YouthAction Northern Ireland

What YouthAction Northern Ireland does

YouthAction Northern Ireland is a registered charity founded in 1944, headquartered in Belfast with six regional offices across Northern Ireland and an 80-year operational history in the youth sector. It serves as an umbrella membership body for 190+ youth organizations and directly delivers programmes benefiting more than 5,000 young people annually. Its core activities span youth work delivery, accredited training (including a Level 4 Certificate), policy advocacy, and cross-border partnership programmes such as CyberQuest and YouthStart, alongside specialized initiatives like AMPLIFY and EVAWG (Ending Violence Against Women and Girls). The organization operates the College Square North venue, enabling venue hire as a supplementary revenue stream.

The revenue model is a multi-stream charity funding mix: government grants (including SEUPB PEACEPLUS awards), corporate partnerships (Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, Valero), academic partnerships with Ulster University and Queen's University Belfast, membership fees from 190+ member organizations, donations, and venue hire. It holds the Education Authority "Standard Met" quality assurance mark, Fundraising Regulator registration, and Investors in People accreditation, providing third-party validated governance and operational standards. Its infrastructure — six regional offices plus Belfast headquarters — supports direct programme delivery across Northern Ireland and emerging all-island reach through cross-border consortia. The organization does not operate proprietary technology or AI-driven products; service delivery is human-led youth work, training, and convening activity.

Name

YouthAction Northern Ireland

Legal name

YouthAction Northern Ireland (YANI)

Website

https://youthaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YouthAction Northern Ireland is a Belfast-based youth work charity founded in 1944, operating six regional offices and serving as an umbrella body for 190+ member organizations delivering programmes to over 5,000 young people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth work services
• Youth development programmes
• Employability training
• Community youth support
• Peacebuilding programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Voluntary donations from individuals through the website (Enthuse platform), regular giving programmes, and one-time contributions. Donation tiers include £8, £10, £12, £23, £30, and £50 amounts with specific programme designations.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnerships providing financial support, employee volunteering, and in-kind contributions. Includes sponsorship of programmes, venue support, and skill-share arrangements.
3. Government and EU Funding: Significant funding from government and EU sources including PEACEPLUS (Special EU Programmes Body), UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Education Authority, Belfast City Council, NI Executive, and various trust funds. YouthStart consortium programme funded by UK Government.
4. Venue Hire: College Square North facility offers venue hire services including the Rainbow Factory Theatre (up to 150 capacity), The Green Room, The Workshop, and The Hampton Suite. Revenue generated from event bookings and room rentals.
5. Membership Fees: Membership network fees from over 190 youth and community organizations. Members receive benefits including training, resources, governance support, safeguarding services, and access to funding opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

YouthAction Northern Ireland is a non-profit youth charity that delivers youth work programmes for young people aged 14-25 across Northern Ireland, focused on four core areas: health and wellbeing, creative expression, life and work skills, and leadership and peacebuilding. The organisation combines direct programme delivery through six regional offices and a flagship Belfast hub (College Square North) with a membership network supporting 190+ youth and community organisations. Services include employability programmes, performing arts education, mental health support, cross-community peacebuilding, accreditation pathways, and venue hire.

