About Voices for Impact
A Collaborative Effort Between Youth Work Organisations
Voices for Impact represents a powerful collaborative effort among several youth work organisations across the UK and Ireland. This partnership has enabled the initiative to engage with a broader spectrum of young people across the region.
By pooling resources, connections and efforts, we have successfully built a platform that acts as a database of youth responses. This collective input is pivotal in influencing and driving substantial changes in legislation, ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and acted upon in the shaping of their future.
Our Values
At the heart of our organisation is a commitment to giving young people a voice. We deeply value the opinions and perspectives of the youth, recognising what matters most to them and understanding how we can best support their vision and goals for the future.
Our aim is to provide resources that truly value and encourage their input and contributions. We believe in empowering young people by actively listening and responding to their ideas, ensuring they play a central role in shaping their own future and the future.
Our Mission
At the core of our mission lies the commitment to offering accessible youth work resources, designed to assist youth workers and organisations in gathering insightful data on young people’s perspectives.
Our approach to data collection is rooted in anonymity, ensuring a respectful and ethical process while still providing a quantitative basis for advocacy. By collecting this data, we aim to effectively lobby governments and influence legislation, amplifying the voices of the younger generation.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that these voices not only resonate with but are also actively heard and considered by policymakers, empowering youth and advocating for their interests and needs.
Youth Work Outcomes
We are committed to regularly updating and sharing the outcomes of our youth surveys. This practice demonstrates to young people that their contributions are not only heard but also, whenever possible, acted upon. It’s vital that they see the tangible impact of their input.
The data collected through these surveys is a valuable asset for various youth work organisations. It can be instrumental in funding applications, providing concrete evidence of the needs and priorities within their specific catchment areas.
By utilising this data, organisations can tailor their programs and initiatives more effectively, ensuring they meet the unique needs of the communities they serve. This approach underscores our dedication to making a meaningful difference in youth work.
Who Is Involved?
The following youth work organisations are involved in this initiative.
The Bytes Project
The Bytes Project has been a longstanding youth work organisation in Northern Ireland, offering support to young people for over 30 years. This organisation focuses on helping disadvantaged youth by providing them with a space to speak up about issues that matter to them and their communities.
Central to their work is fostering empathy, especially considering Northern Ireland’s history of sectarian conflict. Understanding one another is key in their approach to youth work, aiming to cultivate a sense of community and connection in NI.
The Bytes Project also emphasises the importance of digital literacy. We do this by focusing on the development of formative and creative digital skills. We are currently exploring the future digital skills particularly how young people access to AI can access it and use it effectively.
YMCA Ireland
YMCA Ireland is dedicated to providing comprehensive youth services across Ireland, both in the North and South. They are driven by a mission to empower young people and foster positive changes in communities. Their work is shaped by a set of core principles that guide their approach and interactions.
At the forefront is inclusivity, ensuring that every individual feels welcomed and valued. YMCA Ireland also continually adapts and innovates to meet the evolving needs of young people across the island of Ireland.
YMCA Ireland places significant emphasis on family engagement, creating a stimulating and enjoyable environment for young people. This includes implementing trauma-informed practices and prioritising environmental sustainability, demonstrating their commitment to the well-rounded development of youth and the betterment of the wider community.
Boys & Girls Clubs NI
Boys & Girls Clubs NI is a youth charity with a history dating back to 1940. They are dedicated to nurturing the personal and social development of young people in Northern Ireland and have collaborated with over 120 local youth organisations.
Boys & Girls Clubs NI offer a broad spectrum of services, including networking opportunities, policy guidance, and a diverse range of youth projects and activities. Annually, they directly work with around 2,500 children, young people, volunteers, and youth workers.
While their central office is based in Belfast, their impact is felt across local voluntary youth clubs and schools in Northern Ireland, making a significant difference in the communities they serve.
Youth Initiatives NI
Youth Initiatives NI, established in 1991, is dedicated to uplifting young people, particularly in areas of social disadvantage in Northern Ireland. Starting in Poleglass, they have expanded their reach to include West Belfast, East Belfast, Downpatrick, Banbridge, and L’Derry.
Their mission focuses on awakening hope, inspiring initiative, and mobilising youth to positively impact their communities and contribute to a shared future in Northern Ireland. They engage young people by emphasising equality, inclusion, and the creation of supportive environments.
Their values encompass fostering a culture of honour and growth, maintaining professionalism in practice, and nurturing leadership among young people. Central to their approach is a Christian ethos, guiding their work with principles of hope, love, and faith.
YouthLink Scotland
YouthLink Scotland is the national agency for youth work and the collective voice of the sector in Scotland. We champion and advocate for the youth work sector so that all people can access high-quality youth work.
Our vision is of a Scotland where young people realise their full potential through you work. We believe in young people and prioritise their needs and rights. We are a learning organisation, promoting innovation and change.
We also represent our voluntary and statutory memberships with integrity and value collaboration with partners. We are committed to being inclusive, accessible, ethical, equitable and diverse. We strongly believe that a healthy and vibrant youth work sector can bring transformation, not only to the lives of young people but also to their families, communities and society as a whole.
Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services
Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services is an independent charitable body and the national representative for the voluntary youth sector with a diverse, vibrant, values-based Membership of organisations promoting quality youth work in Wales.
Our Vision is a Wales where all young people are empowered by innovative, quality and sustainable voluntary youth work services. Our Mission is to represent, support and give a collective voice to its membership and voluntary youth work organisations across Wales.
We do this through strategic leadership for the voluntary youth work sector with facilitation and advocacy for both organisations and young people, influencing policy development and supporting communications to raise the profile of youth work within Wales and internationally.
We work collaboratively through partnerships including promoting diversity and inclusion across sectors.
We are knowledge exchange champions sharing information on funding, training, resources, events, opportunities, support and policy issues. And through all this, we celebrate, measure and recognise the social, economic and cultural impact of the voluntary youth work sector in Wales, promoting research, data evaluation and best practice.