Approval for Offsite Day Visits & Residential/Overnight Stays
EA Youth Service are now able to provide educational day visits and residential overnight stays as part of the relaxation of restrictions for Youth Services.
This is relevant to all youth centres and provisions (Statutory and Voluntary funded through local area/project based funding, TPP funding) who operate in areas where there is heightened community tensions. (Currently Belfast, Derry, ABC – Portadown, MEA – Ballymena/Carrickfergus & Larne)
These groups can now apply for educational visit and residential overnight stays with EA permission where there is significant risk of harm or criminalisation of children and young people.
To apply; please complete the below form and a member of the EA Youth Service team will be in touch with you as soon as possible to facilitate if approved.
Ministerial Update on Resumption of Youth Services
On 7th April 2021, Peter Weir announced an update on the provision of Youth Services, specifically in response to Youth Restart as we meet the needs of children and young people.
In addition to the above information on the provision of educational visits and residential overnight stays; there has been an easing of restrictions across youth services in areas of heightened community tension:
- All youth centres and provisions (statutory and voluntary funded through Local Area/Project Based Funding; TPP funding) who operate in areas where there is heightened community tensions can maximise the use of their facilities and services with immediate effect to meet the needs of local children and young people (ie 90 % of capacity maintaining social distancing – Step 4; Phase 3)
- All mitigations outlined for Step 4: Phase 3 in the Youth Restart Guidance must be applied (available at www.youthonline.org.uk/restart)
1) Planning should commence for all generic provision for the summer period (July/August); however further steps of approval will be necessary to move to Phase 3 (this will be communicated as soon as possible)
2) Planning for the summer (July/august) for areas where there are heightened community tensions can progress with approval from EA to ensure the welfare and child safeguarding of children and young people to divert them from risk taking behaviours
3) TEO Planned Interventions funding will be available for application to the voluntary sector on Monday 12 April 2021 on www.eanifunding.org.uk
4) EA will facilitate weekly region wide meetings for those groups affected in areas of heightened community tensions to ensure effective planning, delivery and reporting of youth service provision
5) EA will facilitate local meetings (based on Council Boundary Areas) at least 2/3 times a week to plan for bespoke responses and interventions to meet the assessed and emerging needs of children and young people in areas of heightened community tensions (currently Belfast, Derry, ABC – Portadown, MEA – Ballymena/Carrickfergus & Larne)
For areas NOT impacted by heightened community tensions; regulations remain the same (Step 2; Phase 1). These regulations can be found at www.youthonline.org.uk/restart
Additional support or queries can be forwarded to youthoperations@eani.org.uk
