Youth Work Ireland Galway

What Youth Work Ireland Galway does

Youth Work Ireland Galway is a voluntary, non-profit youth work organization registered as a charity in Ireland (CRN 20042912, CHY 13619) and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under CEO Irene Murphy. From fixed centres in Galway City, Tuam, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe, it delivers community-based services to more than 4,000 young people aged 0-24 and their families annually across Galway City and County. The service portfolio spans four pillars: Youth Counselling (including free, accredited therapy for ages 12-21 in seven locations plus U18 Addiction Counselling), Youth Work (area-based projects, Youth Diversion Projects, shOUT! LGBT+ projects, and Comhairle na nÓg youth councils), Youth & Family Support (Ukrainian Integration Support, LGBTI+ Youth Health & Advocacy, Preparing for Life early intervention, and the Youth Information Service), and a network of 11+ affiliated Youth Clubs. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is human-led through youth workers, counsellors, and outreach staff, with basic digital tools for communications and an online Youth Information Chat service.

The business model is grant-funded: primary revenue comes from Irish government departments and agencies, including the Department of Education and Youth (UBU scheme), Department of Health, Department of Justice (Diversion Projects), Department of Children, Department of Social Protection (37 Community Employment placements), Tusla, and the HSE, supplemented by EU co-funding (Erasmus+, European Social Fund), local authority grants from Galway City and County Councils, GRETB, Irish Aid, Creative Ireland, Dormant Accounts, and donations via the iDonate platform. Services are provided free of charge to young people and families, with occasional nominal fees for materials. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, relying on referrals from schools, Family Resource Centres, INTREO, HSE, and Tusla, supplemented by school outreach, social media, and community events. The organization is affiliated with the national Youth Work Ireland federation and operates in compliance with the Children First Act 2015 safeguarding framework.

Name

Youth Work Ireland Galway

Legal name

Youth Work Ireland Galway

Website

https://youthworkgalway.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Youth Work Ireland Galway is a charitable non-profit providing free community-based youth counselling, youth work, family support, and youth diversion services to over 4,000 young people aged 0-24 across Galway City and County, funded primarily through Irish government departments, the HSE, Tusla, and EU grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Work Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth work services
• Community youth programmes
• Youth counselling support
• Youth diversion services
• Family support programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Galway City

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue from Irish government departments and agencies including Department of Education and Youth, Department of Health, Department of Justice, Department of Children, Department of Social Protection, and Tusla Child and Family Agency. Also receives EU funding (European Union, Erasmus+), HSE funding, and support from Galway City/County Councils and GRETB.
2. Community Employment Scheme: Partnership with Department of Social Protection to sponsor 37 Community Employment placements. The scheme provides employment opportunities for long-term unemployed while supporting youth work programmes.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Accepts donations through iDonate platform. Charitable organization with CHY 13619 and Charity Reg No. 310202.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Work Ireland Galway is a voluntary community-based youth work charity that provides free counselling, personal development, diversion, integration and family support services to young people aged 0–24 across Galway City and County. It operates from four main centres in Galway City, Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe, delivering a portfolio organised around Youth Counselling, Youth Work (community projects, diversion projects, climate governance, LGBT+ projects, youth councils), Youth & Family Support (information, Ukrainian integration, LGBTI+ health & advocacy, Preparing for Life), and a network of affiliated Youth Clubs.

