WELB Youth Service

Overview

The aim of the Western Education and Library Board Youth Service Sponsorship Scheme is to assist the successful development and delivery of Youth Service activities within the Board area in accordance with the Northern Ireland Youth Service Curriculum.

Sponsorship

The WELB Youth Service Sponsorship Scheme provides financial assistance and professional support to established Youth Organisations who wish to extend their programmes to offer a substantial youth work curriculum to young people.

Sponsored Units/Organisations are divided into two categories:-

• Level 1 Units: Voluntary Units who offer ongoing educational programmes to young people based on the principles of the Northern Ireland Youth Service Curriculum. Level 1 Units will have a significant programme based on an agreement with the WELB, to deliver activities in accordance with the Northern Ireland Youth Service Curriculum.
• Level 2 Units: Level 2 Units may be Voluntary or Controlled. They will be expected to offer an extensive service to the young people in their area and will work to a Curriculum Agreement with the WELB, which is in accordance with the core principles of the Northern Ireland Youth Service Curriculum. Funding will be in accordance with the curriculum and services to be delivered.

Levels of Core Funding

Within the Sponsorship Scheme levels of Core Funding will be offered on the basis of the following criteria:

• Band 1 Level 1 Unit operational one session per week
• Band 2 Level 1 Unit operational two sessions per week
• Band 3 Level 1 Unit operational three sessions per week
• Band 4 Level 1 Unit operational four sessions per week

On approval by the WELB, Level 1 Units will be given an annual financial allocation based on the above criteria. Finance will be paid in advance (in April of each year) and will be accounted for through an Annual Income and Expenditure Report, returned at the end of the financial year, identifying how Core Funding has been spent in relation to the costs of the facilities.

Curriculum Development Schemes

Level 1 Units may also apply through the Divisional Youth Office for funding through the Curriculum Development Schemes identified on Page 2 of this document. In exceptional circumstances discretionary grants to a maximum of £500 may be payable to units to develop innovative approaches to Youth Work delivery.

Priority will be given to areas and issues in accordance with established criteria and statistics and will include:

• Car Crime Initiatives
• Health & Drug Education
• Rural Youth Work
• Urban Outreach Projects
• Outdoor Education Outreach
• Citizenship Programmes
• Parenting Programmes
• Work Preparation