NYCI logo

About Us

NYCI is the representative body for voluntary youth organisations in Ireland.

We use our collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.

What we do

Our Vision

An Ireland where young people in every community are empowered through excellent youth work to realise their potential and actively participate in an inclusive society.

The Vision for Youth Work

The Vision for Youth Work, developed together with our membership and the wider youth sector, sets out a vision for the future direction of youth work in Ireland over the next 10 years.

Our Role

NYCI is a membership organisation that represents the shared interests of voluntary youth organisations and uses our collective expertise to act on issues that impact on young people. We do this by:
  • Representing the shared interests of voluntary youth organisations.
  • Building solidarity among our members.
  • Advocating on issues that impact on the lives of young people.
  • Promoting the development of evidence informed high quality specialist youth work practice.
  • Capacity building and professional development.

Our Mission

To represent the collective voice of the youth work sector and build capacity, leadership and influence to deliver better outcomes for young people.

Our Values

  • We value the experience and views of our member organisations and will consult them and represent them with integrity
  • We believe that all young people have a right to develop a sense of belonging and empowerment in a fair and just society. We are concerned for young people disconnected from the mainstream.
  • We are an organisation that promotes learning, innovation and forward thinking.
  • We believe that a strong vibrant voluntary youth sector has a critical role to play in engaging all young people.
  • We believe that better outcomes are achieved when young people are involved in making decisions that affect them.
  • We value volunteering and the vital role it plays in a healthy vibrant community.
  • We value the diversity of the voluntary youth sector and believe that is a key strength.

Our Strategic Plan and Annual Report:

Economic value of Youthwork

The results of the cost-benefit assessment of the economic value of youth work presented in this study suggest that the public funding provided by the State for youth work services represents value for money.

NYCI structure

NYCI is constituted by over 50 member organisations.

NYCI’s Annual Assembly is its highest decision-making body and takes place once a year. As well as addressing financial, organisational and constitutional matters, elections are held. The Board of NYCI is the governing body of the Council. It is elected at the Annual Assembly. The Board ensures that the work programme and policies of the Council are implemented. Member organisations then decide the nature of participation in NYCI (to include young people, leaders, practitioners, volunteers, managers, heads of organisations) depending on the focus, issue and/or needs by participation in thematic networks.

The Board of NYCI is the Governing body of the National Youth Council of Ireland and broadly represents all member organisations and is ultimately responsible to the Member Organisations.

The members of the Board are the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, the Chairperson of the International Advisory Committee, seven (7) persons elected by the Youth Work electoral college and four (4) persons elected to the Youth Interest electoral colleges.

The Board implements the work programme and policies of the National Youth Council of Ireland and it is the decision making body between AGMs. The Board meets at least six times a year.

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Denis O’Brien
Foroige

President

Nicola-Toughey

Nicola Toughey
Catholic Guides of Ireland

Vice President

Mary Horgan

Mary Horgan
Youth Work Ireland

Treasurer

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Iarla Flynn

Functional Director

Conor Kirwan

Conor Kirwan

Functional Director

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Patrick Manley

Functional Director

Eve-Moody

Eve Moody
Irish Girl Guides

Board member

Michael Power

Michael Power
Involve

Board member

Mick Fearon

Mick Ferron
Sphere 17

Board member

Reuban-Murray

Reuban Murray
ISSU

Board member

Greg Tierney

Greg Tierney
Crosscare

Board Member

Carmel Walsh

Carmel Walsh
Belong To

Board Member

David-Backhouse

David Backhouse
YMCA

Board member

RoseMarie Maughan

RoseMarie Maughan
Irish Traveller Movement

Board member

50 years of NYCI

To mark its 50th anniversary the NYCI commissioned ‘50 Voices from 50 Years: an oral history of NYCI’. Through fifty interviews with persons involved in NYCI over the past five decades this publication provides an engaging, insightful and at times humorous snapshot of the history of the organisation and highlights the many changes that both the organisation, and society as a whole have undergone in that time.

NYCI complies with The Governance Code for the Community, Voluntary and Charitable Sector in Ireland

NYCI supports Sustainable Development Goals

NYCI Supports Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice

NYCI is a signatory of the Dochas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages

NYCI is an SDG Champion.