A new training, education and employment programme has been launched in St. Mark’s Youth Club Tallaght for care-experienced young people in the Dublin South West / Kildare / West Wicklow Tusla area. The project will see Tusla working with Include Youth Ireland to provide their ‘Give & Take’ programme to children in care, and those that have left care, to help them progress into and participate in training, education and employment.
The ‘Give & Take’ Programme is a youth work intervention that is designed to improve social and personal development, qualifications and employability related competencies. The programme’s main goal is to equip young people, aged 16-21, who are currently not engaging in education, training or employment, with the necessary skills and to offer a clear career path for young people. The programme involves one-to-one work on a weekly basis with an allocated keyworker over 12-24 months. A support plan is developed, tailored to each young person’s individual needs, with a focus on strengths, skill development and support to achieve identified goals.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Give & Take’ programme, Patricia Finlay, Regional Chief Officer, Dublin Mid Leinster, Tusla, said, “Tusla’s Aftercare Service in Dublin South West, Kildare and West Wicklow supports some of the largest numbers of young care-leavers in the country. It is also an area where there is significant socio-economic deprivation, which for many young people can lead to more frequent non-engagement in education or training.
“The Give and Take programme by Include Youth Ireland we’re launching today will have a direct impact on those young people most in need, and who require additional support to enter into and sustain employment and education or training opportunities.”
Diane Hill, CEO, Include Youth Ireland, added, “We are delighted to mark this launch of Include Youth Ireland in the Dublin South West / Kildare / West Wicklow area, in partnership with Tusla. The Give & Take programme is designed to empower and equip young people with essential life skills, qualifications, employability skills and personal development. This expansion underscores the charity’s commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of young people. It is an exciting time as care-experienced young people within these areas can avail of a transformative wrap around support that can enable them to fulfil their potential and thrive in their future.”
Include Youth Ireland have partnered with the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB) on educational aspects of the programme, and the DDLETB are also providing a premises for the group work aspects of the programme. The programme is being funded through Dormant Accounts funding. Include Youth Ireland is a non-profit organisation which has been providing support to care leavers in Northern Ireland for over 40 years. This is their first initiative in the Republic of Ireland where they hope to expand their service provision. They will soon be launching a similar project with the Cavan/Monaghan Tusla Aftercare Service, also.
Pictured: Mags Keane, Aftercare Manager, Tusla, Claire Barkey, Youth Development Officer, DDLETB, Diane Hill, CEO, Include Youth Ireland, Patricia Finlay, Regional Chief Officer, Dublin Mid Leinster, Tusla, at the launch of the ‘Give & Take’ programme in St. Mark’s Youth Club in Tallaght.
