Youth Work
Co Westmeath has considerable areas of responsibility for Youth Work under the provisions of the Youth Work Act 2001. The role of the Youth Officer is to co-ordinate these functions on behalf of the VEC.
What is the Youth work Act 2001?
The Youth Work Act 2001 provides a number of positive developments for youth work.
- It provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services and gives statutory responsibility at national level to the Minister of Education and Science and at local level to the VEC’s, for the development of youth work and it’s co-operation with other services for young people.
- It provides for the development and planning of youth work at local level, i.e. VEC level.
- It provides for the establishment of a National Youth Work Advisory Committee and the appointment of a Youth Work Assessor.
What does this mean for Co. Westmeath VEC?
Under the Act, Vocational Education Committees (VEC’s) will, for the first time, have statutory responsibility for the development of youth work in their areas.
Co. Westmeath VEC must in time;
- Co-ordinate plans, proposals and activities re youth work programmes/services and related activities.
- Provide financial assistance to youth work organisations.
- Prepare a Youth Work Development Plan.
- Designate, review or withdrawal of designation (registration) of local youth work/service organisations.
- Establish a Youth Work Committee to advise and make recommendations to the VEC on the performance of its youth work functions.
- Establish a Voluntary Youth Council to advise on matters relating to the Youth Work Development Plan and to act as a forum for voluntary youth organisations.
For further information on this or any aspect of the youth work activity of the VEC please contact;
Maria FoxYouth Officer
Tel 044 9394019 / 086 3839451
Email mfox@westmeathvec.ie
