By Paul McElwee
FOUR youth workers from Donegal were among a group of over 200 youth work policy makers, practitioners and youth project participants brought together for the National Youth Work Conference where they called for ‘sustainable investment’ in youth services and better collaboration across education, youth services and families.
Donegal Youth work matters delegates Paddy Muldoon (Donegal ETB), Clare Gavigan (Foroige), Lorraine Thompson (Donegal Youth Service) and Martin Gormley (Donegal ETB) were in Galway last month for the ‘Youth Work Matters’ conference where the issues were discussed in depth.
Detailing the work of the conference was Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), who remarked,
“Against the backdrop of growing concern about child poverty, school absenteeism, and mental health challenges, we’re shining a light on youth work as a transformative force for young people —even in the face of adversity.
“Youth work is not just a service; it is a lifeline for young people in communities affected by economic hardship and child poverty. Youth workers help our young people build resilience; develop skills, and access education and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.”
A key theme of the conference was the relationship between youth work and education.
A recent move to make youth work and funding the responsibility of the new Department of Education and Youth has been welcomed as a step in the right direction by ETBI’s Youth Support Services Manager Ruth Griffin, stating: “This move reflects a growing understanding that supporting young people’s wellbeing, school attendance, and life chances requires a holistic approach—one that values both formal education and non-formal, community-based learning.
“However, this shift must be matched with sustainable investment, better integration across services, and meaningful collaboration between schools, youth services, and families.
“We cannot expect youth work to plug the gaps in education, housing, and mental health support without the resources to do so. With proper funding and recognition, youth work can be the glue that holds communities together, and the spark that ignites change.”
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