Programmes for Young People 11-25

 We created 5 programmes targeted primarily at young people in the 11-16 and 17-25 age groups. The programmes were delivered by The Big Deal participation worker team in the Northern Ireland Youth Forum (NIYF) in partnership with the 5 Education and Library Boards (ELBs). A worker was located in each of the five ELB areas and delivered work with:

• young people not currently making use of local youth and community services
• youth councils, forums and committees
• youth centres, youth projects and other organisations working with young people

The 5 programmes were:

 

Transitions - exploring effective decision making processes for young people at key points in their lives

Making It Happen  - helping young people become aware of and develop their own talents, abilities, leadership skills and motivation to make a positive difference in their own youth group, school or community.

Democracy Works - explored local and national politics and how it impacts on people’s lives

Making your Youth Council Work for You - how can you make your youth council more effective?

Organisational Change  - promoting, encouaging and developing good practice around participation

 

The programmes were designed to achieve the greater participation of young people as decision-makers in their own lives and in the activities and services they take part in.

Learning outcomes were produced for each of the programmes:

Transitions

Making it Happen

Democracy Works

Making your Youth Council Work for You

Organisational Change


The Open College Network has also approved the following 3 units:

1. Understanding Democracy and Participation in own Community
2. Decision Making using Personality Theories
3. Team Planning for a Community Project



An independent evaluation of the Organisational Change Programme was carried out in 2009