Onyx Teape from Mallow and Patrick Smiddy from Shanagarry have been selected to take part in the National Youth Council of Ireland’s (NYCI) 2026 Local Champions programme, a national initiative that supports young people to advocate for youth work and represent the voices of young people in their communities.
Onyx, who has been involved with Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services, and Patrick of Shanagarry Youth Club both join Midleton-based Local Champion Rowan MacSweeney.
Local Champions are young people aged 18–25 who have experienced the benefits of youth work and want to help ensure that youth services are recognised and supported by decision-makers.
Speaking about being selected as a Local Champion, Onyx said that “Youth work builds strong community bonds and helps guide young people in an ever complex world. It supports the next generation in creating a better future not just for themselves, but for the community at large.”
Welcoming his fellow Local Champions, Midleton-based Local Champion Rowan MacSweeney said: “Being involved in youth work has shaped who I am today, it’s where I found my voice, my confidence, and my community. Seeing the arrival of new Local Champions this year reminds me how powerful youth work can be when it’s properly supported.”
Over the coming months, participants will take part in a specialist training programme delivered by NYCI, including workshops on advocacy, communications and engaging with policymakers. They will use these skills to speak with local representatives and highlight the positive impact youth work has on young people and communities.
Mick Ferron, CEO of the National Youth Council of Ireland, said that youth work ‘plays a vital role in supporting young people to build confidence, develop skills and connect with their communities’.
“The Local Champions programme ensures that young people who have experienced the impact of youth work first-hand can share those stories directly with decision-makers.”
The initiative forms part of NYCI’s campaign to ensure that young people and youth work receive the necessary investment and support. The Local Champions initiative is supported by Community Foundation Ireland.
To learn more about the Local Champions initiative and NYCI’s work to advocate for increased investment in youth work, visit www.youth.ie.
