My first Magazine KWETB Autumn Brochure 2017 A5 [hi-res] Final | Page 22

Youth Development Office Youth work is given formal statutory recognition in the Youth Work Act 2001, which defines it as: “a planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young people through their voluntary involvement, and which is complementary to their formal, academic or vocational education and training and provided primarily by voluntary youth work organisations”. The definition stresses ‘the fundamentally developmental and educational nature of the work; the fact that it rests on the voluntary participation of young people; and the fact that it has been, and is, in the main provided by voluntary organisations’. Youth work engages young people from ten to twenty-four years of age, a significant period in terms of young people’s development. Flexibility of approach and focus on interpersonal relationships, enables it to offer an educational process complementary to that provided through formal education. In addition, Youth work often acts as referral in the interface with other youth- related issues such as care, health, and welfare. 20 Under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Kildare and Wicklow ETB has been given the legislative responsibility of supporting; “the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area and provide(ing) such information as may be requested by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to such support.” (Section 10 (1) (j)). For further information please contact: KWETB Youth Officer Alison Fox Kildare & Wicklow ETB, Church Street, Wicklow Town Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] KWETB Youth Officer Lorraine Flynn Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare, Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] KWETB are delighted to announce the recruitment of a new Youth Officer for Kildare/Wicklow. The Youth Officer will work as part of the Youth Development Team in supporting the provision, coordination, administration of youth services in the KWETB area. The Youth Officer is responsible for developing and implementing programmes and services that support the work of KWETB with young people.