Newsletter
News
Thousands of young people, families and adults living through rapidly evolving adverse social inequalities and challenging personal circumstances accessed Extern supports in 2024
Extern, a community and voluntary organisation founded in 1970s, working across the island of Ireland, laid out its strategic priorities for the next five years – Supporting People towards a Better Tomorrow. A strategy that will target the ever-increasing systemic social inequality, aiming to close opportunity gaps for individuals with lived experience of adversity, poverty and supporting neurodiverse populations.
Supporting People towards a Better Tomorrow, co-created with service users, commissioners and colleagues, is a significant step in addressing lack of opportunities and social inequalities. The ambitious strategy focuses on enhancing service provision while expanding outreach to young people affected by the criminal justice system, families and adults living in poverty and challenging circumstances that result in a complexity of needs, and intellectual disability and neurodiversity.
CEO Leslie Ann Scott emphasised the importance of having the right services to create meaningful change.
“Our 5-year strategy outlines our determination and commitment to work with those who require support in Ireland from the adversity they have experienced in their lives, whether that was from poverty, childhood trauma, displacement, loss of their home or because of societal marginalisation due to their ethnic or intellectual and neurological differences. Adversity experiences can result in life-changing experiences, and as we are living in an ever-changing world, Extern’s services highlight the need for an inclusive, caring and compassionate society."
"Our new strategy has reinforced and refreshed the essence of Extern’s original foundations, placing people and service users at the heart of our work. We have set ambitious goals for the next 5 years and we are committed to working with our partners, commissioners and our communities to bring lasting positive change to ensure we create a stronger, empathetic and caring society to support those in most need of support.”
"Adversity experiences can result in life-changing experiences, and as we are living in an ever-changing world, Extern’s services highlight the need for an inclusive, caring and compassionate society."
Junior Minister Niall Collins, Minister of Youth at the Department of Justice and TD for Limerick spoke of his department’s involvement with the Bail Supervision Scheme
"Extern have played an instrumental role in delivering community service across the island of Ireland over the past five decades.
"As Minister of State for Youth Justice, I am keenly aware of the significant positive effects Extern's youth diversion programmes and operation of the bail supervision scheme in particular have on the lives of young people who are most at risk of falling into a life of crime.
"I am honoured to launch Extern's five-year strategy and I look forward to continuing to partner with them over the coming years to deliver these crucial services to our young people who need them most as we build stronger and safer communities."
Professor Sean Redmond, School of Law in the University of Limerick spoke about the positive impact of the Bail Supervision Scheme, “ our research provides substantive evidence that Bail Supervision Scheme delivered by Extern contributed to positive changes in participating young people’s behaviour.”
Aideen D’Arcy Extern Group Chair acknowledged how Extern’s strengthened governance structure reflects its deep commitment to transparency, accountability and excellence. “We are proud to uphold the spirit of our founders and we are confident that our strategy will support Extern deliver its mission and respond effectively to future challenges and opportunities.
“I would also like on behalf of the board to thank all our commissioners and partners: Department of Justice, Tusla, HSE, Children’s Right Alliance, Limerick City Council for their financial input and steadfast commitment to working with our team to provide relevant and inclusive services so that our service users have a better tomorrow ”
Extern was founded in the mid’70s in Belfast by a group of social workers, probation officers and a law lecture who wanted to help improve the lives of young adults coming through the criminal justice system. Today Extern offers xx services to over xx people in Ireland.
Link to strategy, here.