Key ask in Budget 2025

 

NYCI (National Youth Council of Ireland) is calling for increased investment in youth work in 2025 of €15million. 

 

This figure is broken down by: 

 

A €9.6m increase in current funding. 

  • 13.5% increase for both UBU and YSGS funding 
  • Funding for youth information services 

 

and funding and €5.4m increase in Capital funding. 

 

Why?  

Supporting young people 

There is increasing concern amongst government, youth work services and the wider population around the rise of divisive and hateful narratives. Youth work is a place that offers belonging and support for young people who may fall victim to these narratives but is also a space where there is push back and support for young people at risk of repeating and believing these dangerous narratives. Youth work needs investment to continue this critical work. 

Issues like food poverty, deprivation and homelessness are also at the door of youth work. Services need adequate investment to continue to meet the needs of young people. 

 

Addressing issues within the sector  

In 2024, the state of youth work services can be summed up by ‘doing more with less’. Rising costs, severe recruitment and retention issues and rising demands are resulting in services stretching well beyond capacity. Additional investment is needed to assist services to continue to provide current levels before they can begin to expand to meet growth of demand.  

 

Strategic investment now to deliver into the future

By the time Budget 2025 is announced, there will be a New National Strategy for Youth Work and ‘Young Ireland’, the national policy for children and young people will be in its second year. The sector needs investment to be a partner in the delivery of these policies, along with other key government policies such as the National Action Plan Against Racism.  

 

Providing the youth work that young people need 

NYCI is calling for UBU funding to be increased by 13.5% on 2024 levels. This is to support those young people furthest behind and assist with increasing levels of deprivation that are presenting to youth work services. 

NYCI is calling for Youth Services Grant Scheme to be increased by 13.5% on 2024 levels. This would support the sectoral Vision for Youth Work by investing in expanding access to best practice youth work for all young people. 

Finally, NYCI is calling for Youth Information services to be funded in Budget 2025, to ensure continued and expanded pivotal support to young people in accessing trusted information within a context of the threat of mis and disinformation.

 

Delivering youth work places and spaces  

The Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on the Future of Youth Work recognises the necessity in funding for spaces and places for youth work. In a recent survey of NYCI members organisations, 90% of respondents had some need for capital funding. Needs identified ranged from IT infrastructure to structural work on buildings such leaking roofs or insulation costs. capital funding must be provided in Budget 2025 to address these needs, and to assist the sector to recover from the lack of capital funding in Budget 2024. 

Actions for politician to take following the meeting:  

Ask them if they can raise the issue of youth work funding through:  

  • Writing to Minister O’Gorman, Minister Chambers and Minister Donohoe outlining their support for NYCI’s pre-budget ask 
  • Raising the issue with their party spokesperson on youth, or at parliamentary party meetings 
  • Raising the importance of funding youth work in their constituency in the Dáil or Seanad 
  • Submitting Parliamentary Questions 

 

Key findings of NYCI members survey 2024 

  • Just under 90% of services that responded have at least some concern about whether they will have sufficient funds to provide services over the next 12 months  
  • Most have seen increased demand for their service, and yet over 80% do not feel equipped to respond to this increase 
  • Issues with funding raised: Stress of applications, complexity of funding, delays, lack of multi-annual funding and the need to restore lost posts 
  • 84% said staffing costs biggest financial challenge currently 
  • 75% had difficulty filling vacant post, and 75% have had a vacant post for over a month, within the last year. 
  • Just under 90% have a need for capital funding  

Get your local representatives’ contact details now

Template email to copy and customise

 

Please personalise if you have an existing relationship with a TD/Senator, and include an attachment of the NYCI Pre-Budget Submission 2025. 

 

“Dear Minister/Deputy/Senator (delete as appropriate),

I am writing to you on behalf of (insert organisation name), which operates in your constituency, to ask for your support for increased investment in young people and youth work, ahead of Budget 2025.

I’d be very grateful of a meeting to discuss this (indicate preference for online or in-person meeting and suggested dates/times) in the coming weeks. Young people from our organisation will also be present to share with you their views on why youth work matters to them.

(Insert some detail on your organisation and work you do -if not already known to TD/Senator – such as where you are based, type of group/project, number of young people involved etc.)

Organisations like ours are reliant on funding from the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Increases in demand for our services, coupled with rising costs, means that we are in significant need for increased funding in Budget 2025.
As our local TD/Senator (delete as appropriate), we want you to be a champion for youth work in the run up to Budget 2025 to ensure youth work organisations, and the young people and communities we support, receive the sustainable investment we need.

As part of the National Youth Council of Ireland’s (NYCI) #Youthworkchangeslives campaign, we are calling an additional €15m investment in 2025. You can find details of within the Pre-Budget Submission here: (link to pre-budget submission)

Once again, I would be most appreciative if you could take the time to meet with me to discuss this further, and you can respond by return e-mail, or by calling 08X XXXXXXX.

Many thanks for your support,

 

Thanks – and let us know how you get on

NYCI is calling on the government to increase investment in youth work services by €15 million in Budget 2025. It points to the role of youth work in providing safe spaces and building positive relationships between young people and their communities, amidst growing concerns over the vulnerability of young people to divisive narratives and the rising impact of far-right influencers.

NYCI Pre-Budget Submission 2025

In this Pre-Budget Submission we are calling on Government to adopt our targeted plan for investment across youth work, the cost of living and youth homelessness to make an impact where it is most needed.

If put in place, this will provide immediate relief to many young people who are struggling with crippling costs, will address long-standing inequalities and, ensure that the youth work sector can deliver both now and into the future so young people can reach their full potential.

Budget25 Session Plan

This session plan is an offer to stimulate, encourage and motivate youth workers to engage young people in the process of advocacy/lobbying around Youth Work

Stories of impact

We have  gathered stories from youth workers and young people to highlight the life-changing impact of youth work. Read and share their stories:

Sinéad’s Story

"We often see girls arrive at Guides or Brownies, full of anxiety, reluctant to be away from home. One girl, who’d stayed on longer than usual […]

Amy’s Story

"This shy little girl arrived at her first girl guides meeting, hiding behind her mum. She was reluctant to take part in activities. But over the […]

Doireann’s Story

"When I was 14, I was on the youth participation panel for Youth Work Ireland. I quickly became the chair of our group, so I was […]

Anna’s Story

"I always felt a little bit left out in school. I have dyspraxia and a heart condition, and although I loved sports, I wasn’t often chosen […]

Aisling’s Story

"Before the pandemic, I was involved in green schools, student council, sports teams and the school choirs. But I still felt isolated, like an outsider, that […]

Aoibhe’s Story

“During the pandemic, I had a difficult time keeping up with school and my friends. I spent so much time alone - at a time when […]

Lea’s Story

“I was having a tough time with my mental health. Going to school was a struggle. Then, about a year ago, I started to attend my […]