Site Search

Youth Service Strategy 2007 - 2008

Principles

Six key principles underpin youth work in the NEELB:

1. Personal and Social Development

The active promotion of youth work offering experiences which enable young people to develop the skills, values, knowledge and attitudes necessary to relate effectively with others; to participate fully in their own communities and beyond; and to improve employability. The “Youth Work: A Model for Effective Practice” document (Department of Education 2003) identifies personal and social development as the Central Theme of Youth Work.

2. Participation

Youth Work will provide progression in participative opportunities thus empowering young people to deal effectively with matters which affect them. Unattached young people and youth organisation members of all ages and backgrounds will be facilitated with the development of a more expansive notion of democracy, citizenship and politics through the promotion of opportunities to become active creators, decision makers and agents of change. This will facilitate young people in becoming better informed and more participative citizens and valued members of the community.

3. Equity, Diversity and Interdependence

Policies, strategies and implementation will take full account of reasonable fairness, encourage respect for and expression of the range of identities represented in Northern Ireland and which promotes different identity groups working together.

4. A Shared Future

Promoting a transition to an inclusive society, which through effective youth work practice, leads to an understanding of a shared future and good relations and reconciliation.

5. Partnership

The Youth Service, in seeking effective practice, will identify the best strategies, support mechanisms and partners (youth organisations and other agencies) to meet the identified needs of young people. A commitment to this principle will be sought from prospective partners.

6. Inclusion

Creating access to services for all young people through developing actions aimed at specific geographical areas and categories of young people.

Context

To support and encourage inclusion, the Board will actively seek to increase the involvement of young people within the age range 4-25 years. Emphasis will be placed upon 8-18 year olds and will promote the personal and social development of young people. Marginalised youth and young people’s transition to adulthood are viewed as key areas for Youth Service responses to young people’s needs.

Priorities

The North-Eastern Education and Library Board’s priorities for the Youth Service are:

supporting, advising and providing training and development opportunities to the hundreds of youth organisations meeting the general needs of young people;
supporting local communities and neighbourhoods in their development of youth work provision through capacity building initiatives;
promoting social inclusion amongst marginalised young people by impacting on defined disadvantaged groups and neighbourhoods through the development of specific projects and centre programmes;
opportunities for young people to become active creators, decision makers and agents of change through citizenship and social action programmes;
developing young people’s social, communication and life skills thus enhancing their educational and employment prospects;
working with young people on health and well-being issues;
continuing to identify and progress inclusion opportunities for young people with specific needs;
promoting and supporting good relations through the use of the Youth Service Community Relations Support Scheme Development Programme and projects in interface areas;
the development of cross border and international youth opportunities and exchanges;
Residential Centres’ programmes aimed at meeting the needs of marginalised young people.

Framework

The identification of need in deprived communities and the development of effective responses through area strategies, including inter-agency programmes, will be key factors if the Board is to impact on marginalisation. A successful area strategy will include quality assurance and effective use of resources including staff development and training opportunities.

The effectiveness of the Youth Service Strategy will be assessed through Staff Appraisal, Service Level Agreements and project schedules. External sources of evaluation will include Charter Mark Standards, the Education and Training Inspectorate and customer surveys.