Funding boost for Mayo youth flagship programme UBU
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board has been awarded funding to extend the reach of the Department of Education and Youth’s flagship youth programme, UBU.
This service provides targeted, youth-worker led supports for disadvantaged young people locally. Local youth organisations will shortly be invited to apply to deliver the programme, ensuring it is rooted in the community in Mayo.
Deputy Keogh said: “This investment means more young people in Mayo and Sligo will gain access to safe spaces and trusted youth workers, offering the supports they need to thrive. The additional service will be particularly important for those at risk or marginalised, creating opportunities and pathways for our young people.”
Nationally, ten additional UBU services are being established following the Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee’s announcement, backed by an extra €1.2 million in Budget 2025.
These new services will provide supports for up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people aged 10 to 24.
UBU Your Place Your Space is the department’s largest targeted youth funding programme, supporting about 68,000 young people each year through 249 services delivered by 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
The programme focuses on safe spaces, dedicated youth workers, and tailored supports to help at-risk young people to thrive.
Deputy Keogh added: “Life as a teenager today comes with enormous pressures, and those challenges can be even greater for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. We must give every support we can to help them thrive."
Chief Executive Tom Grady and all at MSLETB are doing great work to support youth in Mayo and through collaborations with youth organisations like Foróige, this funding will have a significant impact on the ground.”
In a statement, Mayo Minister Alan Dillon said: “I am delighted to see Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim ETB included in this important expansion of youth services. This funding will help create safe, supportive spaces for vulnerable young people aged 10 to 24, offering them access to dedicated youth workers and tailored supports that can make a real difference in their lives.”
This service is currently operational in four areas of Mayo. These are Involve and North Mayo Youth Projects in Ballina; through Foróige in Ballyhaunis and Erris Youth Service, which was opened in 2021.
Following the announcement of this latest round of funding, new UBU services will now be established in Castlebar with an outreach service in Ballinrobe, expanding the reach of youth supports in the region.
The UBU Your Place Your Space programme is the Department of Justice’s largest targeted youth funding initiative, currently supporting approximately 68,000 young people each year, through 249 services delivered by 16 Education and Training Boards.
Its core mission is to reach marginalised, vulnerable, or at-risk youth and improve their personal and social development outcomes.
The new services will be rolled out in areas identified as having the highest need, based on ETB submissions. Local youth organisations will soon be invited to apply, to establish, and deliver these new services.
Minister Dillon added: “This is a significant step forward in ensuring that young people in our region have the resources and support they need to thrive.
"While this is good news for Mayo, we need to continue to expand our youth services given that Mayo is the third largest county in the country. Having only three areas of Ballina, Erris and Ballyhaunis serviced, we need to put more supports in place.
"I want to congratulate MSLETB and Youth Worker Breda Ruane on their successful application. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these new services in Castlebar and Ballinrobe will have on our communities.”