There are lots of  opportunities for interested adults to volunteer with Foróige. If you are 18 and over you are eligible to volunteer.

The Foróige club is the basic unit of the organisation and are entirely volunteer run. The Foróige club is open to young people aged 12 to 18. They elect a club committee and run a formal club meeting at the beginning of each club night. This gives them a chance to make decisions about the running of the club and the activities they get involved in.

As a Foróige club leader you are required to support the members of your club to run the club one night a week for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Your job is to facilitate the members to run the club and get involved in projects and other developmental activities. You are supported by a regional youth officer who will assist you in setting up the club, deliver training to the leaders and committee members and support you throughout the year as necessary.
Foróige has developed a number of other voluntary youth work models to meet the varying needs of young people and the communities within which they live. These include but are not limited to:

Feeder Clubs
Feeder clubs are for young people aged 10 to 12, who have not yet reached the minimum age to be in a Foróige club. Feeder clubs prepare 10 to 12 year olds for membership in the local Foróige club. They get the chance to start learning about democracy and team work and develop core skills like organisation, communication and how to chair a meeting.

Volunteer Led Youth Cafés
A volunteer led youth café is a space for young people to be themselves, meet friends, have their say and get involved in developmental activities, and access appropriate support and services. Finding an appropriate space is vital and your regional youth officer can help you with this.

Special Interest Groups
Often a group of young people have a specific interest or talent. This may be the case from the beginning or it may develop over time. Special interest groups allow them to engage in the activity they enjoy with their group on a regular basis. Examples include fishing groups, DJ groups, hip hop groups.

Youth Fora
Foróige has a strong tradition of encouraging and facilitating young people to have a voice and make a meaningful contribution to the world around them. Youth forums are groups where young advocates who want, not only to discuss issues that affect them, but also impact on these issues in the world around them. These groups often engage in discussion groups, debates, issues based workshops and lobbying.

One to One Mentoring
If you feel you would be better suited to work directly with one young person on a regular basis then the Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme might be just what you are looking for. You are supported and encouraged throughout the programme and will have a chance to develop a supportive relationship with a young person and assist in their personal development. Volunteers are matched with their little brother or sister based on common interests so most volunteers find that they gain just as much from the relationship as their little brother/sister.
Matches often spend a day together shopping, playing sports, watching a film or just chatting over a cuppa. Others spend time in the Foróige centre nearest to them, like the local youth café.

Volunteer in a Project or Service
While most of our projects are staff-led, volunteer support is vital to their success. You would work alongside a professional youth worker on developmental activities and workshops. You may volunteer with just one group within a project or with a number of groups on a particular topic or around a particular skill.

For more information on volunteering opportunities in your area contact your regional youth officer or local Foróige office (go to map locator)

For further information on volunteering within Foróige, please check our FAQ

Foróige local youth services provide a comprehensive range of youth work services that enable communities to respond effectively to the needs of the young people in the area. They provide specialised services to vulnerable young people in a non-stigmatised way and support the existence of a multitude of voluntary youth organisations. Local youth services work in partnership with other organisations to best meet the needs of the community in which they operate.




Foróige currently operates six local youth services based in :
Balbriggan
Blanchardstown
Tallaght
Donegal
Castlebar
Kilkenny

Balbriggan Youth Service
Balbriggan Youth Service funded by Co. Dublin VEC and the North Dublin & County Regional Drugs Task Force operates a comprehensive range of youth work services work throughout the community and environs to include Rush, Donabate and Skerries. These include Drug Education, youth café, special interest groups, Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme,  teen parenting programme and many more. For further information contact 01-8496708

Blanchardstown Youth Service
Blanchardstown Youth Information Centre provides an integrated approach to youth work, which allows young people to access basic youth information services, such as getting help with writing their CV and finding out about health issues, as well as having the opportunity to avail of more targeted supports. The youth information centre is a one stop shop youth work services with its base at Blanchardstown Youth Service. Youth people can join the computer clubhouse and learn how to create flash animation cartoons, make a video about an issue that’s important to them or perfect their musical skills in the fully equipped sound booth. They can also access more targeted youth services with the senior youth officer and projects based in the premises. For further information contact 01-8212012

Tallaght Youth Service
Tallaght Youth Information Centre provides an integrated approach to youth work, which allows young people to access basic youth information services, such as getting help with writing their CV and finding out about health issues, as well as having the opportunity to avail of more targeted supports. Many drop in to use the computers and get help researching issues for themselves. They can also hang out in the youth café or access more targeted services through the youth project.For further information contact 01-4516322

 

Donegal Youth Information Centre
Donegal Youth Information Centre provides an integrated approach to youth work which allows young people to access basic youth information services, such as getting help with writing their CV and finding out about health issues, as well as having the opportunity to avail of more targeted supports. They can also hang out in the youth café and get involved in a wide variety of Foróige activities and programmes. Finally, they can access the youth project, which provides more targeted support to vulnerable young people and engages with them in a fun and inclusive way. Many young people avail of all the youth services available in the building and the recently launched youth café, the Deck, is difficult to walk through without stopping for a chat or playing a game of pool. For more information call 074-9723029.

