Foróige wants all young people in Ireland to be able to access youth work.
We know that youth work makes a real difference to young people’s lives, supporting every young person to realise their full potential and fostering community connectedness. It is proven to contribute to a multitude of positive outcomes for young people, and acts to mitigate many challenges of circumstance that young people, families, and communities face.
But right now, young people cannot access youth work equitably - and therefore the many benefits and opportunities that it can bring, both for them and for communities at large.
This is why Foróige is calling for an increase of €15 million in youth work funding in Budget 2025.
This will help us to build a youth work ecosystem that resources universal youth clubs and programmes that are open to all young people, alongside targeted support for those who experience disadvantage. We need the commitment and investment that will enable our sector to provide young people with the skills, spaces, and confidence to thrive.
All young people, regardless of their background, should be able to access youth work in the form that best suits their needs. An investment of €15 million will lay the foundation for a robust and flourishing youth work sector, engaging an additional 31,815 young people across Ireland in youth work, and creating an additional 203 staff roles.
