Standards Framework

A National Quality Standards Framework for youth work was introduced in January 2011.  This framework applies to all staff-led youth work organisations, services, projects and programmes which are funded under the DCEDIY Targeted Youth Funding Scheme (TYFS) and Youth Information Centres.
The primary function of the NQSF is as a support and development tool for youth work services funded by the DCEDIY.  Its aim is to assist youth work organisations to identify strengths and areas for development in their services and to benchmark progress accordingly.  Having done so, services take a structured and developmental approach to the assessment of youth work provision, examining its level, impact and efficacy.  The role of the ETB is to facilitate and oversee this process with DCEDIY-funded youth work services in its operational area.

National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups

Through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the ETB directly supports around 100 youth groups in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, catering for approximately 5,000 young people.  These groups provide a wide range of recreational and developmental programmes and activities for young people.
As a natural progression to the NQSF for staff-led projects, the Department has rolled out a set of National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups. Developed in consultation with partners in the youth work sector, these quality standards are aimed at local youth groups and clubs. They present an opportunity for youth groups to demonstrate their commitment to best practice and to the delivery of quality programmes and activities, which meet the needs and expectations of their young members. All youth groups funded through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme are required to engage in the standards process.
Youth groups affiliated to national youth organisations should consult with the Regional Youth / Development Officer of their parent organisation in relation to the standards. ETB Youth Officers will provide similar support and guidance to youth groups not affiliated to a national youth organisation / other locally active groups.

CALL FOR SERVICE – YOUTHSCAPE PLUS (YSP)

Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) is seeking a specialist youth work service with experience of providing services to young people, to deliver a cross-border service to young people 14 – 24 years based in counties Leitrim and Sligo.

Youthscape Plus (YSP), funded under PEACEPLUS, is a cross border, cross community intervention programme, incorporating the collective strengths of South West College (SWC) – lead partner, Donegal Youth Services (DYS), Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), Tides Training (TT), and the Cedar Foundation (CF) to deliver a high impact transformative programme to marginalised young people in Enniskillen, Dungannon, Cookstown, Omagh, Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Counties Leitrim and Sligo.

Full information and an application form is contained in the Call For Service pack.  Interested parties are invited to apply according to the steps outlined in the Call For Service pack.

To obtain the Call For Service Pack, please email [email protected].

Application forms must be submitted electronically to [email protected].

Closing date: 12pm, Monday, 15th July 2024.