Regional Assessment of Need 2026

The planning funding and delivery of youth work is required, by the Priorities for Youth Policy (2013), to be based on the Education Authority’s composite assessment of need at both a regional and local level (Priorities for Youth 4.6.1).

The assessment of need should also include an assessment of capital requirements and outline the strategic needs of children and young people across Northern Ireland. Together this provides a clear framework for the delivery of youth services. 

The assessment of needs will consider how youth work activities should be determined across the key youth work age ranges as well as the required  levels of generic/non-targeted youth provision.

To support targeted provision the assessment of needs should also identify the needs of specific groups of young people within the Section 75 groupings, or those at greater risk of social exclusion, marginalisation or isolation.