Two young people announced youth work champions in Laois

TWO young people from Laois announced as Local Champions by the National Youth Council of Ireland The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), which represents organisations working with young people nationwide, has launched its Local Champions initiative for 2025.

Anna McWey and Billie Constantinou have been selected as Local Champions in Laois.

Anna McWey said: “The local champion initiative highlights opportunities for us to engage with our local politicians and spread awareness about the work being done on a local level. While there a many incredible projects taking place in Laois there is definitely room for improvement which can only be facilitated with the help of our local politicians, civil servants and communities. Ireland is renowned for its voluntary sector and the Youth Work sector is no different, now is the time to recognise its value within each community across the island of Ireland.” 

 Billie Constantinou said: “I really look forward to taking the next step in my youth work. The local champions for me is such a new experience and I can’t wait to learn and meet new people. I am excited to make my voice heard and really dive into the issues that face young people. It is so important to be vocal as a young person and I want to portray that message both on a local level and further.” Both Anna and Billie are engaging with local Dáil Deputies Willie Aird, Sean Fleming and Brian Stanley.

NYCI campaigns manager Grace McManus said: “As part of the Local Champions project, a group of young people have been selected as representatives from their communities, tasked with meeting their local politicians and championing the cause of youth work.” 

 The Local Champions received training and support from NYCI to effectively convey the positive impact youth work has on their lives and the lives of young people in the local area, as well as the importance of investing in youth work. NYCI is calling for an increased investment of €21 million in youth work in Budget 2026, to support services with increasing pressures, and ensure equal access to youth work for all young people nationwide.

The Local Champions initiative will include activities such as engaging with policymakers, sharing personal stories, and using social media to raise awareness and mobilise support. Through these efforts, NYCI and the Local Champions aim to create a broader understanding of the significance of youth work and its positive impact on society.

The initiative is part of NYCI's campaign ahead of Budget 2026 later this year, to ensure that young people and youth work receive the necessary investment and support they deserve. The Local Champions initiative is supported by the Community Foundation Ireland.

Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland Denise Charlton said: “Empowering generations is central to our mission as a philanthropic hub for Ireland. To achieve that goal we’re delighted to be partners with NYCI.

“The Local Champions network aims to amplify the voices of young people and showcase the transformative power of youth work. It is bringing together an inspirational group of young people, and we look forward to seeing them connecting with their local representatives to share how youth work changes lives.” 

 To learn more about the Local Champions Initiative and NYCI's efforts to advocate for increased investment in youth work, log on to www.youth.ie