Product overview

Youth Work Ireland Galway is a voluntary youth work organisation providing community-based services and supports to young people and their families across Galway City and County. The organisation operates from centres in Galway City, Tuam, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe, offering a portfolio of services structured around four core areas: Youth Counselling (including U18 Addiction Counselling and general Youth Counselling Service for ages 12-21), Youth Work (comprising multiple area-based projects including Youth Diversion Projects in Ballinasloe, Loughrea, and Tuam, community youth projects in Westside, Cape, Tuam, Loughrea, and East Galway, the Sauti-Youth climate governance projects, shOUT! LGBT+ youth projects, and Comhairle na nÓg youth councils), Youth & Family Support (including Youth Information Service, Ukrainian Integration Support, LGBTI+ Youth Health & Advocacy Support, and the Preparing for Life early intervention programme), and Youth Clubs (a network of affiliated clubs across the region). The organisation engages over 4,000 young people aged 0-24 annually through these coordinated services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Counselling Service Free and confidential counselling for young people aged 12-21 across Galway city and county, available in-person, online, in English and Irish, provided by accredited adolescent therapists at 7 locations (Athenry, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Galway City, Gort, Loughrea, Tuam).
• U18 Addiction Counselling Free and confidential counselling for young people under 18 experiencing difficulties with alcohol or other drugs, delivered by accredited Addiction Counsellors in collaboration with Community Healthcare West Drugs Service across Galway City, County and Roscommon.
• The Junction Youth Diversion Project (Ballinasloe) Community-based youth diversion project for ages 12-18 in Ballinasloe, diverting young people from anti-social or criminal behaviour through personal development activities, life skills and civic responsibility programmes.
• The Junction Youth Diversion Project (Loughrea) Youth diversion project in Loughrea for young people aged 12-18 focusing on personal development and diverting from criminal or anti-social behaviour.
• Treo Nua Youth Diversion Project Community-based project in Tuam for ages 12-18, diverting young people from the criminal justice system through personal and social development, behavioural change and critical decision-making support.
• East Galway Youth Project Community youth project in Ballinasloe for ages 10-24 supporting social, personal and educational development through activities, one-to-one support, outreach, trips and youth-led events.
• Westside Youth Project Galway City Westside community youth project for ages 10-18 offering creative programmes, STEAM skills, health and wellbeing activities and community partnerships.
• Cape Youth Project Galway City youth project for ages 10-24, empowering young people through creative and practical group activities including art, cookery, robotics and youth advocacy.
• Tuam Youth Services Youth-led space in Tuam for ages 10-24 offering creative workshops, one-to-one support, community engagement, transition programmes and youth advocacy through the Tuam Youth Council.
• Loughrea Youth Project Community-based youth project in Loughrea for ages 10-24 supporting social, personal and educational development through activities, creative programmes and outreach.
• Sauti-Youth Project (Galway City) Project engaging young people aged 12-24 in governance processes related to climate policies, delivering workshops in schools and supporting after-school climate action groups in Galway City.
• Sauti-Youth Project (Galway County) SAUTI-Youth (Sustainable Accountability Uniting Tanzanian and Irish Youth) project for ages 12-24, engaging young people in climate policy governance through workshops, climate action groups and youth-led campaigns in Galway County.
• shOUT! Youth Project (Galway City) LGBT+ safe space project for ages 12-24 in Galway City providing weekly social groups, one-to-one support and LGBT+ inclusion education and awareness events.
• shOUT! Youth Project (Galway County) LGBT+ safe space project in Galway County for ages 12-24 hosting weekly social groups, video gaming groups, one-to-one support and LGBT+ inclusion events.
• Galway City Comhairle na nÓg Youth council for ages 12-17 in Galway City providing a platform for young people to shape local and national policies through monthly meetings and direct engagement with decision-makers.
• Galway County Comhairle na nÓg Youth council for ages 12-17 in Galway County empowering young voices through monthly meetings, annual youth conferences and engagement with local authorities on youth issues.
• Youth Information Service Information service for ages 12-24 operating from Ballinasloe, providing group workshops, digital youth work, outreach, European opportunities and one-to-one support on education, employment, rights and wellbeing.
• Ukrainian Integration Support Integration support project for young people aged 10-24 with Temporary Protection from Ukraine, offering youth club access, one-to-one support, group activities, advocacy and cultural exchange programmes across Galway.
• LGBTI+ Youth Health & Advocacy Support Service Health and advocacy service for ages 13-24 identifying as LGBTI+, providing safe spaces in healthcare settings, trusted information, advocacy support and youth-led healthcare advisory programmes.
• Preparing for Life Prevention and early intervention project in Ballinasloe supporting mothers from pregnancy through early childhood with monthly home visits, developmental resources and parenting programmes in partnership with Tusla.
• Youth Clubs Network Network of affiliated youth clubs across Galway City and County offering social, sporting, performance and youth participation activities, including Ballinasloe & District Pioneer Youth Club, Youth L.I.F.T., Q Club, Our Lady's Boys Club, Oughterard Youth Club, Make a Difference Youth Club, Kilkerrin Youth Club, Club S Variety Club, CLOUD 9 BNT Youth Club, Claregalway Youth Hub, and Athenry Adventurers RPG.
• Youth Information Chat (YIChat) Online chat service for young people connecting with trained Information Staff Mon-Fri 4pm-8pm with offline message capability outside those hours.
• Community Employment Scheme Partnership with the Department of Social Protection sponsoring 37 Community Employment placements across partner organisations in Galway City and County, providing employment opportunities for long-term unemployed while supporting youth work programmes (e.g. placements at Gort Family Resource Centre, Loughrea Family Resource Centre, Amach LGBT Centre, Galway Autism Partnership, Citizens Information Service, No.4 Youth Service).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 young people supported annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation and training board partner providing FETAC awards and qualifications framework for youth work training
• Youth Work Ireland (National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth work organisation providing strategic direction, support, and affiliation for local Youth Work Ireland branches
• Community Healthcare West Drugs ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner collaborating on U18 Addiction Counselling service delivery in Galway City, County, and Roscommon
• AMACH! LGBTI+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal LGBT+ organisation partner for LGBTI+ Youth Health & Advocacy Support Service, collaborating to improve services and raise awareness
• National Health Visiting Programme (NHVP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner funder for Preparing for Life early intervention programme supporting child development from pregnancy
• INTREOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDepartment of Social Protection employment service referring eligible participants to CE Scheme placements

