Youth Service policy should be reviewed

UNISON is calling for a Departmental review of the overall policy delivering Youth  Services across Northern Ireland ‎and is insisting that this be commenced without delay.

Susan Neill,  UNISON Area Organiser working with youth workers in the Belfast area said:

‘Tomorrow Friday 7th April at 6pm we will be joining a youth workers protest at the Rosario Youth Centre, Ormeau Road, Belfast.

Over the last number of weeks and months youth workers, whether in the statutory or voluntary‎ sector with temporary contracts have been on protective notice. Some will be retained with a rollover of their contracts for another few months. However cuts in allowances are being implemented by voluntary sector management committees living with short term funding.  It's nerve wrecking and very upsetting for their workers.

Since 2013 the Education Authority has been interpreting a policy which called for more involvement of the community and voluntary sector. Employment in this sector is precarious dependent on short term funding and based significantly on temporary contracts.  It appears shambolic.

We need to get to grips with putting youth services on a stable footing, ensuring public money strongly supports public provision and regularises decent standards of employment in funded voluntary services ‎.

We don't have an Executive but we do have an Education Department and an Education Authority. They should get their act together’.

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For further information please contact:  Susan Neill,  Area Organiser  028 90 270190