How to grow the voluntary youth work sector in Northern Ireland

The voluntary youth work sector has encountered many changes in its structure, funding, representation and relationships over the past ten years. The result is a sector that has and does face many challenges, and its strength has been undermined by these structural and interagency changes. This paper considers structural strategic opportunities to transform the voluntary youth work sector.

This paper has been developed from a series of interviews with ‘alumni’ of the voluntary youth work sector in Northern Ireland to understand and capture lessons learned from previous voluntary youth sector structures and to gather historical perspectives that have salience for the contemporary youth work environment. Consequently, a series of proposals are herein presented as functions, principles and operating guidance for infrastructure support to the voluntary youth work sector. These proposals were presented and debated at public consultations in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry in September 2024. The paper has been amended based on these discussions.