A series of events to revive and reinvigorate the Volunteer Youth Club sector in Cork will take place next month in a bid to ‘shake off the remnants of Covid-19 and get the sector back to its best’.Cork ETB will host several Re-VIVE events across the city and county, describing them as ‘Volunteer Involvement and Validation Events’.

Prior to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, there were some 250 volunteer-led youth clubs operating right across Cork but a large number of them have not re-opened following the pandemic,” explained Cork ETB Youth Service Development Officer, Mick Finn. A similar picture is being painted across the country and we want to do something about that.

We are hoping to stoke up some interest in the sector in urban and rural Cork by organising informal events in areas where clubs are currently operating and where they were once in action, in a bid to recognise the efforts of those continuing to give their time and perhaps to recruit some new volunteers to help get the other clubs back up and running.

Appreciation and recruitment nights will be held in Mallow, Charleville, Carrigaline, Cobh, Midleton, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Macroom and Cork City throughout the month of November.Cork ETB – which distributed over €270,000 this year to 125 clubs in the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme – will recognize, at these nights, the volunteers who do such fantastic work in their communities and will provide opportunities for training and upskilling for those who give their time week in, week out. We also plan to recognise individuals on the nights, nominated by clubs and organization, for outstanding or longstanding contributions.”Anyone interested in these events are invited to attend, with light refreshments served from 6.30p.m. at each of the venues on the dates outlined. Cork ETB also welcomes those who have come through the volunteer sector, who might have an interest in telling their story to attend on one of these nights.  NotesAbout Cork Education and Training Board

Cork Education and Training Board (hereinafter referred to as Cork ETB) was established under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013 and is responsible and accountable for the proper direction and control of its functions in the Cork City and Cork County Councils’ local authority areas. Cork ETB plans, provides, supports and co-ordinates education, training and youth services in Cork which are recognised internationally as a model of excellence. 

Cork ETB is a driving force of education and training in Cork, providing high quality services which are innovative, responsive and inclusive. Through Cork ETB there is a pathway for every learner. 

Cork ETB’s target clients are learners in our schools, campuses, training centres and community settings, applicants under the various learner support schemes administered directly by Cork ETB, Youth Service Providers, Community Education and Training Groups, Voluntary Community Organisations and Communities throughout the City and County. 

Cork ETB is the patron and management body for two Community National Schools and 28 recognised Post Primary schools, including PLC Colleges. Twelve of the post primary schools are designated Community colleges where there is an agreement with the local Catholic bishop on diocesan involvement in the governance of the college. Cork ETB provides a range of services to all our schools and colleges including financial, human resource, building, ICT, governance support as well as educational planning support.  Cork ETB is also a co-trustee/co-patron of 13 Community and Comprehensive Schools. 

Cork ETB provides several educational settings of a post primary nature in collaboration with the HSE, to support students who are not able to participate in main stream provision.

Further Education and Training (Cork College of FET) is the provision of education and training services to a wide range of beneficiaries. The services provided range from full-time courses of varying duration, to shorter part-time course options designed to meet a specific learner need, linked either to skills acquisition for employment, or the possibility of progression to further studies. 

Cork ETB provides a range of Further Education and Training services, both full-time and part-time, in a variety of centres and settings across the region. Full-time provision includes: 

• Post Leaving Certificate courses 
• Apprenticeships 
• Traineeships 
• Specific Skills Training 
• Youthreach 
• Community Training Centres 
• Local Training Initiatives 
• Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme 

Cork ETB has a number of Campuses of Further Education

• Morrison’s Island Campus
• Tramore Road Campus
• Douglas Street Campus
• Mallow Campus
• Kinsale Campus
• Bishopstown Campus
• West Cork Campus

Part-time FET programmes are delivered in a variety of settings and locations under a number of funding headings with specific target learner audiences: 

• Back to Education Initiative 
• Adult Literacy 
• Adult and Community Education 
• Skills Training 
• Night/Evening courses 
• Skills for Work 

Youth Services: Under the 2013 Education and Training Board Act, Cork ETB is assigned the following function in respect of Youth – “to Support the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area”.

Cork ETB’s primary source of funding to support youth work is received from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, in respect of targeted out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. These schemes are Special Projects for Youth (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) and Youth Information (YIC). Cork ETB supports the provision, development and assessment of youth work services in Cork through the provision of appropriate targeted resources and continues to develop the role of Cork ETB as the agent for Youth Services operating in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Youth and Child Affairs.    

Help support Cork Safety Alerts by becoming a member – Click Here