Youth and Wellbeing

The Youth Work Act, 2001, defines Youth Work as a planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary involvement and which is:

a) complementary to their formal education and training; and,
b) provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations.

Benefits of youth work for young people

Personal and social development outcomes: communication skills, confidence and agency, planning and problem solving, relationships, creativity and imagination, emotional intelligence.

What we do

Provide assistance and support to the Youth Work organisations and Volunteer-led Clubs/Groups in Cavan & Monaghan

Administer youth related Grants from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), PeacePlus and other statutory agencies

Implement the National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for Youth Work

Participate in the work of the Cavan & Monaghan Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC)

Participate in other Youth related Committees or Groups

Support Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board’s Youth Work Committee to advise and make recommendations on the performance of the Education and Training Board’s youth work functions

Complete area profiling, youth needs analysis and develop service requirements

Meet the Team

Youth Development & Wellbeing Officer

Maureen McIntyre
T: Cavan Office, 049 4330144
T: Monaghan Office, 047 30888 ext. 175
E: maureenmcintyre@cmetb.ie

Youth Officer

Sonya McQuaid
T: Monaghan Office, 047 30888 Ext. 176
E:  sonyamcquaid@cmetb.ie

Youth Support & Finance

Úna Rudden
T: Cavan Office, 049 4330144 Ext. 210
E: unarudden@cmetb.ie

Peace Plus Assistant Staff Officer

Sarah McGearty
T: Cavan Office, 049 4330144
E: sarahmcgearty@cmetb.ie

Youth Services Information

Youth Work Committee

Terms of Reference of CMETB Youth Work Committee

The following is the list of members for Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) Youth Work Committee:

Aidan Campbell, CMETB Board Member (Chairperson, CMETB Youthwork Committee)
Colm Carthy, CMETB Board Member
Frank McDermott, CMETB Board Member
Taylor Lennon, Cavan Comhairle na nÓg
Paul Carragher, Monaghan Comhairle na nÓg
Ste Corrigan, CYPSC
Cait Fleming, JLO
Edel Gilliland, JLO
Kathyrn Walsh, NYCI
Colin McAree – Voluntary
Simon Pierce – Voluntary
Caolan Faux – Voluntary
Dr. Linda Pinkster, Director of Further Education & Training (FET), CMETB
Dr. Fiona McGrath, Chief Executive, CMETB

Youth Work Functions

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was agreed early 2017 between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth (DCEDIY and Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). This memorandum sets out, inter alia, the role of DCEDIY and ETBI as described in this section.

DCEDIY was established in June 2011 and it is the principal Department to whom Education and Training Boards report in relation to their youth work functions. It has a mandate in relation to policy and service provision for children and young people. It comprises a number of interrelated strands, including the direct provision of universal and targeted services, and working to achieve the harmonisation of relevant policy and provision across Government so as to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

Under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board has been given the legislative responsibility of supporting; “the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area and provid(ing) such information as may be requested by the Minister for DCEDIY in relation to such support.” (Section 10 (1) (j)

1. Support the Provision of:

Staff-led Projects across Cavan and Monaghan
Roll out of grant schemes – Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS); Local Youth Club Equipment Grant (LYCEG); once off Youth Employability.
Youth work in Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board’s operational area.
Cavan and Monaghan ETB Youth Work Committee will develop a Youth Work Plan as informed by the National Youth Strategy/ National Youth Policy Framework Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (2014-2020).

Non-DCEDIY Support and Provision:

Cavan Parenting
Monaghan Parenting
Drug and Alcohol Task Force in Cavan and Monaghan
Children and Young People’s Services Committee Cavan and Monaghan
Belturbet Youth Interagency Working Group – Cavan
PLC Access Programme in Cavan and Monaghan
Healthy Monaghan

2. Coordination

Youth Networks in Cavan and Monaghan
Identify local needs analysis / gaps as informed by Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) progress reports, etc.
Interagency collaboration with agencies and groups such as Tusla, Children and Young People’s Services Committees, Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) Local Development Groups, Drugs and Alcohol Task Forces, Irish Youth Justice Service, local authorities, HSE, Comhairle na nÓg, schools, Youthreach and others as appropriate.
Support and complement formal education.

3. Administration

DCEDIY Funded Projects: Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board currently provide an administrative, oversight and governance function to the following DCEDIY funded projects;

Monaghan Youth Service Projects

ISPCC Monaghan Project – funded through the UBU – Your Place, Your Space funding scheme (https://ubu.gov.ie/) and managed by the ISPCC
Include Youth Service – funded through the UBU – Your Place, Your Space funding scheme and managed by Youth Work Ireland
Youth Information Centre – funded by the YIC and managed by Youth Work Ireland

Cavan Youth Service Projects

Bounce Back South East Cavan – funded by the UBU – Your Place, Your Space funding scheme (https://ubu.gov.ie/) and managed by Youth Work Ireland and the ISPCC
Bounce Back West Cavan – funded by the UBU – Your Place, Your Space funding scheme managed by Youth Work Ireland and the ISPCC
Cavan Town Youth Project -funded by the UBU – Your Place, Your Space funding scheme (UBU) and managed by Foroige

Non DCEDIY Funded Youth Projects: Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board currently provide an administrative, oversight and governance function to the following non DCEDIY Funded Projects;

Monaghan Youth Service Projects

Journeys – Options Monaghan – funded by SEUPB and managed by Youth Work Ireland
Journeys – Alternatives Monaghan – funded by SEUPB and managed by Foroige
Journeys – Face off Monaghan – funded by SEUPB and managed by Local Creative Youth Partnership

Cavan Youth Service Projects

Journeys – Options Cavan – funded by SEUPB and managed by Youth Work Ireland
Journeys – Alternatives Cavan – funded by SEUPB and managed by Foroige
Journeys – Face off Cavan- funded by SEUPB and managed by Local Creative Youth Partnership

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board annually administer The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and carry out Quality Standards for Volunteer Led Youth Groups on behalf of DCEDIY. Once off annual schemes e.g. Youth Capital and Youth Employability are also administered.

