About Young Social Innovators

Young Social Innovators (YSI) is a non-profit organisation that believes in the power of youth. Its vision is to empower, equip and inspire young people to change the world for good. Through its programmes, training and events, Young Social Innovators enables young people to grapple with difficult social issues, advocating reform and advancing change. Each year, circa 15,000 young people are supported to explore social and environmental issues that concern them and come up with a variety of responses to these. In this way, Young Social Innovators builds social capital and helps young people create a fairer and more caring Ireland connecting into a wider global movement for change.

Ignite Community Programme

Ignite Community (IC) is a four-year social innovation programme supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The purpose of this innovative programme is to enable young people outside the main education system to drive and own innovations that will make a real difference in tackling inequality and creating new connections across communities in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Border Counties of Ireland (BRI).

These new connections will deepen links through the development of cross-border and cross-community relations within groups of young people from diverse backgrounds and communities co-creating solutions to social and environmental issues that impact upon them and their communities.

Purpose of Role

The Ignite Community Youth Worker (Facilitator) will be responsible for the direct facilitation of YSI’s Ignite Community Programme with groups of young people in community settings primarily in Belfast and across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. Working closely with the Ignite Community Local Leader for their area, they will deliver structured, high-quality social innovation education experiences to young people outside of the mainstream education system.

This role is primarily a facilitation role and.focuses on programme delivery, ensuring that every young person has an engaging, supportive, and impactful experience of the Ignite Community programme.

The role requires someone who is passionate about working with young people, skilled at facilitating group processes, and committed to the values of social innovation, inclusion, and cross-community collaboration.

Duties of the Role

Programme Facilitation

• Facilitate the Ignite Community programme with assigned groups of young people in community and youth settings.
• Deliver programme content in line with YSI’s Learning Framework, ensuring fidelity to the programme methodology and values.
• Create a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment for all young people, with particular sensitivity to the backgrounds and experiences of young people outside mainstream education.
• Support young people through each stage of the programme: from introduction to social innovation through to ideation, community exploration, and the development of their social innovation projects.
• Facilitate cross-community sessions, connecting young people from different backgrounds and communities in collaboration with the Local Leader.
• Support young people to prepare for and participate in local showcase and celebration events.
• Use arts-based, technology-based, and experiential learning approaches as part of programme delivery, as appropriate to each group.

Supporting the Local Leader

• Work closely with the Ignite Community Local Leader for the area, taking direction on programme planning, group allocation, and delivery schedules.
• Provide timely updates to the Local Leader on programme progress, participant engagement, and any issues arising.
• Contribute to the Local Leader’s reporting by supplying accurate records of attendance, participation, and programme milestones.
• Flag any safeguarding concerns, participant welfare issues, or programme challenges to the Local Leader promptly.

Data, Reporting & Administration

• Maintain accurate records of young people’s participation, attendance, and progress in line with SEUPB and YSI requirements.
• Assist with data collection activities that support programme evaluation and the research component of Ignite Community.
• Complete any required programme documentation within agreed timeframes.

Other Duties

• Ad hoc duties as required, in line with the purpose of the role.

Person Specification – Essential

• Youth work qualification or equivalent professional qualification.
• A minimum of two years’ experience working directly with young people, preferably in a youth work, community, or informal education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate group learning or group work with young people, including those facing barriers or from marginalised communities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage young people and build trust quickly.
• Ability to work independently and manage own workload, including managing multiple groups and deadlines.
• A strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and social justice.
• An interest in and commitment to social innovation and youth-led approaches to social change.
• Comfortable working remotely and using digital tools for communication, planning, and delivery.
• Strong IT skills including use of Google Suite and/or Microsoft Office.
• Clean UK/IRL driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.

Person Specification – Desirable

• Experience of working with young people in cross-community or cross-border contexts.
• Familiarity with the social innovation, peace-building, or community development sector in Northern Ireland or the Border Counties.
• Experience using arts-based or technology-based facilitation methods.
• Experience of contributing to programme reporting or evaluation processes.
• The ability to leverage generative AI to enhance creativity and speed in content creation or problem-solving.