There are five main organisations working with Youth in Leitrim
§ North Connaught Youth & Community Services Ltd.
§ Health Service Executive’s Youth and Children's Team
§ Foróige
§ South Leitrim Neighbourhood Youth Project
§ Leitrim VEC
The Mission Statement of North Connaught Youth & Community Services Ltd is “ To affirm the importance of young people and support them and those who work with them through the provision of services in their communities.” The organisation operates as an independent Regional Youth Service encompassing North Mayo, Leitrim and Sligo. Through its dedicated staff, management team and volunteers, NCYCS aims to provide support for the development of young people.
The HSE’s Youth and Children's Team seeks to capitalise on the active and fulfilling lifestyle of most young people whilst also seeking to involve those who do not have a healthy lifestyle or who are prepared to take unhealthy risks.
Nationally, youth clubs are usually run by Foróige, which is a community based, not-for-profit, voluntary organisation. Foróigereceives core funding from the Department of Education and Science to undertake general youth work. The purpose of Foróige is to enable young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their own development and in the development of society.
The South Leitrim Neighbourhood Youth Project is a community based family support service which works with young people aged between 10 and 18 years and their families. The South Leitrim Neighbourhood Youth Project (NYP) is a partnership between the local community, Foroige, National Youth Development Organisation, and the Health Service Executive (North West).
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is the representative body of the voluntary youth sector. It is officially recognised as such by the 2001 Youth Work Act. In 2004, a total of 43 national youth organisations are full members of NYCI. A further 10 have corresponding or observer status.
Leitrim VEC, through the Youth Affairs Section in the Department of Education and Science is concerned with the non-formal education of Ireland’s young people. It provides support by way of financial and other assistance to those providing youth work programmes and services.