PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE DUBLIN To be purchased from the GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES OFFICE, SUN ALLIANCE HOUSE, MOLESWORTH STREET, DUBLIN 2 or by mail order from GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, POSTAL TRADE SECTION, 51 ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN, DUBLIN 2 [Tel: 01 647 6834; Fax: 01 647 6843] or through any bookseller Price: E5.00 Prn: A7/1010 Office of the Minister for Children Department of Health and Children ISBN: 0-7557-7557-0 Hawkins House Hawkins Street Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 635 4000 Fax: +353 (0)1 674 3223 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.omc.gov.ie Designed by Penhouse Design www.penhouse.ie teenspace National Recreation Policy for Young People Office of the Minister for Children September 2007 Copyright © Minister for Health and Children, 2007 Office of the Minister for Children Department of Health and Children Hawkins House Hawkins Street Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 635 4000 Fax: +353 (0)1 674 3223 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.omc.gov.ie Published by The Stationery Office, Dublin ISBN: 0-7557-7557-0 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the copyright holder. For rights of translation or reproduction, applications should be made to the Head of Communications, Office of the Minister for Children, Hawkins House, Hawkins Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Foreword It is a great pleasure for me to launch the National Recreation Policy for Young People, aged between 12 and 18 years. The National Children’s Strategy, Our Children — Their Lives, published in 2000, identified the need for more opportunities for community- based play, leisure and cultural activities. This was high on the list of issues raised by children themselves in the consultation process for the strategy. The first part of the Government’s response to this need was the creation of the National Play Policy, Ready, Steady, Play!, published in March 2004. Aimed primarily at children under the age of 12, its purpose was to create better play opportunities for young children. It also greatly improved our understanding of the importance and relevance of play for children. The work done by local authorities on the development of playgrounds, together with the promotion of play by the National Play Resource Centre, have both had a visible impact on the opportunities for play for younger children. The National Recreation Policy represents the second stage in the fulfillment of the call, identified in the National Children’s Strategy, for more play and recreational opportunities for young people. Called Teenspace, this policy is aimed at young people between the ages of 12 and 18, and provides a strategic framework for the promotion of better recreational opportunities for that age group. Extensive consultation has shown that the lack of recreational opportunities continues to be a major concern for young people throughout the country, while the research undertaken for the development of the policy has helped us to understand a lot more about what constitutes ‘recreation’ for young people today. This ranges from simply ‘hanging out’ with friends, to more casual activities, such as skateboarding or surfing the Net, to more formal structured activities, such as organised sports or music groups. The policy highlights the requirement for multi-agency support and input in order to meet the kinds of needs described by young people. The National Recreation Policy has been developed with input from various Government departments and agencies, all of which will have a crucial role to play in the delivery of the policy. It joins up and identifies the ways in which to strengthen action in improving opportunities and promoting youth-friendly and youth-safe environments, all underpinned by the voice of young people in designing and implementing local recreation policies and plans. Most importantly, the policy stresses and supports the view that young people have the desire and the potential to be active participants in the local community and in society generally. They want to be part of what’s happening and to have their views and ways of enjoying themselves considered a positive aspect of community life. Very much in keeping with the new Programme for Government, I believe that this policy represents a great opportunity to support and strengthen young people and their communities, engendering mutual respect and enriching young people’s experiences of growing up. Brendan Smith, TD Minister for Children September 2007 v Contents Foreword iii Acknowledgements viii Introduction Background 2 Developing the policy 2 Policy objectives 3 Structure of the policy 3 1 The context for developing a recreation policy for young people Vision 8 Background 9 Defining recreation 10 Importance of recreation in young people’s lives 10 Policy for all young people 11 Whole Child Perspective 11 Benefits of recreation for young people 13 Developing the policy 14 Context in which young people engage in recreation 14 How recreation is changing 17 Summary 20 2 Barriers and motivators to participation in recreation Intrapersonal constraints 24 Interpersonal constraints 24 Structural constraints 25 Barriers for young people with additional needs 26 3 Principles and objectives underpinning the National Recreation Policy for Young People Principles 30 Objectives 30 Links to other strategies and policies 31 4 OBJECTIVE 1: Give young people a voice in the design, implementation and monitoring of recreation policies and facilities The case for involving young people 34 Young people’s views 35 Current position on participation 36 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 1 40 vi 5 OBJECTIVE 2: Promote organised activities for young people and examine ways to motivate them to be involved Involvement in clubs 44 Volunteering 46 The arts and young people 49 Promoting physical activity 53 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 2 56 6 OBJECTIVE 3: Ensure that the recreational needs of young people are met through the development of youth-friendly and safe environments ‘Hanging out’ with friends 60 The wider physical environment 64 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 3 70 7 OBJECTIVE 4: Maximise the range of recreational opportunities available for young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or who have a disability Young people in rural areas 74 Young people from low-income families 77 Young people who are at risk 78 Young people from ethnic minority groups 81 Young people from the Traveller community 82 Young people who are ill 84 Young people with disabilities 86 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 4 89 8 OBJECTIVE 5: Promote relevant qualifications/standards in the provision of recreational activities Training 94 Working out of hours 95 Child protection and welfare 95 Safety standards for recreation 99 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 5 102 9 OBJECTIVE 6: Develop a partnership approach in developing and funding recreational opportunities across the statutory, community and voluntary sectors Role of Government departments and agencies 106 Funding structures 108 Improved coordination at central and local level 108 Partnerships with young people 112 The corporate sector 113 Better use of existing facilities 114 Actions to support the achievement of Objective 6 114 vii 10 OBJECTIVE 7: Improve information on, evaluation and monitoring of recreational provision for young people in Ireland Actions to support the achievement of Objective 7 119 11 Implementation of National Recreation Policy Review mechanisms 122 Cost implications of the policy 123 Strategic direction 125 Implementation Action Plan 125 Bibliography 139 Appendix 1: Role of Government departments and agencies Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism 150 The Irish Sports Council 150 The Arts Council 150 Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 150 Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform 151 Department of Education and Science 151 Vocational Education Committees 152 Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 152 Local Authorities 152 Department of Health and Children 153 Health Service Executive 153 Department of Transport 153 Appendix 2: Membership of the Steering Group overseeing the development of the National Recreation Policy 156 Index 160 viii Acknowledgements Message from Sylda Langford Director General, Office of the Minister for Children I know that young people have been keenly awaiting the publication of the National Recreation Policy and I would like to thank several people who have been instrumental in bringing the policy document to fruition. First and foremost, I would like to explicitly acknowledge the wonderful support and enthusiastic cooperation received from the young people, aged 12 to 18, who actively participated in the research and the public consultation, supported by their parents and teachers. We are also greatly indebted to Dr. Áine de Róiste and Ms. Joan Dinneen, Department of Social and General Studies, Cork Institute of Technology, who conducted and facilitated the research, and to Ms. Sandra Roe who compiled the report on the public consultation on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children. Their reports provided valuable information on a range of issues relating to young people and contributed significantly to the development of the policy. Finally, I would like to record our deep appreciation to the Steering Group, chaired by Ms. Mary Golden, Office of the Minister for Children, and comprising representatives of those Government departments and agencies involved in the provision of services and programmes for young people, who had responsibility for overseeing the development of the policy. 2 The issue of recreation is being addressed by Government to meet commitments made in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989), the National Children’s Strategy (Department of Health and Children, 2000a) and the Agreed Programme for Government (Government of Ireland, 2002).