Castlebar Youth Information Centre
Castlebar Youth Information Centre provides an integrated approach to youth work, which allows young people to access basic youth information services, such as getting help with writing their CV and finding out about health issues, as well as having the opportunity to avail of more targeted supports.


Some services provided by a Local Youth Service include:
Services to Voluntary Youth Groups:

• Training
• Programme Development
• Advice and Information
• Help to start up new groups/clubs
• Equipment pool and secretarial services

Training and Education Programmes for specifically targeted young people including:

• Early School Leavers
• Potential Early School Leavers
• Young Mothers
• Young People at risk of being in trouble with the law
• Young Travellers

School Holiday Programmes:

• Area-based week-long programmes of activities
• Summer courses
• Workshops on specific topics
• Outdoor Pursuits

Services to Schools:

• Student Council training
• Drug/Alcohol Awareness Programmes
• Programmes for potential early school leavers
• Mentoring Training
• Programmes for students transferring from primary to post primary school

Foróige recognises that young people’s active participation in youth work initiatives through clubs, projects and services makes a big contribution to substance misuse prevention.  Foróige also has a range of specialised drug education and prevention projects based around the country. These projects are funded in the main through Local or Regional Drug Task Forces and the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund through local VECs.

 

These projects provide education and awareness programmes, information and support directly to young people through one to one or group work interventions using primary and secondary prevention approaches. Foróige takes a holistic approach to drug education, looking at the effects and consequences of substance use, life skill development and the promotion of healthy life choices and alternative behaviours. When the need arises, and young people are experiencing more serious problems with substance misuse, referrals to specialist services is supported.

 

Education and support services to parents are also provided. Parent drug awareness programmes provide information relevant to the effects and consequences of drug use for a young person, promote effective family communication and identify services and resources available which can help families prevent substance use or to deal with different issues relevant to their family experience.

 

Many of the drug education and prevention projects also provide drug awareness training and education programmes to members of the community and other local organisations.  Working in partnership with voluntary, community and statutory organisations to provide effective drug misuse prevention responses, of a high quality in line with best practice, is a crucial role of all Foróige drug education and prevention projects.

 

Foróige has revised and updated its Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Policy and Guidelines, which are available for download and provide a more detailed account of Foróige’s approach to drug education prevention. Specialist training is available to all staff and volunteers facilitating drug education programmes.
 

Foróige has revised and updated its Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Policy and Guidelines, which are available for download and provide a more detailed account of Foróige’s approach to drug education and prevention. Specialist training is delivered to all staff and volunteers working in this area.

Teen Parent Support Programmes provide a wide range of services, including one to one support, personal development programmes, group outings and workshops to teen mums and dads and their parents. The programmes provide young people with information on parenting and support them throughout their pregnancy and afterwards.

Having a child is a daunting experience for anyone but as a teenager it can feel like the end of the world. It’s not! Professional staff and volunteers are on hand to provide guidance during your pregnancy and the first few years of parenthood. Staff will also be able to help you find information on your entitlements and point you in the right direction for further support, such as dealing with postnatal depression.

What the participants said:
“Coming here has built up my confidence. Everyone sees me as Nuala , and not just as the mammy of two children, Everybody sees me as a person.”

“Nobody’s judging you for what age you are or anything. The group has given me a boost. Doing the personal development through drama make me really think about what I wanted to achieve, and I’ve started college as a result.”

 

Youth cafés are youth centred spaces for young people to chill and hang out with their friends in a safe and secure environment. They provide a vital safe space for young people to spend their time but they are also so much more than that. Young people in Foróige youth cafés take ownership of the café by electing a café committee who work with the other members and volunteers and staff to make things happen. A group might organise a pool tournament, a wii face off or a big band night for up and coming youth bands. Other cafés have film nights or undertake citizenship and other Foróige programmes.

