Lighting the way to a brighter future

Many young people in Northern Ireland believe they are unheard and undervalued by society. YouthAction NI nurtures their power and potential. We support young people to lead the way for a fair and inclusive world by focusing on both individual change and system change.

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Gold Medal Mary

With heart, humour and determination at its core, Gold Medal Mary explores resilience, ambition and the drive to succeed against the odds. Performed by the talented young performers of the renowned Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts, this production comes to the MAC following a hugely successful run at the Rainbow Theatre.

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Winter Appeal

When life is tough, a youth worker can make the critical difference that will help a young person have hope and a positive direction. That’s why we are asking for your help. You can support our life-changing work with local young people this Winter. Every donation will support our youth workers to build young people's confidence, increase their skills and resilience for the future. Donate Now and help us light the way to a brighter future for young people.

Donate Now

Camino

Embark on an unforgettable journey along the Camino de Santiago in September 2026, where every step helps support YouthAction NI’s mission to empower young people across Northern Ireland. Our charity challenge blends challenge, culture and connection as you walk historic paths, explore vibrant Spanish towns and share an incredible experience with like-minded adventurers. By joining Team YouthAction NI, you’ll be creating real opportunities for young people to thrive, helping build a brighter, more equal future with every mile you walk.

Sign up now

Champions for Peace

We’re creating a generation of young leaders who stand for equality, respect, and understanding. Through dialogue, training, and shared experiences, young people learn how to lead positive change in their communities. Real leadership begins with listening — and acting with purpose. Join us and become a Champion for Peace.

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Strong Minds, Healthy Futures

Your mental and physical wellbeing matter. Our programmes support young people to build resilience, find balance, and create healthy habits that last a lifetime. It’s about feeling strong inside and out — and knowing you’re not alone in the journey. Take the first step toward a healthier you.

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Supporting Young People to Develop Skills

We help young people build the confidence, communication, and practical skills they need to take on the world of work and life beyond school. From career workshops to hands-on projects, every experience is about preparing for what’s next. It’s not just about getting ready for tomorrow — it’s about thriving today. Get involved and start shaping your future.

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Making a difference in 2024

Impact statistics

5463

Young people benefitting from our programmes

1161

Participants in life and work skills projects

252

Communities supported

162

Members supported with governance & training

Download Annual Report

Our Programmes

Our programmes work with young people to tackle inequalities in their lives and to improve their life chances.

Wellbeing

We build young people’s health and wellbeing.

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Creativity

We maximise young people’s creative expression.

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Skills

We improve young people’s life and work skills.

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Leadership

We inspire young people to demonstrate leadership.

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Our projects build young people's
resilience and offer a safe space to
make friends, explore issues and advocate for change.

Membership Network

We provide more than 180 members with quality services, information and training.

Make a donation

When life is tough, a youth worker can make the critical difference that will help a young person have hope for a brighter future.

£10

£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

£30 could provide youth workers and volunteers with training and resources to help ensure that youth work is inclusive, fair and encourages safer communities.
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£50

£50 could enable a youth worker to lead a creative workshop for young people who have special educational needs.

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Learn more about ways to fundraise

Enthuse includes a small optional contribution to support their platform. If you prefer, you can set this to £0 by choosing ‘other amount’ on the donation page.

Real stories

Our projects build young people’s confidence, resilience and participation.

“There were many challenging moments but the support from our leaders and each other really helped us.”
“Having access to a community gives me hope for the future. Having a space to be yourself is very important... I feel seen and heard in the group.”
“YouthStart was life changing for me. I was in a really bad place beforehand. My YouthStart worker helped me to get a career, move country, and really appreciate myself. I am happy, content, and have a reason to get up every morning.”
Read more stories

Stay Connected

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