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BelongTo: Irish LGBT+ youth organisation providing direct services, training, and advocacy. Direct comparator for the shOUT! LGBT+ youth projects and LGBTI+ Youth Health & Advocacy Service delivered by YWI Galway in partnership with AMACH.
• ISPCC Childline: Irish children's charity providing Childline and youth support services nationally. Comparable as a voluntary youth support organisation combining direct service delivery with online chat support — the YIChat service directly mirrors Childline's model.
• Scouting Ireland: National voluntary youth organisation with affiliated Scout groups across Ireland. Comparable as a membership-style youth development organisation with similar volunteer-led delivery and government/EU funding relationships.
• Jigsaw (Jigsaw Youth Mental Health): Irish youth mental health charity operating 13 regional services plus online support for ages 12-25. Directly comparable as an HSE-funded youth counselling service model with regional centres — a partial overlap with YWI Galway's counselling service.
• SpunOut.ie: Irish youth information charity providing online information on mental health, education, employment, and rights for ages 16-24. Directly comparable digital youth information service model to YWI Galway's Youth Information Service and YIChat.
• Foróige: Ireland's largest youth work organisation, operating Clubs and Projects nationwide for ages 10-18. Most direct peer: comparable volunteer-led youth clubs, youth work methodology, and government-funded delivery model in Ireland.
• Barnardos Ireland: Ireland's leading children's charity, providing early years, family support, and youth work services. Comparable as a national children's/youth voluntary organisation funded through Tusla, government, and donations, with overlapping counselling and family support offerings.
• Crosscare: Dublin-based voluntary social care agency delivering youth services, family support, and community programmes. Directly comparable as an Irish voluntary youth/family support charity funded primarily through government grants.
• Youth Work Ireland (National): National federation of which Youth Work Ireland Galway is a member branch. Operates the same UBU programme framework, voluntary youth work methodology, and affiliated youth club model across 20+ Member Youth Services.

Broad incumbents

• Tusla - Child and Family Agency: State agency responsible for child welfare, family support, and domestic violence services nationally. Comparable as a funder/partner and as the broader statutory body whose commissioning decisions shape YWI Galway's service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/youthworkgalway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-work-ireland-galway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Youth Work Ireland Galway