The huge upsurge in communities requesting a youth café in their area has lead Foróige to look at a wide variety of options to meet the community’s needs while also being mindful that funding is not available to start a youth café in every town and village. Foróige has developed 3 models of youth café.

Youth Health Cafés are led by professional staff in a dedicated youth café space. These operate mainly in large towns and cities and are fully equipped with a range of services, including health related programmes.

Part-time Youth Cafés operate as part of an existing service, such as a Foróige project, youth service or youth information centre. Like other youth cafés, they operate outside normal working and school hours and offer a drop in service. These cafés are led jointly by the project youth workers and local adult volunteers. Young people who engage in the youth café can also avail of the wide range of services on offer in the project.

Volunteer Led Youth Cafés are the joint effort of local volunteers, organisations and young people. They sometimes have dedicated youth cafe premises but many are in rooms in community buildings hired for the evenings the cafe is open. Their opening hours depends on need and volunteer availability and range from one evening a week to several evenings, lunchtimes and Saturday afternoons.

The Foróige operated computer clubhouse in Blanchardstown is part of an international network of 100 computer clubhouses operating in 20 countries across the world. Computer Clubhouses are creative and safe spaces where young people can tap into their interest in technology in a safe and supportive out of school setting. Participants are supported by caring adult volunteers and professional youth workers to use the latest design, communications and information technology to create projects in video, music, design, photography, robotics, animation and much more. By exploring their skills and having a chance to experience new ways to express their creativity, young people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, build confidence, develop skills and find pathways to success.

The Alan Kerins Projects was set up in 2006 by Galway football and hurling star, Alan Kerins, following his visit to Western Zambia as a volunteer physiotherapist. The depth of poverty Alan encountered spurred him on to launch a fundraising campaign that has to date raised well over € 1 million.

The Alan Kerins Projects aims to:

• Alleviate poverty by fostering and improving basic standards of living
• Invest in first class care in health, education and sport
• Design, develop and maintain infrastructure
• Create meaningful opportunities
• Learn from best practice
• Encourage self-sustaining lives through support and by real example
  
  

In 2010, Foróige launched a partnership with the Alan Kerins Project to assist the charity’s fundraising efforts and to develop UNESCO youth centres in Africa that will assist in the youth development and education of young people and in the growth of communities in the region. The Zambian model of youth work, which has been developed by Foróige, the Alan Kerins Projects and the UNESCO chair in children, youth and civic engagement (of which Foróige is a partner) at NUIG, integrates youth work, sport and health development.

Sport will help to engage many young people in the centre initially as sport is very popular in the region. Young people can then progress into youth health programmes as appropriate.  They will also be exposed to effective youth development programmes such as life skills training, citizenship education, computer technology and recreation. The model will ensure that young people are exposed to a variety of opportunities that will foster competencies such as life skills and leadership skills that will enable them to reach their full potential.

To find out more about how to support the Alan Kerins African Projects and upcoming fundraising activities check out www.alankerins.ie

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), which was taken over by Foróige in Ireland in 2008, is now a core part of the Foróige programme offering. NFTE is committed to changing the lives of young people from low-income communities by enabling them to develop their business, academic and life skills. Young people take part in the programme because they want to learn new skills and enhance their entrepreneurial flair that just might result in a lucrative business one day. The programme exposes them to environments and experiences that they otherwise may not have a chance to encounter.

 

So, how does it work?
NFTE operates both in and out of school programmes and runs for an academic school year starting in September and finishing in May. It is delivered in schools and youth centres by teachers & youth workers who are specially trained to deliver the NFTE programme. Participants range in age from 13 – 18.

During the NFTE programme students study all aspects of starting and successfully running a business, covering a 40 hour curriculum which includes:

• Idea Generation & Feasibility
• Goal Setting
• Sales & Customer Service Skills
• Marketing & Advertising
• Financial Management & Book Keeping
• Presentation & Communication Skills
• Business Etiquette & Social Responsibility

Students also;

• Receive a seed grant to start their business
• Visit wholesalers to buy their business supplies
• Engage with entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, business executives, community leaders
• Visit local & national companies
• Work with business & corporate mentors
• Sell their products at the NFTE Class Trade Fair
• Prepare and present their business plan to a panel of judges
• NFTE students graduate in April at the All Island Youth Entrepreneurship Awards
  
  

If you know young people who would benefit from the programme check out www.nfte.ie
or contact the NFTE Ireland office on (01) 700 7439

