Often when we meet the people we go on to support for the first time, they can be at their most vulnerable, or they are in the midst of a challenging time.
Many of the people we support tell us they feel like they have fallen through the cracks, while others are managing to sustain their daily lives but it's getting harder and harder for them.
When they meet Extern, many people tell us it's the first time they feel listened to in a long time. That's because we strive to meet people at their point of need. We never walk away. And we never judge.
Read more
"My special memory is coming to the Extern bungalow, where the project is based, and meeting the girls from all over the county." Read more
"For anyone who is coming to Extern for the first time, I would say that it’s great to have the support that they offer" Read more
"They let you know that you can achieve anything in life, and they give you the confidence to achieve things.“ Read more
"For anyone in the same position as me, I would tell them to take the support offered by Extern" Read more
Emily McCusker shares how the success of the Traveller Healthcare programme in Cavan depends on the strength of the relationships which have been developed between staff and service users over many years. Read more
"Extern has helped me build my self confidence and motivation levels." Read more
"When I was being supported by Extern I always felt like I could open up in confidence and express how I was feeling without fear of being judged." Read more
I can’t thank Extern enough for how they have helped transform my life for the better, and helped me to see a brighter future ahead. Read more
Thank you, Extern; thank you for giving me the skills to live, and most importantly to have hope for my life; that my journey will be long, that my life will be longer Read more
"Other services stop if you don’t turn up, but Extern understands that you can have a bad day, and they keep trying." Read more
The guys at the Youth Engagement Service provided a place for me where I could speak honestly about what was going on in my life. Read more
"I’m a lot more confident since working with Extern. I’m doing well at school too - my attendance is high, I’m giving my best in what I do" Read more
"I reached out to the team, and they came back to me quickly. That was the first of many steps I took towards managing my problem gambling." Read more
"My proudest moment on the Jumping Hurdles programme was when I learned how to canter on the horse properly." Read more
"I knew something had to change in my life, so when my keyworker called to my house to tell me about Extern, I decided to go out that very day to a session and see what it was about." Read more
While the Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has intensified many of the challenges faced by those with a learning disability, it has also shown us the very best side of our communities as well Read more
How moving our services online helped Extern's Problem Gambling team reach more people. Read more
"From the very beginning they couldn’t have been nicer or any more helpful. I honestly don’t know where I would be today without them." Read more
"Thanks to Extern and the help they gave us, for the first time in years we now feel safe and happy in our forever home" Read more
“Extern helped me understand that it’s okay not to be okay, and that you should always seek help when life isn’t going well" Read more
"The SAFE Project made me feel less alone due to the peer-led support group I became involved in." Read more
"Without these critical services, I don’t know how we would have got through the whole ordeal". Read more