Local youth champion for Offaly and Laois named

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), which represents organisations working with young people nationwide, has launched its Local Champions initiative for 2024.

It aims to ensure increased investment in young people and youth work locally and nationally. Charlie Beaudelot, from Tullamore, has been selected as the initiative's Local Champion for the Laois-Offaly area.

Grace McManus, NYCI Campaigns Manager, explained: “As part of the Local Champions initiative, a group of passionate young individuals has been selected as representatives from their communities to engage with their local politicians and champion the cause of youth work.”

The Local Champions received training and support from NYCI to effectively convey the positive impact youth work has on their lives and the lives of young people in their communities, as well as the importance of investing in youth work.

NYCI is calling for an additional €15 million investment in youth work in Budget 2025 to support services under increasing pressure and ensure equal access to youth work for all young people nationwide.

The representatives which the Local Champion in Laois-Offaly is engaging with include Deputy Charles Flanagan, Minister Seán Fleming, Deputy Carol Nolan, and Deputy Brian Stanley.

Charlie Beaudelot said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting our local representatives and sharing some of the amazing experiences I’ve had with SpunOut, Offaly Comhairle na nÓg, ISSU, and the National Youth Assembly.

“There’s so much important work happening in our area to support young people, and I want to ensure our local representatives carry that message to the national level, so that youth work in our area and beyond gets its fair share come budget time.”

The Local Champions initiative will involve engaging with policymakers, sharing personal stories, and using social media to raise awareness and mobilise support.

Through these efforts, NYCI and the Local Champions aim to create a broader understanding of the significance of youth work and its positive impact on society.

These initiatives are part of NYCI's broader campaign ahead of Budget 2025 on 1st October 2024, to ensure that young people and youth work receive the necessary investment and support they deserve. The Local Champions initiative is supported by the Community Foundation Ireland.

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added: "Empowering Generations is central to our mission as a philanthropic hub for Ireland. To achieve that goal we’re delighted to be partners with NYCI.

“The Local Champions network aims to amplify the voices of young people and showcase the transformative power of youth work. It is bringing together an inspirational group of young people, and we look forward to seeing them connecting with their local representatives to share how youth work changes lives.”

To learn more about the Local Champions Initiative and NYCI's efforts to advocate for increased investment in youth work, see here.