Who We Are

About NIYF

The Northern Ireland Youth Forum is youth led.
This means that it is run by young people and is all about young people.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

Who We Are

NI Youth Forum promotes the voices of young people; Speaking Truth to Power. By working together we speak more loudly and we will make sure those in position of power will hear your opinion. We are an independent; radical; youth led body.  Any young person between the ages of 11-25 years can get involved.

All young people have opportunities to have a say on issues that affect their lives. (I have attached Our Voices research – you might be able to use a good graphic from that to replace like on page 9 or page 10)

 

Our mission is to empower young people to challenge disadvantage and inequality; effect change and contribute to building a just, fair and equal society. We want to help children and young people who do not have what they need because of poverty, who are being treated unfairly or because they don’t have the help and support they need when they need it – like at school or the doctor

Youth Led – the Youth Forum is entirely youth led. Governed and managed by young people aged 11-25. We invest in supporting young people to take the lead; be activists and be in control.

Youth Voices – all young people have the right to have a say and their views should be taken into account and acted upon.

Caring – we want everyone who works with us to feel safe, respected and valued.

Kindness and how we treat one another is at the heart of what we do.

Rights Based – we are a rights based organisation and our practice is embedded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Equality, diversity and inclusion – all young people have a say; are welcome and should be supported.

Shared Education
100%
Youth Zone
85%
Young People
75%
Elections
85%

Core Work

Under our core work we:

  • Work with Local Youth Councils;
  • Organise events, activities conferences, seminars, etc based on the issues that are important to young people;
  • Advocate for young people based on issues that affect their lives;
  • Submit views to the Minister for Education; Department of Education; Youth Council for Northern Ireland, Education and Library Boards and other statutory and voluntary organisations on issues which affect the lives of young people;
  • Support young people to participate at a policy making level on committees such as the Youth Service Liaison Forum; European Youth Forum etc.

History of FIYF

We aim to support young people to raise and discuss issues of importance to them.

2023

FORTIFICATION OF PLACE AND BRAND

We believe that all young people have ideas and opinions worth listening to and we want to help you get involved in changing things in your school, community, and in society.

2012

NEW FUNDING

Organise events, activities conferences, seminars, etc based on the issues that are important to young people;

1979

FOUNDATION

We were set up in 1979 by the Department of Education to represent the views of young people to government and other decision maker

Meet Our Team

Meet our Youth Workers, Managers, Directors & Administrator teams.

See the Whole Team

Our core work is funded by the Department of Education via Education Authority.

The Youth Forum has strong links with the Minister for Education; Youth Council for NI and other policy makers.