Youth Advocacy Service
THE GALWAY CITY YOUTH ADVOCACY SERVICE (YAS) is a community-based career guidance and support service for educationally disadvantaged young people.
The service works primarily (although not exclusively) with young people between 16-20 years of age, who:
- have left school early,
- who have few (or no) qualifications and/or
- are unemployed.
What We Do:
Following a client referral, the Advocacy Service works with a young person in a number of ways, which may include some, or all, of the following:
- A one-to-one meeting is arranged with the person where previous education, training or work experience is discussed.
- All realistic options open to the client are explored along with stumbling blocks or issues which prevents the client from re-engaging with education or progressing onwards.
- The client’s strengths are acknowledged with the aim of providing a positive future direction.
- A tailored made ‘career path plan’ is then put in place along with clear and attainable short-term goals, with a view to motivating and progressing the young person to further education, training or employment.
- Galway City Youth Advocacy Service also offers a range of psychometric assessments covering areas such as basic skills, motivation, personality and career interests which, where deemed appropriate, may be used to assist the client’s decision making.
