Collaboration and participation in decision-making

Seven submissions (Barnardos, Gaisce, YWCI, NCYI, AC, IDEA, DRCD) called for increased collaboration with the youth sector and higher rates of youth participation in policy planning and implementation across Government Departments and agencies. Barnardos stressed the need to offer additional opportunities for the participation of ‘seldom heard’ cohorts in disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Gaisce called for partnership between Governments and the youth sector during the pandemic recovery phase, and requested the opportunity to work more directly with the DCEDIY to “build further mentorship and role models with meaningful connection in young

people’s lives” in the SoS. YWCI recommended including “a representative independent body of youth workers” at Department level to participate “in decisions that impact the profession and the sector”, and including “youth workers on the ground” in “decision-making processes regarding changes in the youth sector”. NCYI recommended developing and implementing a New National Youth Work Development Plan in collaboration with the youth work sector, as the sector has experienced a number of changes (and challenges) since the completion of the last Plan in 2007. The AC called for more opportunities to work strategically with the Department to ensure that children’s arts and cultural rights are considered as part of policy planning and provision.

IDEA recommended the use of Youth Assemblies “to consider issues of importance to young people and their future”, particularly issues addressed by development education, such as “climate action, equality, integration, migrant rights, and those furthest behind”. DFA also referenced the provision of development education, and its support of a ‘global citizenship dimension’ to youth work. The DRCD recommend the establishment of a Rural Youth Assembly “to deepen the engagement with young people in rural areas”, to enable Departments to understand and respond to their community, educational and career needs, “to actively involve them in decisions that affect them, and to encourage their participation in local initiatives”.