The Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) launched their Youth Work Plan 2023-2027 alongside the Local Creative Youth Partnership Strategic Plan at an event held at St. John’s Theatre, Listowel. The event displayed the power of youth work and the creativity of children and young people, highlighting collaborative efforts that provide opportunities for the youth of Kerry.
From live music to drama performances, the event encapsulated the impact of youth work. Both adults and young people collaborated at the event under a common theme to explore the strengths of young individuals and how they could receive additional support. Attendees formed groups to work on an artistic project during the launch, resulting in a remarkable LED display spelling out the word ‘Unity,’ symbolising the collaborative effort invested in the strategic plans.
The Kerry ETB Youth Work Plan is a roadmap for its commitment to youth services in County Kerry. It aligns with the statutory responsibility to support the provision, co-ordination, administration, and assessment of youth work services. The consultation process involved extensive engagement with stakeholders, young people, and various organisations working directly with young people.
A strong focus of the plan is to develop our capacity as a community to work together to support young people to flourish as they grow up in Kerry. Aodhán Morrison and Keira Griffin, youth representatives on the Kerry ETB Youth Work Committee launched the Youth Work Plan and had this to say: “As we move forward, let us remain committed to having a positive impact and enhancing the voices of young people. Let us continue to engage, celebrate their diversity, and empower young people to shape their own futures. Together we can create a community where every young person thrives, where their voices are cherished and heard, and where their dreams and aspirations for change become a reality.”
The Youth Work Plan outlines Kerry ETB’s vision and values for supporting young people across the county and includes actions relating to: the continued provision of inclusive quality youth services. The need for more funding in under resourced areas. The need for accessible youth spaces. Also, the value of volunteer-led local youth clubs and groups and, the importance of ensuring young people are at the heart of all supports provided to them.
Kerry’s Local Creative Youth Partnership (the LCYP) at Kerry ETB was also thrilled to announce its five-year strategic plan this week. The plan is available in English and Irish on the Kerry ETB website. Priorities in the plan include twenty-nine key actions and four overarching goals which focus on sustainable partnerships, listening to young voices, embracing rights-based creativity as well as ensuring quality and visibility in the work of the LCYP.
One of the young participants at the event was Kayla McGaley from the Castleisland Construct Project, hosted at the Community College. This is supported by both the LCYP and the UBU Youth Work Project in the area. Currently, there is an ongoing effort to design an outdoor space tailored for the youth in Castleisland. Kayla expressed her thoughts on this collaboration, stating, “Knowing that an organisation like Kerry ETB has acknowledged the need for spaces where we, the youth of Castleisland, can gather safely is reassuring. We are developing a space that will be accessible to all young individuals in Castleisland for various activities. Both youth work initiatives and the LCYP are actively working with us each week, supporting our aspirations.”