4. Assessment

National Quality Standards Framework

Implement the roll out and support of the National Quality Standards Framework for youth work services funded by the DCEDIY. Its aim is to assist youth work organisations to identify strengths and areas for development in their services and to benchmark progress accordingly. Having done so, services take a structured and developmental approach to the assessment of youth work provision, examining its level, impact and efficacy. The role of the ETB is to facilitate and oversee this process with with DCEDIY-funded youth work services in its operational area.

National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups

As a natural progression to the NQSF for staff-led projects, the Department has rolled out a set of National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups. They present an opportunity for youth groups to demonstrate their commitment to best practice and to the delivery of quality programmes and activities, which meet the needs and expectations of their young members. All youth groups funded through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme are required to engage in the standards process.

NQSF – Information for Youth Workers

National Quality Standards for Youth Work

The DCEDY introduced the National Quality Standards Framework for youth work (NQSF) in January 2011. This is primarily a support, development and assessment tool that provides youth services with the opportunity to articulate through a common language their youth work practice. The implementation of the NQSF is resulting in an improvement in good practice and it is addressing the developmental needs of young people to an even greater extent and in a more cost-effective manner.

The rationale for the development of the NQSF initiative is to:

Provide a support and development tool to organisations and projects
Establish standards in the practice and provision of youth work
Provide an enhanced evidence base for youth work
Ensure resources are used effectively in the youth work sector
Provide a basis for whole-organisational assessment.

The NQSF applies to all staff-led youth work services/projects and programmes which are funded under the following DCEDIY schemes:

Youth Service Grant Scheme
UBU Your Space, Your Place
Youth Information Centres

Support and guidance for local youth work services is being provided by the local Education and Training Board (Youth/Liaison) Officer.

NQSF Manual is available here

Voluntary Youth Work Provision

Setting up a Voluntary Youth Group

Working Safely in a Youth Club – Guidance for Youth Leaders on how to create a safe environment NYCI – https://www.youth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NYCI-Working-Safely-in-a-Youth-Club.pdf

Garda Vetting – all volunteers in a Youth Group MUST complete Garda Vetting. This can be done through the organisation that the group is affiliated to. For unaffiliated groups please contact Cavan Volunteer Centre – https://volunteercavan.ie/ or Monaghan Volunteer Centre – https://volunteermonaghan.ie/

Child Protection Training MUST be undertaken by each volunteer. Please see Child Protection (TUSLA Children First e-learning Programme – https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/ )

GDPR Guidelines – it is advised that, if your youth group is affiliated to an organisation, that you follow their GDPR Guidelines. In the case of unaffiliated group contact Cavan Volunteer Centre – https://volunteercavan.ie/ or Monaghan Volunteer Centre – https://volunteermonaghan.ie/ for advice and guidance.

Sample Forms necessary in a Volunteer-Led Youth Group

Accident/Incident Report Form; Child Safeguarding Statement & Risk Assessment; GDPR Form; Health & Safety Statement; Parental & Medical Consent Form; Sign-In Sheet

Youth Club Grants Scheme – Eligibility Criteria & Application

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) supports volunteer-led youth club/group activities at a local level. The Scheme, which provides grant aid towards the costs of running clubs/groups, is part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery. Funding for the Scheme is provided by the DCEDIY and is administered locally by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) on behalf of DCEDIY. ETBs advertise the Scheme locally on an annual basis, outlining the purpose of the grant and the eligibility criteria.

The Scheme supports voluntary youth club/group activities for young people; with priority given to clubs/groups catering for young people aged 10–21. The primary focus of the Scheme is to assist local volunteer-led youth clubs/groups that provide a programme of youth work activities for young people. In addition, other clubs/groups that work with young people, but are not specifically providing youth work, are also entitled to apply for funding under the Scheme. In 2017, DCEDIY incorporated the National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups into the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme. These national quality standards were developed to support and enhance voluntary work with young people. Criteria for eligibility: The primary focus of the Scheme is to assist local volunteer-led youth clubs/groups that provide a programme of youth work activities for young people. In addition, other clubs/groups that work with young people, but are not specifically providing youth work, are also entitled to apply for LYCGS funding.

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 under the age of 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 have a nominated designated liaison person (DLP) for child protection.
The club/group must have written procedures setting out child protection arrangements which are adapted to the nature of the organisation’s contact with children and which comply with the requirements outlined in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (DCYA, 2011).
All adult volunteers working with young people must have been 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 NQSVlYG Standards must be included in your Application Form response.