Local Youth Club Grant Scheme

Image of person who wrote blog. Each year our Youth Services Development Section accepts grant applications from local volunteer-led youth clubs under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS). This funding can be used to enhance the experience of young people participating in the activities of youth clubs. What does this involve? In this blog our Youth Work Administrator Jacquie Knox tells us more about it.

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) supports club activities at a local level. The Scheme, which provides grant aid towards the costs of running clubs, is part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery. Funding for the Scheme is provided by the Department of Children Equality Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and is administered locally by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) on behalf of DCEDIY.  We advertise the Scheme locally in the press and through social media on an annual basis, outlining the purpose of the grant and the eligibility criteria. In 2022, Donegal ETB distributed €79,860 to 53 youth clubs based throughout Donegal.

DCEDIY provides grant aid that is made available to clubs, the majority of which are affiliated to a National Youth Organisation (NYO) such as Donegal Youth Service, Foróige, Scouting Ireland, Irish Girl Guides, Muintearas, Girls Brigade Ireland, Youth Theatre Ireland, Girls Friendly Society and Macra na Feirme, along with independent clubs, marching bands and music clubs.

The Scheme supports club activities for young people, with priority given to clubs catering for young people aged 10–21, assisting them to provide a programme of youth work activities. This can range from paying the rent and the running costs of the club’s premises, purchasing equipment for use by the club, trips and events, transport costs, the hire of facilitators for workshops, etc. In addition, other clubs that work with young people, but are not specifically providing youth work, are also entitled to apply for funding under the Scheme.

DCEDIY logoDCEDIY is committed to supporting these clubs and their parent organisations in providing the best possible opportunities for young people to develop and progress. In 2017, DCEDIY incorporated the National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups (NQSVLYG) into the LYCGS application form.

The revised format was developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. It reduced the administrative burden, while still requiring clubs to display their commitment to best practice, ongoing development of quality programmes and the provision of activities for young people.  NYOs are required to support the implementation of these standards with their respective affiliated clubs. Donegal ETB implements the Standards with non-affiliated/independent clubs.

The objective of the NQSVLYG is to support clubs to:

∙ Improve the quality of the programmes and activities provided.

∙ Improve the way programmes and activities are planned and delivered.

∙ Provide young people with the opportunity to have a say in the development and review of the group and its activities.

If you would like more information on our Youth Services section, you’ll find some on our website: https://www.donegaletb.ie/schools-youth-services/youth-services/.