Supporting Young People Across Ireland
Youth Work Ireland and its members offers a broad and dynamic suite of youth support programmes designed to foster mental wellbeing, resilience, inclusion, and empowerment in informal settings. These initiatives go beyond traditional education by providing safe spaces for young people to flourish and reflect Youth Work Ireland’s holistic, young-person-centred approach, integrating structured programmes with everyday social support, empowerment, and mental health promotion.
Access & Inclusion
Youth Work Ireland is committed to promoting access and inclusion by developing and delivering programmes that remove barriers for marginalised young people, including those with disabilitie, ensuring equitable participation in youth services and empowering all young people to reach their full potential. Find out more>>
Arts and Creativity Supports
Youth Work Ireland’s arts and creativity programme supports youth-centred arts practice within youth work settings including the Irish Youth Music Awards, and builds the capacity of youth workers and artists to deliver high-quality creative experiences, and advocates for greater recognition and provision of youth arts across Ireland. Find out more>>
Club Supports
Youth Work Ireland’s youth club work creates safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces across communities where young people aged 10 to 25 can engage in social, recreational, and developmental activities, fostering personal growth, peer connection, and empowerment while promoting inclusion, creativity, and positive mental health through the guidance of trained youth workers and a youth-centred approach. Find out more>>
LGBT+ Youth Work – Proud Spaces
Proud Spaces, an initiative supported by Youth Work Ireland, creates safe, inclusive, and affirming environments for LGBTQI+ young people, fostering community, resilience, and empowerment through tailored youth work programmes, peer support networks, and educational workshops that promote awareness, equality, and mental wellbeing. Find out more>>
Mental Health & Resilience Supports
Youth Work Ireland offers a wide range of informal education-style supports that foster young people’s mental wellbeing including the “Be Well” programme which provides structured sessions to help young people identify anxiety triggers and learn resilience techniques using the “5-A-Day” mental wellbeing model. Find out more>>
Our Generation
Through the Our Generation cross-border initiative Youth Work Ireland delivers tailored programmes like Mind Matters, a five-session emotional resilience course; CHOICE programme providing empowering sexual health and reproductive education and Stand UPP, a transformative programme focusing on gender-based violence prevention. Find out more>>
PeacePlus Programmes
Through the PEACEPLUS programmes such as Amplify and Shared Agenda for Peace, Youth Work Ireland works with partners across Northern Ireland and the border counties to deliver inclusive youth services that promote personal development, cross-community relationships, and opportunities for young people to thrive. Find out more>>
Sexual Health & Positive Relationships
Youth Work Ireland delivers comprehensive sexual health education through initiatives like the YES Project and the CHOICE Programme, empowering young people aged 14–25 with knowledge on consent, relationships, and reproductive health in a supportive, community-based setting. These programmes are designed to foster informed decision-making and promote positive sexual health outcomes among youth. Find out more>>
Justice Projects
Youth Work Ireland’s Justice Programme provides targeted support and opportunities for young people affected by the justice system, focusing on personal development, rehabilitation, and reintegration through mentoring, education, and community engagement to promote positive futures. Find out more>>
Youth Climate Justice
Youth Work Ireland engages young people in climate justice through youth-led education and advocacy programmes that emphasise environmental sustainability, social equity, and empowering marginalised communities to participate in shaping a just and sustainable future. Find out more>>
Youth Information
Youth Work Ireland’s Youth Information Service provides young people across Ireland with accessible, reliable, and confidential information on a wide range of topics including education, employment, health, relationships, and rights, delivered through multiple channels such as in-person sessions, online platforms, and outreach initiatives, empowering young people aged 12 to 25 to make informed decisions and actively participate in their communities. Find out more>>
Young Refugees & Migrants
Youth Work Ireland actively supports young migrants and refugees through its member services, providing inclusive youth work that addresses the unique challenges faced by these young individuals. This includes offering tailored programs that promote integration, resilience, and empowerment, ensuring that young migrants and refugees are welcomed and supported in their new communities. Find out more>>
Young Travellers
Youth Work Ireland supports young Travellers through initiatives like the STATUS Toolkit, which assists organisations in evaluating and improving their practices to ensure greater engagement and inclusion of young Travellers in youth services. This toolkit provides a framework for self-assessment and continuous improvement, aiming to create safe and welcoming spaces for young Travellers within mainstream youth services. Find out more>>