The Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway has launched research which acknowledges the work of youth cafés in providing a safe recreational space for teenagers and which aims to aid the development of the youth café model across the country.
The research on youth cafés in Ireland has been backed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews TD, who announced details of a funding scheme of €1.5 million from dormant accounts funds which will support the development of new youth cafés and help existing facilities to improve or expand services.
The research contained in the two publications, Youth Cafes in Ireland: A best practice guide and Youth Cafe Toolkit: how to set up and run a youth cafe in Ireland, was commissioned by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on behalf of the National Children’s Advisory Council and conducted by the Child and Family Research Centre.
Co-authur of both publications, Cormac Forkan of the Child and Family Research Centre, said: “These two documents should assist those at various stages of involvement with youth cafés. The purpose of the work was to contribute to the formation of solid policy foundation for the support and development of youth cafés and to provide practical assistance to those who are running existing facilities or about to set up a new ones. Many common issues of concern can be identified from the shared experiences of all those who have already moved forward which can assist those who are about to become involved. The Child and Family Research Centre is indebted to the many young people nationwide who assisted us in our work.”
Speaking at the launch Minister Andrews noted that youth cafés have been identified as a “key need” for young people. He said that the Government was committed to the expansion of youth cafés on a phased basis around the country and to support where possible existing cafés.
“These developments respond to the repeated emphasis young people have placed on the need for such recreational spaces. They recognise the achievements already made by many groups in establishing youth cafés around the country and ensure a solid policy foundation for youth café development and the expansion of safe, quality, recreational spaces for young people.”
Minister Andrews added that there were approximately 30 such cafes already up and running nationwide and that they provide “a dedicated, quality, meeting place which is determined by young people, for young people, in partnership with adults in the community”. He said that the guidance provided in the new Best Practice Guide and the Toolkit will help promote and support these cafes.