Product overview

YouthAction Northern Ireland operates as a membership-based youth charity offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes and services rather than a single product. The core offerings include youth work programmes (Health and Wellbeing, Creative Expression, Life and Work Skills, Leadership and Peacebuilding) delivered through named initiatives such as YouthStart, CyberQuest, Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts, Radio YNP, and AMPLIFY. These are complemented by accreditation pathways (Youth Achievement Awards, OCN NI qualifications, Level 4 Certificate), venue hire services at College Square North, and a membership network supporting 190+ youth organisations. The organisation does not offer a technology product in the conventional sense; rather, it provides youth work services, programmes, and resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,278 young people engaged through YouthStart 2023-2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• The Bytes ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Lead partner in CyberQuest cross-border digital and cybersecurity training programme for young people aged 16-25. PEACEPLUS-funded initiative delivered in partnership with YouthAction NI, REIM Training Solutions, Springvale Learning, and Foróige. Programme offers hybrid trauma-informed learning leading to industry-recognised certification.
• REIM Training SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Partner in CyberQuest programme delivering ICDL (International Computer Driving License) digital skills certification alongside YouthAction NI. Contributes to digital literacy and cybersecurity training for young people.
• Springvale LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Partner in CyberQuest cross-border programme contributing to youth work approach and training delivery alongside The Bytes Project, REIM Training Solutions, YouthAction NI, and Foróige.
• ForóigecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Republic of Ireland-based youth organisation partner in CyberQuest cross-border programme. Contributes to reaching young people across the island of Ireland.
• Tall ShipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered 2-night residential sailing programme during Men's Health Week. Partnership brought young men from St Patrick's Youth Club Keady on sailing voyage from Belfast Marina to Larne and Bangor, building teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.
• Action Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Our Generation cross-border mental health programme for young people aged 14-25 across Northern Ireland and border counties. YouthAction NI is one of nine partner organisations including Donegal Youth Service, Co-operation Ireland, Youth Work Ireland, Playboard NI, Boys & Girls Clubs NI, Include Youth, and Ulster University.
• Ulster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Our Generation programme and Level 4 Certificate in Community Youth Studies. Provides university-certified qualifications and research support for youth work programmes.
• Education AuthoritycoreOthersPrimary government funder for youth work services across Northern Ireland. Provides outcome agreement funding, moderation and monitoring, and recognition for membership support programmes.
• Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)coreOthersManages PEACEPLUS programme funding that supports CyberQuest, AMPLIFY, Let's Talk, and other cross-border peacebuilding initiatives. Key funder for YouthAction's cross-community and cross-border work.
• Coca-Cola HBCstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing corporate partnership including Coca-Cola Thank You Fund (€100,000 available in 2026 for programmes with young people aged 16-25), employee volunteering as business partners, and strategic advice on programme development including business and entrepreneurial skills.
• ValerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts. Provides financial support for youth arts programmes.
• Belfast City CouncilcoreOthersFunder for Rainbow Factory and various youth arts programmes. Provides grant funding for creative expression initiatives.
• Derry City and Strabane District CouncilminorOthersFunder for Let's Talk programme delivered in Derry and Donegal areas.
• NI Executive / The Executive OfficecoreOthersFunder for Ending Violence Against Women & Girls (EVAWG) programme delivered to young people aged 14-25.
• Gary MooreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Gold Medal Mary theatre production at the MAC, featuring play about Olympic champion Mary Peters.
• The Mary Peters TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Gold Medal Mary theatre production celebrating Lady Mary Peters' sporting achievements.
• UK YouthstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth work organisation partnership providing network connections and shared learning across the UK youth sector.
• Youth Work IrelandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Youth Work Ireland (Republic of Ireland) for cross-border youth work initiatives and shared learning.
• Youth ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Youth Scotland for shared resources and best practice in youth work.
• Youth CymruminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Youth Cymru (Wales) for cross-border youth work learning and collaboration.
• YouthStart Consortium (7 Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven leading youth work charities consortium delivering YouthStart employability programme across all 11 Council areas in Northern Ireland. YouthAction NI is one of seven partners.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UK Youth: National umbrella body for the youth sector in the UK, providing network connections, training, and policy advocacy for youth organisations. Directly comparable as a youth work infrastructure organisation that YouthAction NI partners with through shared learning and consortium delivery.
• Barnardo's: Major UK children's charity running services for vulnerable children and young people, including NI operations. Comparable on the social services and disadvantaged youth mission, though operating across the UK with substantially greater scale and a broader portfolio including child protection services.
• The Prince's Trust: Major UK charity supporting young people aged 11-30 into education, employment and training. Comparable on the youth employability and life skills front (similar to YouthStart), though operating at much greater scale across the entire UK with broader programme portfolio.
• National Youth Agency (NYA): England's statutory body for youth work, providing quality assurance, training standards, and policy influence for the youth sector. Comparable as an infrastructure/standards body for youth work, though operating at national rather than regional level.

Direct peers

• Include Youth: Northern Ireland charity supporting marginalised young people including care leavers and those at risk. Direct peer within the Our Generation consortium, addressing overlapping populations of disadvantaged young people in NI through similar youth work approaches.
• Action Mental Health: Northern Ireland mental health charity and lead partner in Our Generation programme. Comparable in delivering youth mental health support in NI with overlapping beneficiary base, though with a broader adult mental health remit as well.
• Youth Work Ireland: Republic of Ireland national youth work organisation delivering cross-border programmes with YouthAction NI through PEACEPLUS-funded initiatives like CyberQuest. Comparable in mission, youth work methodology, and delivery of training and accreditation to young people aged 14-25.
• Boys & Girls Clubs Northern Ireland: NI federation of youth clubs delivering youth work programmes across Northern Ireland. Comparable as a regional youth work delivery network serving similar age groups through club-based provision, and a partner within the Our Generation consortium.

Regional players

• Youth Scotland: National youth work agency in Scotland, partnered with YouthAction NI for shared resources and best practice. Comparable in mission and membership network model, serving a different UK nation rather than competing in the same geography.
• Youth Cymru: National youth work agency in Wales, partnered with YouthAction NI for cross-border learning. Comparable as a UK national youth work infrastructure body serving a different nation with similar training, membership, and programme delivery models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YouthActionNI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@YouthactionOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthActionNI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youthaction-ni
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthactionni
• TikToktiktok.com/@youthaction.ni?lang=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YouthAction Northern Ireland