Donegal Youth Council conference attracts 125 from schools and youth organisations

Donegal Youth Council’s Conference at the Radisson Blu, Letterkenny, saw 125 young people attend with their schools and youth organisations.

The council comprises young people aged 12-18 elected by their peers through their schools or youth organisations to represent them in issues, policies and services impacting the lives of young people in Donegal. 

A partnership between Donegal County Council, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth and coordinated by Foroige, Donegal Youth Council provides a platform for young people in Donegal to have their voices heard on issues that affect them. 

The Youth Council serves as a consultative forum to which young people can identify topics and create action projects to address these topics, while also informing key decision-makers. Donegal Youth Council ensures that young people’s voices are heard. 

Each Year the Donegal Youth Council holds a Youth Conference formally known as their AGM. 

Each year the event sees young people from all over Donegal come together to discuss issues affecting young people in the county. This year the young people tackle the three topics voted for at last year's event: Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Vaping; Mental Health and Body Image/ Social Media.

The young people discussed these issues in smaller groups to identify the problems and what possible resolution there could be to these issues.

The Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Kevin Bradley spoke about the importance of the Donegal Youth Council at the event. 

The Cathaoirleach mentioned how the voice of these young people ensures policies, services and the issues affecting young people are kept at the forefront while also ensuring they are most effective for the young people of Donegal. When speaking at the event Cllr Bradley said 

“You (Youth Councillors) show commitment, respect and enthusiasm towards everyone in delivering a fabulous programme of work. It is great to see young people not only show an interest in their community and the issues affecting them but also to create action around these issues.”

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal Youth Council, Youth Councillor Sheridan said: “The Youth Conference is such a valuable opportunity for young voices to share their thoughts on the issues that affect them and it’s an equally as valuable opportunity for us as a council to represent and carry these discussions forward into our work in the future”

The Donegal Youth Council has also just released a podcast that you can get on Spotify by searching donegal.youth.council. The first episode looks at the issue of vaping for young people and the legislation surrounding vaping in Ireland. For more information on the Donegal Youth Council check out their social media.