Youth work can often be described as ‘non-formal’ education and is designed to be complementary to their formal, academic or vocational education. Its purpose is to aid and enhance the personal and social development of young people, focussing on the ages between 10 and 25 years old. Youth work is a very social practice and works with young people and the societies in which they live to help them become confident individuals, effective contributors to their communities, successful learners and responsible citizens. A wide variety of activities are included for young people, either in groups or individually in broad areas such as social, cultural, educational and environmental. 

Youth work is delivered by a combination of paid and volunteer youth workers with funding support from the Department of Education and Skills and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs).