Please help YouthAction NI be there to support
young people this winter
Anxiety, loneliness and mental health challenges are on the rise and significantly impacting the lives of young people and their communities.
Add the cost of living crisis, widespread food poverty, demands of schoolwork and challenging experiences within the online world and it all adds up to life being really tough.
At YouthAction Northern Ireland, we know that young people need trusted adults they can depend on, who are not teachers or parents, in their lives. Our specialist youth workers support thousands of young people every year, offering a listening ear and guidance as trusted adults.
In the last year, Youth Action Northern Ireland has supported more than 5500 young people.
This year, for the first time, we are asking for your help directly.
Your donation will support our life-changing work with young people this Winter.
Every donation will help our youth workers light the way to a brighter future for more local young people in need of our support.
£10 could help our youth workers to support young people to tackle loneliness and improve their wellbeing through one-to-one support, friendship groups and personal strategies.
£30 could provide youth workers and volunteers with training and resources to help ensure that youth work is inclusive, fair and encourages safer communities.
£50 could enable a youth worker to lead a creative workshop for young people who have special educational needs.
New Paragraph
An estimated 50,000 young people across Northern Ireland are materially deprived, meaning families cannot afford to provide for basic needs, heating, fresh food or clothing.
(Action for Children research 2023)
Young people who attend our projects tell us they are concerned about the cost of living and access to services. They share their experiences of poverty and how it reduces their opportunities. It also impacts on their mental health and in some cases this can lead to risk taking behaviours.
"A participant from our programme shared his challenges this winter.
He is a carer for his mum and provides her with support for 2 younger siblings. He feels intense pressure to get a job to provide and 'be the man of the house'.
He cant access public transport as it is a choice between that buying food and topping up the heating. His mental health is on the decline and he is only 17 years old."
Belfast Project Worker
YouthAction Northern Ireland supports young people to lead change for a fairer and more inclusive world.
We maximise young people's creative expression
We build young people's health and wellbeing.
We improve young people's life and work skills.
We inspire young people to demonstrate leadership, activism and peace-building.
Our projects build young people's confidence and offer a safe space to make friends and fun.
And our team supports young people to express themselves, increase their skills and build their resilience.
"I love performing and being able to express myself and work towards something brilliant. Rainbow gives me a chance to de-stress, it's a break from the rest of life."
Young person who attends YouthAction NI's Rainbow School of Performing Arts
5463
young people benefitted from our youth work and youth arts programmes
1161
young people participated in our life and work skills projects
257
communities were supported to embed quality youth work to support young people's development
162
local members were supported with governance, quality assurance, safe-guarding and a wide variety of training
Support Our Work
YouthAction NI is committed to working with other sectoral representatives and partners to raise the quality and increase the reach of youth work and youth arts across Northern Ireland
We aim to support over 10,000 young people each year to discover their potential through our arts and creativity workshops, life and work skills programme and our health, wellbeing and peace projects.
We are always keen to explore new opportunities to develop our programmes and enhance the support we can offer young people locally.
You can support our work by giving a donation of money, time, product or skills. Every gift will help more young people discover their potential and empower them to improve their futures.
Registered Charity: NIC 106365
Company No: NI 035317