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ireland (BBBS) is an internationally proven youth mentoring programme operated by Foróige in Ireland for the past ten years.  The programme matches young people to caring adult volunteers who provide mentoring support, guidance and encouragement to assist them in their school, family, and community lives. BBBS has a presence in 14 counties and works to help young people that need it to raise their expectations in life and fulfil their unique potential, in the face of adversity.

s Big Brothers Big Sisters is now offered as an integrated part of many Foróige managed projects and services. In fact the programme now operates in 14 counties across Ireland. Check out if BBBS operates near you

So, what’s it all about?
BBBS was established in the United States in 1904. The programme now has over 500 affiliated programmes world wide catering for over 100,000 matches. Foróige, in conjunction with the then Western Health Board piloted the programme in the West of Ireland in 2000 and it has grown from strength to strength with over 1300 matches in operation at present.


The programme operates in two ways:
Schools Programme:
This programme helps young people make the transition from primary to second level education. This can be a difficult and daunting time for a young student so the programme matches them with senior students in their secondary school who support and mentor them. They meet once a week in the school and take part in a wide range of activities available to them. This might include playing sport or board games, having a chat or just having lunch together.

Community Programme:
This programme matches an adult volunteer to a young person and they meet once a week to engage in an activity that they both enjoy. Some matches enjoy smoothies and shopping, others get active by playing their favourite sport or learning a new one. 

So, how do I volunteer?
Like the sound of being a big brother or sister? Then simply download an application form and get the process started. If you’d like more information before you get started, contact your local BBBS project worker (map locator)
You will be supported throughout the process, which is based on international best practice standards.
To begin with all interested volunteers are screened and if accepted to the programme, are provided with specific training on mentoring and child development.

The needs of each young person is assessed before they are matched to an approved volunteer. The young person's assessment helps the professional staff member to learn more about them in order to match them to the most suitable volunteer.

All friendships are carefully considered based on the needs and interests of the young person, the attributes of the volunteer and the preferences of the young person's parent.

Throughout the friendship a professional staff member meets regularly with the young person, volunteer and parent to gain feedback on the development of the friendship.

Training
Don’t worry. You will receive all the training you need. All volunteers participate in induction training prior to being matched. Once matched, ongoing support and training is also offered to all volunteers.  

Support us
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme needs your help to sustain and continue to grow the programme nationally and to ensure that every young person that needs a big brother or big sister has one.
There are many ways that you can support the Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme

Volunteer - Volunteers continually give of their time which is one of the most valuable elements of the programme.

Donate - We need your financial donations to keep up our good work. To find out more about how you can help check out www.bbbsireland.ie/support

or join us on our journey to build a better life for a young person that needs it at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Wall of Inspiration.

Foróige operates 142 youth development projects in Ireland. These provide targeted support to vulnerable young people with specific needs. Our professional youth workers help young people through tough times and help them deal with issues associated with poverty, marginalisation and social exclusion, under-achievement at school, early school leaving, youth crime, substance abuse and family difficulties in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. All youth development projects are staff led, supported by volunteers and engage young people in Foróige programmes.

Foróige clubs are where it all began. The first Foróige club was established in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny in 1952 and now there are 480 Foróige clubs in 26 counties across the country.

Foróige clubs provide a safe place for young people to hang out, meet new friends and have a voice.  What makes a Foróige club different to average youth clubs is that it is run by the young people themselves.

The club members elect a club committee (chairperson, secretary, public relations officer, treasurer) giving them a chance to experience democracy first hand. The committee then works with the members and is supported by the leaders to control and manage the club. This ensures the members are doing activities they really want to do and will therefore get the most from their time in the club.

Click here to find the club nearest to you.

Club Members are 12 – 18 year olds from the local area. Often to facilitate need, certain clubs are targeted at younger members aged 12 – 14 or older members aged 15 – 18

Leaders are members of the local community who want to get involved and make a difference. The leaders work with the members to make the club work. There must be at least one adult leader present for a club meeting to take place and an adequate number of leaders to facilitate club numbers on the night. Leaders appoint an overall Club Leader, who is then eligible to stand for election to the National Council and vote at such elections.
Click here if you are interested in Volunteering

Club Night
Foróige clubs generally meet one night a week for 1 ½ - 2 hours. The club night begins with a formal meeting, led by the club committee, to make decisions about the club. Then members decide if they want to work on a project based on Foróige’s education programmes or just hang out with their friends and maybe enjoy some games or activities.

Regional Youth Officers
Every club is supported by a regional youth officer. The youth officer provides training to volunteers and committee members and provides ongoing support to the club.
Click here for a full list of Foróige offices