The National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups have been developed for youth groups, funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) via Vocational Education Committees (VECs). They apply to groups funded under the DCYA’s Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and related schemes operating in Dublin and Waterford cities.

While all these groups will be required to engage with the national quality standards, youth groups that are not in receipt of funding from the DCYA are also encouraged to use them. The Boys’ Brigade in the Republic of Ireland will engage with all Companies to complete the annual plan and progress report during the first quarter of 2014.

The standards are simply a set of statements of what should be in place to assist in ensuring quality. These statements outline what level of service can be expected and how services will be provided so as to ensure that they are delivered to an agreed level of quality and that the level is consistent on a national basis.

The national quality standards aim to:

• Improve the quality of the programmes and activities provided;
• Improve the way programmes and activities are planned and delivered;
• Provide young people with the opportunity to have a say in the development and review of the group and its activities.