An Update on the Youth Council for Northern Ireland

The Youth Council for Northern Ireland (YCNI) was established under The Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

The 1989 Order states that the Youth Council shall consist of such persons as the Head of the Department may appoint and that the persons so appointed shall hold office for such terms and upon such conditions as to retirement, ceasing to hold office and re-appointment as the Head of the Department may from time to time determine.

All current YCNI members’ appointments ended on 31 March 2019. The Department is grateful for the commitment of the outgoing members and thanks them for their commitment to improving the lives of young people through youth work.

In the absence of a Minister as the Head of the Department, new appointments to the Board of the YCNI cannot be made.

Consequently YCNI, while remaining a statutory body, cannot operate until a new Council can be appointed.

The situation will be kept under review. In the meantime the Department and the Education Authority will continue to seek feedback from membership organisations and representative groups on the development of the youth service. This includes through the Regional Advisory Group, Youth Service Reform Partnership and other groups established to take forward actions under the Priorities for Youth policy.

Note: The Education Authority has responsibility for the provision of all youth services funded by the Department of Education. From 1 April 2016, funding for Regional Voluntary Youth Organisations has been administered through the Education Authority.