June marks a real shift in youth work practice across Dublin. As schools wind down and summer begins to take shape, youth services, funded organisations, and volunteer-led clubs move into one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year.
It is a month filled with energy, outdoor engagement, youth-led activity, and community connection, where young people take greater ownership of their time, creativity, and participation.
Across Dublin, youth work in June is about meeting young people where they are in communities, parks, centres, events, and shared spaces and creating opportunities that feel active, inclusive, and meaningful.
Supporting Young People During Exam Season
June is also a significant month for many young people as the Junior Cycle examinations commence across Ireland. For students, this can be a time of pressure, anticipation, and transition. Youth services play an important role in providing supportive environments where young people can balance study commitments with wellbeing, social connection, and positive recreational opportunities.
Youth workers continue to support young people through:
- Wellbeing and stress management activities
- Safe spaces to connect with peers
- Encouragement and confidence-building
- Study support and signposting where appropriate
- Opportunities to take breaks and engage in positive activities
As examinations progress, youth work remains focused on supporting the whole young person, recognising that achievement extends beyond academic results and includes personal development, resilience, and wellbeing.
Celebrating Youth Creativity and Achievement
June also provides an opportunity to celebrate the creativity, talent, and achievements of learners across Dublin. Recently, learners from City of Dublin FET College's Ballymun Road Campus were shortlisted in the prestigious DCU Library Creative Writing Competition, recognising the high standard of creative work being produced by adult and further education learners across the city.
The competition showcases emerging voices in creative writing and highlights the importance of providing opportunities for learners to express themselves through storytelling, poetry, and creative expression. This achievement reflects the vibrant culture of creativity, learning, and lifelong development that continues to thrive across Dublin's education and youth sectors.
Arts & Support Agenda: Preparing for Summer Programmes
June is also a key month for staffs, volunteers, and youth leaders as they prepare for summer projects and programmes. Through the Arts & Support Agenda for Quarter 2, a series of practical, creative, and developmental workshops and training opportunities are being delivered to support youth engagement, wellbeing, inclusion, and active participation throughout the summer months.
This year's programme includes workshops focused on:
- Designing T-Shirts
- Introduction to Cube-Like Metric Games
- Slime Making and Creating Stress Balls
- Tie & Dye T-Shirts and Printing Techniques
- Kite Making
These hands-on sessions provide youth workers and volunteers with practical activities that can be incorporated into summer projects, camps, and community programmes. The workshops encourage creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and positive youth engagement while providing participants with new ideas and resources for programme delivery.
In addition to the summer project workshops, June also includes professional development opportunities designed to strengthen inclusive and responsive youth work practice:
- NYCI: Masculinity Workshop – 10 June
- BRYR: Status Toolkit Training – 16 June
These sessions support youth workers and volunteers in exploring issues relating to identity, equality, inclusion, and positive youth development, while strengthening their capacity to create welcoming and supportive environments for all young people.
Further details on venues, facilitators, dates, and workshop schedules are available in the Summer Project Training Schedule.
Youth Voice & Summer Decision-Making
June is a key month for youth participation. Many groups are finalising summer programmes, activities, trips, and events and young people play a central role in shaping what happens next.
Youth involvement at this stage supports:
- Leadership and decision-making
- Ownership of programmes
- Confidence building
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Inclusive planning that reflects real needs
When young people are involved in shaping summer activities, engagement increases and outcomes become more meaningful and relevant.
Volunteering & Preparing for Summer Programmes
Volunteer-led clubs and funded youth organisations are especially active in June as they prepare for summer delivery. Volunteers are essential in supporting:
- Summer camps and youth programmes
- Outdoor activities and sports
- Arts, music, and creative workshops
- Community events and festivals
- Youth exchanges and residentials
As part of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY2026), June highlights the ongoing importance of recognising, supporting, and developing volunteers across youth services.
Volunteering continues to provide young people and adults with opportunities to:
- Gain experience and skills
- Build confidence and leadership
- Strengthen community connections
- Contribute meaningfully to youth spaces
Awareness Days That Shape Youth Work Practice
June includes several key awareness dates that connect strongly with youth wellbeing, inclusion, and development:
- Global Day of Parents (1 June) – Recognising family relationships and support systems in young people’s lives.
- World Environment Day (5 June) – Encouraging environmental awareness and youth-led climate action.
- International Day for Play (11 June) – Highlighting the importance of play in child and youth development, wellbeing, and learning.
- World Day Against Child Labour (12 June) – Raising awareness of children’s rights and protection globally.
- International Day of Family Remittances (16 June) – Highlighting global connections and the role of families in supporting communities.
- World Refugee Day (20 June) – Promoting inclusion, solidarity, and support for young people with refugee backgrounds.
- International Day of Yoga (21 June) – Supporting wellbeing, mindfulness, and mental health awareness.
- International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26 June) – Supporting health education, prevention, and youth wellbeing.
These awareness days provide excellent opportunities for youth organisations to run workshops, discussions, creative activities, wellbeing sessions, and peer-led learning.
Wellbeing, Outdoor Youth Work & Connection
June is one of the most active months for outdoor youth work. With longer days and warmer weather, many programmes move outside into parks, sports facilities, and community spaces.
Outdoor youth work supports:
- Mental and emotional wellbeing
- Social connection and friendship building
- Physical activity and healthy lifestyles
- Creativity and informal learning
- Positive community engagement
Whether through sport, arts, environmental action, or simply shared space, June helps strengthen relationships and build trust between young people and youth workers.
Inclusion, Diversity & Safe Spaces
As summer begins, it is important to continue ensuring that youth spaces remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all young people.
June also includes LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and equality. Youth services play a vital role in ensuring that LGBTQ+ young people feel supported, respected, and included in all aspects of youth work practice.
Inclusive youth work means:
- Respecting identity and difference
- Creating safe spaces for expression
- Supporting wellbeing and belonging
- Promoting equality and participation
The inclusion-focused training opportunities taking place throughout June further reinforce the sector's commitment to creating environments where every young person feels valued, heard, and supported.
Looking Ahead to Summer
June is the bridge into summer programming. Across Dublin, youth services are preparing for:
- Summer projects and camps
- Youth-led initiatives
- Outdoor events and festivals
- Residentials and trips
- Volunteer engagement and training
This planning phase is essential, ensuring programmes are youth-led, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.
As young people complete exams, volunteers prepare activities, and organisations finalise summer plans, June provides an important opportunity to build momentum for a season of learning, creativity, wellbeing, and community connection.
Final Thoughts
June reflects the very best of youth work: participation, creativity, inclusion, learning, and community. From supporting young people through exam season and celebrating creative achievement to preparing volunteers for summer programmes and delivering innovative training opportunities, youth services across Dublin continue to create spaces where young people can thrive.
As we move into the summer months, we celebrate the dedication of youth workers, volunteers, funded organisations, and young people themselves who continue to shape vibrant, inclusive, and supportive communities across the city.
Summer starts with participation. Youth work makes it happen.
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