Three in four youth work organisations have seen increase in deprivation among young people in communities they work in
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) – which represents groups working with young people nationwide – is calling for supports for young people and the youth sector in Budget 2024 to tackle the deprivation witnessed by its members in its latest survey of youth work organisations.
Paul Gordon, NYCI Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “It’s clear from our second member survey on the cost of living since last Autumn that inflation and associated deprivation are taking hold in many communities. Youth organisations are increasingly stepping in to support young people with basic necessities like food.”
“While it’s not their primary function, youth work organisations often feel compelled to offer these essential supports. In Budget 2024, we are urging the Government to provide an additional €9.4 million investment in youth work. This will help to meet growing demands on youth work organisations so they can get back to delivering transformational programmes for young people,” continued Mr Gordon.
Three in four youth work organisations say deprivation among young people on the rise
NYCI surveyed its member youth organisations on their ability to deliver youth work services and the issues they have seen facing young people in their community, and found:
- 67% had experienced an ‘increase in demand for services in the last 6 months’.
- 75% agreed they had seen an increase in deprivation amongst young people in the communities they work in, as a result of the increase in the cost of living.
Many respondents cited an increase in young people presenting in their service struggling with food poverty and hunger. One respondent said:
“Young people are arriving at the services cold, hungry and in need of food. Families are also arriving at the services as they don’t have money to provide food for their children and young people and can’t afford to pay bills.”
State must ‘renew its social contract with young people’
NYCI says its members are seeing not only the impact of inflation on young people, but of broader social and financial challenges . One member told NYCI:
“In three specific cases in the recent months, we have had three young people made effectively homeless due to the rising cost of living and inability to afford accommodation.”
Mr Gordon said: “Government must use Budget 2024 as an opportunity to renew the state’s social contract with young people. On top of the financial impact of the cost of living, many young people are now feeling the effects of investment in critical infrastructure like housing and public transport not keeping pace with population growth.”
“With the right level of investment to support young people through immediate pressures and build capacity to deliver more effective services, NYCI believes we can build a better Ireland for young people both now and into the future.”
In its Pre-Budget Submission published today (06.07.23), NYCI is calling for a total package of upwards of €264m to address challenges facing young people including the cost-of-living crisis, accommodation shortages, youth homelessness and youth work supports. This also includes calls for equality for young workers and jobseekers in the minimum wage and welfare payments.
“To put this targeted package of investment in context, we are calling for 1 in every €20 to be set aside for young people and youth work as part of the €5.25 billion expenditure package announced in the Summer Economic Statement on Tuesday. This will prove a worthwhile investment that will reap dividends for all of society,” concluded Mr Gordon.
The costed proposals are detailed in NYCI’s Pre-Budget Submission.