April 2026: Growth, Opportunity and Pathways for Young People Across Dublin

Article by Social Media Coordinator: Rukaiyat Adetunji

April is often associated with growth, new beginnings, and fresh energy something that reflects youth work perfectly. Across youth services, funded organisations, and volunteer-led clubs, April is a time when projects begin to take shape, young people step into leadership roles, and communities continue to grow through participation, creativity, and volunteering.

As the days get longer and activities move outdoors again, April brings new opportunities for youth engagement, learning, wellbeing, and community action. 🐰🐣💐

Youth Participation & Youth Voice

One of the key themes in youth work is participation ensuring young people are not just attending activities, but helping to shape them. April is a great time for youth groups to review programmes, gather youth feedback, and support young people to take leadership roles in planning events, trips, campaigns, and community projects.

Youth participation helps young people build:

• Confidence

• Communication skills

• Leadership abilities

• Decision-making skills

• A sense of belonging and ownership

When young people are involved in decision-making, youth services become stronger, more relevant, and more inclusive.

Training & Professional Development in Youth Services

April also included important training opportunities delivered through BRYR, supporting youth workers and volunteers in strengthening safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion practice across services.

On 15 April, BRYR delivered Child Safeguarding Training, supporting staff and volunteers to maintain safe, protective, and responsive environments for all young people.

On 22 April, BRYR facilitated Teen Dating Violence Awareness Training, focusing on healthy relationships, early intervention, and supporting young people to understand respect, boundaries, and safety in relationships.

On 29 April, BRYR hosted a Gaisce President’s Award Big Brunch Workshop, supporting youth workers and participants in promoting achievement, goal-setting, and positive youth development through the national youth award programme.

These training sessions reflect the ongoing commitment across youth services to continuous professional development and high-quality, safe, and inclusive youth work practice.

Expanding Pathways into Further and Higher Education

April is also a time to highlight the growing range of educational opportunities available to young people as they plan for their futures. A significant recent development is the expansion of Ireland’s Tertiary Bachelor’s Degree routes for the 2026/27 academic year.

This expansion will see 78 tertiary pathways to a Bachelor’s Degree across 24 counties, providing 1,200 places outside the traditional CAO points system. These programmes are co-designed by higher education institutions and Education and Training Boards (ETBs), creating clear and supported progression routes from further education into higher education.

Since its introduction in 2023, the Tertiary Programme has experienced strong growth, with enrolment increasing by more than 218%, reflecting a clear demand for flexible and inclusive educational pathways.

City of Dublin FET College continues to play a key role in this initiative, offering a wide range of Tertiary Degree programmes and welcoming applications for the 2026/27 academic year. These programmes provide learners with accessible, locally delivered routes into higher education and future career pathways.

Alongside youth work values of participation and personal development, these initiatives help ensure that young people have real and achievable options to progress in education and training.

City of Dublin ETB at the National Centre for Research and Remembrance

April also highlights City of Dublin ETB’s role in a transformative national education project at the National Centre for Research and Remembrance (NCRR) on Sean McDermott Street.

The NCRR will stand as a site of conscience, honouring those who lived in Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions. It will also contribute to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City through education, housing, and family support services.

City of Dublin ETB is proud to be the education partner in this initiative, working alongside TU Dublin to develop a welcoming and accessible centre for education and training. The vision is to provide flexible learning opportunities for both young people and adults, strengthening access to further and higher education within the community.

As Chief Executive Dr Christy Duffy noted, the project represents a commitment to expanding opportunity and ensuring inclusive, community-based education pathways.

This work builds on City of Dublin ETB’s long-standing presence in the area through FET Colleges at Parnell Square, North Great George’s Street, North Strand, and Cathal Brugha Street, alongside youth services and community initiatives across the city.

Volunteering & Community Action

Volunteer-led clubs and groups continue to play a vital role in communities across Dublin. April is often a busy time for community clean-ups, local events, fundraising activities, and preparation for summer programmes.

Volunteering helps young people to:

• Develop teamwork and leadership skills

• Build confidence and independence

• Gain experience for education and employment

• Connect with their community

• Make a positive difference

As 2026 is the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, April is another opportunity to recognise and support the contribution of volunteers across youth services, clubs, and community organisations.

Awareness Days Supporting Youth Work Values

April also includes several awareness days that connect strongly with youth work values such as health, inclusion, creativity, and community responsibility:

• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (6 April)

• World Health Day (7 April)

• World Art Day (15 April)

• European Youth Information Day (17 April)

• Earth Day (22 April)

• World Book Day (23 April)

These days provide opportunities for workshops, discussions, creative projects, environmental action, and wellbeing programmes across youth services.

Youth Work in Action

Youth work is often described as informal education, but its impact is very real and very visible. Every day across Dublin:

• Youth workers support young people through challenges

• Volunteers give their time to run clubs and activities

• Young people build friendships and confidence

• Communities become stronger and more connected

• Young voices are heard and valued

April is a reminder that youth work is not just about programmes and activities it is about relationships, trust, growth, and opportunity.

Looking Ahead to Summer

April is also a time when many youth services and clubs begin planning for summer programmes, trips, events, and outdoor activities. This planning stage is an important part of youth work, giving young people the chance to share ideas, set goals, and look forward to new experiences.

Encouraging young people to be involved in planning helps build responsibility, teamwork, and excitement for the months ahead.

Final Thoughts

April is a month of growth for young people, volunteers, youth workers, and communities. Through participation, creativity, volunteering, and inclusion, youth work continues to provide safe spaces where young people can learn, develop, and thrive.

The expansion of Ireland’s Tertiary Bachelor’s Degree routes is another positive reminder that there are now more pathways than ever for young people to access education, training, and future career opportunities. Alongside major national initiatives like the National Centre for Research and Remembrance, these developments reflect a shared commitment to inclusive, community-based learning and opportunity.

As we move further into 2026, we continue to celebrate the work of funded youth organisations, volunteer-led clubs, youth workers, and most importantly, the young people who make our communities vibrant, creative, and full of potential.

Small opportunities can lead to big futures. Youth work makes it happen.

From all of us at:

City of Dublin Youth Services  

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