5.4 Good practices and initiatives

5.4

Good practices and initiatives

spunout Action Panels

Ireland

spunout’s core philosophy is “by young people, for young people”, and its Action Panels are a key part of this. The Action Panels work to share what information young people need with the organisation, to create solutions for these information needs, and to be the voice of young people. The Action Panel structure, with over one hundred 16–25-year-olds currently involved, is one of the main ways spunout amplifies young people’s voices. The structure developed from one initial panel to five regional Action Panels across Ireland and the national panel, which is made up of representatives from each regional panel. Consultations are held with each panel three times a year to find out what information young people need and what campaigns or projects we can run based on these needs. Feedback from these consultations is shared with the spunout content team and is used to form the basis of the campaign plans for the coming year. Action Panels are also included in the organisational structure with nominations from the panel to the organisation’s Board of Directors. This gives spunout’s leadership the possibility to stay in touch with the views of young people from across the country.

European Youth Card Association Youth Panel

The European Youth Card Association (EYCA) Youth Panel is an initiative that was co-designed and requested by young people who use the European Youth Card. The Youth Panel aims to involve cardholders in the governance of the Association and to provide the EYCA Board with insights into the lives of young people, so as to make the best strategic decisions for their ultimate beneficiaries. The EYCA Youth Panel brings together 10 young people from Europe, across the countries of their membership, for a 2-year mandate. Young people are selected through a process which involves an open call, interviews, shortlisting done by the EYCA Board and Youth Panel representatives and voting by their member organisations. The Youth Panel meets every other week online and at least 3 times a year in person. They are guided and supported by a Coordinator, who is a youth worker with a trainer profile, ensuring there is a structured learning process, with meaningful participation and effective communication between EYCA’s member organisations, EYCA’s office and the Youth Panel.

Youth panel members attend EYCA statutory meetings such as the board and regional meetings. EYCA members recently voted for the Youth Panel to become a statutory body of the Association, giving the Youth Panel a built-in role in the governance of the organisation.

The scope and purpose of the Youth Panel is to:

→ Develop position papers and suggest new approaches to improve the European Youth Card services. → Suggest new project initiatives. → Ensure a youth perspective on EYCA policy positions, in particular related to the EU Youth Goals or priority areas of the Council of Europe. → Represent EYCA in EU Youth Conferences and the

Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. → Participate in local, national and European youth activities as representatives of EYCA.

Youth Work Ireland National Youth Action Group

The National Youth Action Group (NYAG) is made up of young people aged 16 – 25 years, from Youth Work Ireland’s member youth services. Youth Work Ireland is the largest youth organisation in Ireland, and its work includes supporting youth information. The role of NYAG is to act as young people’s voices in the governance of Youth Work Ireland and to “youth proof” all our policy positions. Opportunities range from local, national and European level work. They meet 3 times a year mainly in Dublin and as the need arises through online meetings. An annual training residential is also held for participants. The purpose of the group is to:

→ Be a sub-group of the national board to ‘youth proof’

Youth Work Ireland activities.

→ Ensure youth membership of the national board.

→ Ensure voting rights for young people at Youth Work

Ireland’s annual General Meeting.

→ Connect with young people all over Ireland so that they are listened to and their voices are heard!

Nominations for the group are normally made directly by Youth Work Ireland’s member youth services. However, a young person who is linked to a member organisation can express an interest directly to Youth Work Ireland who will support them with membership arrangements.