A Charter for the Voluntary Youth Sector

Some Key Facts The voluntary youth sector is dependent on the contribution of significant numbers of volunteers

• 9 out of every 10 workers in the youth sector is a volunteer

• Over 23,500 volunteers aged 16+ are engaged in youth work in

Northern Ireland every year

• Many young people who engage in the voluntary youth sector

remain as volunteers

Youth work provides excellent value for money

• The youth service receives 1.5% of the overall Education Budget.

This is approximately the cost of building two post primary

schools. The voluntary youth sector receives a proportion of this

which does not equate to its contribution to delivery.

• For every one pound invested by the Department of Education,

Voluntary Youth Organisations generate as a minimum an

additional five pounds.

Youth work engages with considerable numbers of young people

• Over 180,000 children and young people aged 4-25 years are

currently involved in youth work in Northern Ireland

• A minimum of 55% of children and young people in Northern

Ireland will have had contact with the youth service at some time

in their lives