Youth Empowerment Leadership Programme (YELP)
Diverse Youth NI – Youth Work Empowering Young People to Lead with Confidence, Purpose and Voice.
The Youth Empowerment Leadership Programme (YELP) is one of Diverse Youth NI’s flagship youth-work initiatives. Designed for young people aged 14 to 25, YELP builds confidence, strengthens leadership skills and provides a platform for young people from diverse backgrounds to take ownership of their growth and their communities.
YELP reflects DYNI’s core belief: young people are not just participants in their communities, they are leaders, creators and changemakers.
What is YELP?
YELP is a structured, youth-led leadership and empowerment programme that supports young people to develop their potential through
- Leadership and communication training
- Cultural understanding and identity exploration
- Creative expression and project design
- Civic engagement and public participation
- Community-building and peer support
The programme blends fun, learning and responsibility in a safe and inclusive environment supported by trained youth workers.
Who Is YELP For?
YELP is open to young people aged 14 to 25 who:
- Want to grow their leadership skills
- Are interested in community building and social action
- Come from migrant, minority ethnic or multicultural backgrounds
- Want to be part of a supportive, diverse youth community
- Are motivated to make a positive impact in their schools, neighbour hoods or wider society
- No prior experience is needed. The programme is open, welcoming and tailored to meet young people where they are.
What Young People Gain
1. Leadership Skills
Participants learn how to plan, lead and deliver activities, communicate confidently, work in teams and represent the voices of their peers.
2. Personal Development
Through workshops, reflection activities and mentoring, young people build self-confidence, resilience, wellbeing and an understanding of their own strengths.
3. Community Engagement
YELP encourages active citizenship. Young people take part in community events, meet civic leaders and contribute to shaping a more inclusive Northern Ireland.
4. Skills for Education and Employment
YELP equips young people with practical skills like public speaking, event planning, facilitation, digital communications and creative problem solving.
5. A Supportive Peer Network
Participants join a vibrant, multicultural youth community that celebrates diversity and fosters belonging.
What We Do in YELP
Weekly Youth-Work Sessions
Interactive sessions on leadership, culture, identity, wellbeing, storytelling, teamwork and youth voice.
Creative & Skills-Based Workshops
Including podcasting, filmmaking, arts, community journalism, campaigning skills, and digital media.
Peer-Led Projects
Young people co-design and deliver a project that matters to them. Past projects have included:
Youth conferences
Cultural celebrations
Anti-hate crime campaigns
Mental health awareness initiatives
Creative exhibitions
Civic Engagement Activities
Meeting civic leaders, visiting key institutions, and participating in consultations and youth forums.
Celebration & Graduation
Each YELP cycle ends with a showcase event where young people present their achievements and receive certificates.
Why YELP Matters
Northern Ireland is increasingly diverse, and young people are at the heart of building positive relationships and inclusive communities. YELP creates a space where:
Diversity is celebrated
Youth voice is valued
Leadership comes from lived experience
Young people grow into confident changemakers
It is more than a programme. It is a community, a support system and a platform for future leaders.
Join YELP
If you are aged 14 to 25 and want to build confidence, develop leadership skills or become more active in your community, we would love to welcome you into YELP.