May

Voices for Impact to be officially launched at Bytes Youth Hub in Glengormley on Wednesday, 14th May 2025 at 11am

 

Voices for Impact, a groundbreaking digital platform designed to capture and amplify the voices of children and young people across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the UK, will be officially launched at an event in the Bytes Youth Hub in Glengormley on Wednesday, 14th May at 11am.

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The initiative represents a collaboration between seven leading youth organisations: The Bytes Project, YMCA Ireland, Boys & Girls Clubs NI, Youth Initiatives, National Youth Council of Ireland, Youth Link Scotland, and Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services.

Voices for Impact aims to transform how young people’s views are gathered, understood, and used to influence policy decisions. This project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

 

Breaking Down Barriers to Youth Participation

The new digital platform offers young people the opportunity to share their views on six key themes derived from the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• Good Health and Well-Being

• Learning, Skills and Work

• Safer Society

• Fairer Society

• The Planet

• Digital Access

 

Minister of Finance, Dr John O’Dowd MLA, said “I welcome the launch of the digital PEACE PLUS funded Voices for Impact project.  This initiative is a positive example of cooperation across this Island, Scotland and Wales and provides a digital platform for young people to collaborate on key areas that are important to them. It also ensures that their views are heard to inform future strategy and engagement. I wish all involved every success and I look forward to hearing how the project progresses.”

 

Minister of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform & Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, said “I welcome the launch of the Voices for Impact project, funded under the €1.14 billion PEACEPLUS programme.

“This innovative project will capture and amplify a wide array of youth voices, and  gather important insights that can inform development of inclusive and data-driven policies for young people.

“The Voices for Impact project will make a valuable contribution towards fostering dialogue and engagement and supporting the objectives of PEACEPLUS.”

 

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre, said “The Strategic Planning and Engagement support within the PEACEPLUS Programme brings with it a real opportunity to address and overcome challenges to future economic prosperity and growth North/South, and East/West.

“Voices for Impact is a fantastic project aimed at transforming how young people’s views are gathered and understood, which is so important in helping to understand their needs and hear their voice to help shape future polices and interventions.”

 

Stephen Dallas, CEO of The Bytes Project, said: “Voices for Impact represents a significant step forward in digital youth participation. By creating this accessible online platform, we’re removing traditional barriers that have prevented many young people from having their say, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.”

The initiative’s objectives align with SEUPB’s vision to foster sustainable and structural cooperation across borders, with targets including 1,000 responses per year and the creation of youth-led content reflecting on the data findings.

 

 

Data-Driven Youth Advocacy

A key innovation of Voices for Impact is its focus on generating actionable data that can be used to advocate for increased investment in youth services and to shape policies affecting young people.

Initial survey data already collected through the platform reveals important insights into young people’s well-being, educational experiences, and social concerns across the regions, with patterns emerging that will help inform service provision and policy development.

 

Youth-Led from the Start

Young people have been central to the development of Voices for Impact from its inception. The platform’s design, survey questions, and implementation strategy have all been shaped by youth input, ensuring the initiative truly reflects young people’s needs and preferences.

 

For more information, contact:

Liam Mc Cusker
Email: liam.mccusker@bytes.org
Website: www.voicesforimpact.ai

Notes to Editors:

 

PEACEPLUS

The PEACEPLUS Programme has been designed to promote peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, and has a total value of €1.14bn, to be delivered over the next four years. 

PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

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About SEUPB:
The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

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About Voices for Impact:
Voices for Impact is a digital platform designed to capture and amplify the voices of children and young people across the UK and Ireland. The initiative focuses on effectively gathering young people’s views on issues that matter to them, ensuring these insights shape the policies that affect them.

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Partner Organisations:

• The Bytes Project

• YMCA Ireland

• Boys & Girls Clubs NI

• Youth Initiatives

• National Youth Council of Ireland

• Youth Link Scotland

• Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services

 

Photograph 

Photograph included in email includes: (L to R) Éadaoin Patton, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Paul Sheridan, SEUPB; David Lynch, Department of Finance;  Stephen Dallas, the Bytes Project