About Youth Work Ireland, Galway
Who are we
Youth Work Ireland, Galway is a voluntary organisation that works with young people in Galway City and county. We do this through supporting communities to set up and deliver youth programmes on a voluntary basis, and by developing services to young people implemented by paid staff. We work in partnership with a number of community groups and statutory bodies in the development and promotion of youth services.Mission Statement of Youth Work Ireland, Galway
Youth Work Ireland Galway is a voluntary organisation committed to delivering quality youth services within local communities, to empower young people to identify and realise their own potential in a safe and supportive environmentOur Core Values
The following set of core values underpins the work of Youth Work Ireland Galway:Professionalism
Inclusiveness
Accountability
Developmental
Empowerment
Rights-Based
Our Methodologies
Youth Work Ireland Galway utilises a range of participative–based methodologies in its work including the following:Drop-In
Group Work/Club Based Work
One-To-One Work
Peer Education
Research Methods
Training
Youth Information
Youth Participation
Ethos of Youth Work Ireland, Galway
Youth Work Ireland, Galway is committed to its voluntary ethos and is led by the principle and practice of community development. Community volunteers are trained and supported to run services, local communities participate in decision-making processes about local services and young people participate in decision-making processes about services provided for and with them.History of Youth Work Ireland, Galway (formerly Galway Youth Federation)
Youth Work Ireland, Galway is a voluntary organisation working with young people in Galway City and County. We came from a youth club movement that started in the 1960s co-ordinated nationally by the National Federation of Youth Clubs. In 1980 the County Galway Federation of Youth Clubs was formed from locally based federations or groupings of clubs.In 1980 the Department of Education created the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The scheme allowed us to recruit a Regional Development Officer who worked with local volunteers to develop and co-ordinate the clubs.
In the late 1980s we changed our name to Galway Youth Federation after the National Federation of Youth Clubs adopted the new name National Youth Federation.
Our services changed radically after 1988. The Department of Education introduced a different Youth Work Scheme and Galway Youth Federation created locally based youth projects. Our first 3 projects started in the Westside of Galway City, Tuam, south and east Galway. Full time Community Youth Workers were employed to work with young people.
Youth Information services grew out of efforts during the late 1980s to prepare young people for emigration. Youth Information Services Centre, in East Galway was officially recognised by the Department of Education National Youth Information Monitoring Committee in 1996. The Centre continues to develop information projects in other areas of Galway.
The 1990s saw Galway Youth Federation secure resources from other state bodies and through EU funded programmes to develop new projects in new geographic areas, specialised training for volunteers and responses for new groups such as young mothers.
In latter stages of 1990s Galway Youth Federation become involved in alliances and partnerships both at local project level and across the city and county. This takes the form of jointly run programmes, jointly managed projects and becoming involved in structures and initiatives that are seeking to address issues facing young people and communities.
At the turn of the century the need for more specific youth work responses became apparent. Galway Youth Federation by then was providing a listening service for teens whose parents have separated, drug education and sexual health promotion, support to young people from the refugee communities, engages in international youth exchanges as well as all of our other services.
In 2007, Galway Youth Federation, along with 22 other local youth services affiliated to National Youth Federation in other parts of the country, changed its name to Youth Work Ireland, Galway, following a federal decision by National Youth Federation to re-brand as Youth Work Ireland.
Strands of work of Youth Work Ireland, Galway
Youth Work Ireland, Galway has a number of strands to its work with young people and communities.i. Youth clubs for 7 to 18 year olds through supporting community volunteers.
ii. After Schools Groups in consultation with parents and schools.
iii. Services for marginalised young people and families in partnership with state agencies and local community groups.
iv. Information Services.
v. Summer programme work.
vi. Seminars on issues affecting young people and training programmes for volunteers and young people.
vii. Training materials and resources on loan to external groups.
viii. Interagency work including joint programmes.
and of course dCUBE Youth Café in Ballinasloe
Management Structure
Galway Regional Youth Federation LTD, trading as Youth Work Ireland, Galway, is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity whose members are the affiliated youth clubs and voluntary committees of youth projects of the organisation.In keeping with the principle of local involvement each Youth Work Ireland, Galway project has a local representative group who directs the work of the project.