Aoibhe Beatty from Co Monaghan has been crowned 'Local Champion' by the National Youth Council of Ireland. The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) recently launched its Local Champions initiative for 2024. 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 their communities, as well as the importance of investing in youth work. Speaking to Northern Sound, Aoibhe said that she was really "looking forward" to meeting with local representatives and sharing some of the amazing experiences that she's had with Gaisce and Foróige.
Aoibhe also believes that there is plenty of important work happening across her local area to support young people, and she wants to ensure local representatives carry that message to the national level. NYCI is calling for an additional €15 million investment in youth work in Budget 2025 to support services under increasing pressure and ensure equal access to youth work for all young people nationwide.
The representative Local Champion in Cavan-Monaghan are engaging with include Deputy Matt Carthy, Minister Heather Humphreys, Deputy Brendan Smith, Deputy Niamh Smyth, and Deputy Pauline Tully. Aoibhe continued; "There's so much important work happening in our area to support young people, and I want to ensure our local representatives carry that message to the national level, so that youth work in our area and beyond gets its fair share come budget time."
