Youth Services

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Introduction

What we do

    • Youth Services represent one facet of Cork Education & Training Board (Cork ETB) – a large organisation that provides services in primary and secondary education, apprenticeships, back to education initiatives, community education and further education & training. Offering a pathway for every learner and supporting young people are key aims of the organisation. Over €4 million in funding is drawn down from the DCEDIY via Cork ETB Youth Services for staffed and volunteer-led youth projects in the city and county. The Cork ETB Youth services team comprises a Youth Development Officer, two Youth Officers and two Youth Support Officers.
UBU Project

Introduction

What we do

    • Youth Services represent one facet of Cork Education & Training Board (Cork ETB) – a large organisation that provides services in primary and secondary education, apprenticeships, back to education initiatives, community education and further education & training. Offering a pathway for every learner and supporting young people are key aims of the organisation. Over €4 million in funding is drawn down from the DCEDIY via Cork ETB Youth Services for staffed and volunteer-led youth projects in the city and county. The Cork ETB Youth services team comprises a Youth Development Officer, two Youth Officers and two Youth Support Officers.
UBU Project

UBU Projects

Introduction

    • The UBU, Your Place – Your Space funding scheme came into operation in 2019, replacing a number of other grant streams such as Special Projects for Youth (SPY) and the Young People’s Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF). The aim of the change was to harmonise funding for the youth sector and ensure that funding was hitting targeted areas. This was achieved by area profiling which involved Cork ETB conducting interviews and data collection from the areas in which the existing projects were operating. Following this complex consultation process, service requirements were issued to service providers in each area which focussed the work of the projects on various groupings of young people at risk or those marginalised. A new UBU cycle is due to commence in 2024. Cork has one of the largest numbers of UBU projects, 30, across the widest geographical remit…stretching from Beara to Mitchelstown.
UBU Project

Youth Information Centres

Introduction

  • Youth Information Centres (YICs) provide a free, confidential information service to young people and those who work with them. Trained and friendly Youth Information Officers are available to help find or interpret the information required. These Youth Information Officers work in close cooperation with other relevant voluntary and statutory agencies and refer young people to them when further information or specialist help is required. They are a point of contact for a young person seeking information on a wide range of subjects including:
      • College courses, apprenticeships and other types of education
      • Grants, bursaries, scholarships and financial support for education
      • Compiling a CV, finding a job, developing skills and starting a career
      • Finding somewhere to live
      • Information on rights and entitlements
      • Sports and leisure activities
      • European opportunities to work, study and volunteer for young people
      • Drug and alcohol awareness
      • Health, well-being, and healthy relationships
    • Contact Details
    • West Cork: TJ Hourihan tj@ymca-ireland.net 086 6032655

YIChat Service:

    • Youth Information Officers man the YIChat Service and offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to young people. It is a free, non-judgemental, one-to-one, online chat and email service for young people ymca-ireland.net/question Monday-Friday 16:00 – 20:00 (except for public holidays) or you can leave a message outside of those hours and receive a reply by email.

Other support details:

    • West Cork Helpline 023 8844009 Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 14:00 – 16:00
    • Carbery Helpline 086 103 6467 Mondays 18:30 to 20:30 / Saturdays 12:00 – 14:00
    • Cork City Helpline 085 130 6207 Wednesdays & Thursdays 09:00 – 17:00
    • Youth Information Hub Carbery Youth Service, Larkin St (Deasy’s Carpark), Clonakilty Monday 18:30 – 20:30
    • Follow the YMCA YIC on Twitter @yiyoungvoices
    • Find out about the latest online/ offline opportunities, Youth Advocacy programmes and future Youth Information activities at Youth Innovation Space, YMCA, 11/12 Marlboro Street, Cork
UBU Project

Youth Clubs

Introduction

  • Cork ETB Youth Services administers the annual Local Youth Club Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth Affairs (DCEDIY). This scheme is open to volunteer-led youth clubs across Cork City and County. In 2023, Cork ETB Youth Services administered €271,545 to 152 Youth Clubs in Cork. This supported over 10,000 Young people between the ages of 10-21 as well as over 2,000 volunteers. In addition, the youth services department administers additional grants such as Covid Grants, Minor Grants and Capital/Equipment Grants.

Local Youth Club Grant Scheme 2024 – Now Open for Applications

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme is now an online application form. The application form can be completed here.  Forms can only be submitted by those registered by the Cork ETB youth Services team. Please contact youthclub@corketb.ie if you are a new club that adheres to the below criteria.

Step by Step video guide can be viewed here.

Closing date for applications 5pm 16th February 2024.

To be eligible for funding from the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, the club/group must satisfy the following criteria:

  • It must be volunteer led and it must be based on the voluntary participation of young people.
  • 75% of the club/group members must be between the ages of 10 and 21.
  • It must be able to clearly outline the benefits of club/group membership for young people who participate in its programmes.
  • The club/group must adhere to the requirements set out in Section 2 of the Application Form.
  • The club/group must be fully compliant with all requirements set out in the Children First Act (2015).
  • All adult volunteers working with young people must be Garda vetted before they start volunteering.
  • Appropriate insurance cover must be in place.
  • Volunteers must have access to a first aid kit and must be able to use it correctly.
  • The club/group must have a Health and Safety Statement, Policy or Procedures. (Note: this applies to clubs/groups that own premises. Clubs/groups that do not own premises must confirm that they have seen and operate to the building’s Health and Safety Policy.)
  • Information on all aspects of the three Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups that have been met by your club/group must be included in your Application Form response.
  • Please note Sports groups and organisations are not eligible for this grant scheme.

For Further Information

UBU Project

Activities and Events

  • Seó Youth Fest

Over 400 young people from all corners of Cork entertained market goers and fans alike as the first ever Cork ETB youth festival and showcase took place at the Marina Market. Funded projects from the city and county participated in the Seó youth festival which included music, dance, fashion, crafts, sports, IT and information. “It was a huge success and the feedback from the young participants has been fantastic,” explained Cork ETB Youth Service Development Officer, Mick Finn. “The aim was to provide the young people and their youth leaders with a platform to showcase what they have been doing for the last couple of years in Covid times when such opportunities were not possible. There was a great crowd at the Marina Market all day which really added to the occasion for the performers.” The festival was organised by the Youth Service team of Cork ETB and managed by Eventi Management Company. “Thanks to everyone who put their shoulders to the wheel to make this happen, including all those who manned information stalls, assisted with the sports and craft activities and indeed the Marina Market operators who helped us present the showcase after the original venue, Fitzgerald’s Park was made unavailable at the last minute.” The event was also attended by young people from the Ukraine, those living in Direct Provision and temporary accommodation. “It’s important to include young people in these environments too to ensure they get the same opportunities as any other. We will look to build on the first outing of this festival but will probably require a headline sponsor to continue it into the future.”

UBU Project

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Government of Ireland
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