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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Government, citizens and rights
    3. Government

    Youth citizenship

    Information you need about getting involved with politics, making your voice heard, having an influence on big issues and volunteering. Plus, find out how you can share your views on topics and events that affect you

    Get involved

    Why not take an active role in local politics, talk to your MP or MLA, campaign on local issues or join the Northern Ireland Youth Assembly? You could also volunteer to help charities or environmental projects.

    NI Youth Assembly

    The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly aims to give young people a voice and help them influence the decisions that affect them.

    • Northern Ireland Youth Assembly (NI Assembly website)

    NI Youth Forum

    The Northern Ireland Youth Forum is a youth led organisation that lobbies for and promotes the rights of young people in Northern Ireland.

    • Northern Ireland Youth Forum website

    Belfast City Youth Council

    The Belfast City Council’s Youth Council aims to:

    • give young people a voice
    • allow you to have your say on things which affect you and your friends
    • give you a chance to get involved in decision-making within the council
    • Belfast City Council Youth Council

    NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) Youth Panel

    The Panel's aim is to encourage and help children and young people develop so that they can take an active and full part in:

    • participation in discussions on issues affecting children and young people in Northern Ireland
    • recruitment of NICCY staff
    • NICCY Youth Panel

    Vote and be heard

    If you are over 17 years old, you can register to vote in Northern Ireland in the various elections:

    • UK Parliament
    • European Parliament
    • local government
    • Northern Ireland Assembly
    • Elections

    Volunteering - search and apply online

    Being a good citizen goes beyond politics – there are so many ways you can make a difference. By reporting crime or volunteering to take care of a vulnerable person, you are helping to strengthen your local community

    One of the most fun and rewarding ways to make a difference is through volunteering. It's a great way of learning new things, meeting new people and doing some good work. It can even help you get a job or secure a university place.

    • Volunteering

    Search and apply for volunteering opportunities in your area through the following link.

    • Volunteer Now
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    Government

    • Elections
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    • Identity assurance - manage your account
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    • Open data
    • OpenDataNI portal
    • Overview of government in Northern Ireland
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    • The Northern Ireland Assembly
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    • Youth citizenship

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    Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

    If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

    Carer's Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912
    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

    Call 0800 587 2750 
    Email 
    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

    Disability Living Allowance

    Call 0800 587 0912 
    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

    Employment and Support Allowance

    Call 0800 587 1377

    Jobseeker’s Allowance

    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

    Personal Independence Payment

    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

    For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

    For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

    For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

    If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

    • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
    • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

    For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

    Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

    For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

    For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

    For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

    For queries about:

    • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
    • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

    For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

    If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

    For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

    For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

    For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

    If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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