Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
For details, visit www.eufunds.ie

In Ireland we currently run four Youth Diversion programmes. These provide early intervention and diversionary activities to young people who may be in the early stages of involvement in criminal or anti-social behaviour.

What is a Youth Diversion Project?

YDPs engage with young people (aged 12-17) at risk of, or who are involved in, anti-social and/or criminal behaviour, and provide them with targeted supports to stop their offending and become positive contributors to society.

The projects offer the young participants opportunities for education, employment and training as well as sport, art, music and other activities which contribute to improving employability.

Projects are specifically located in areas of social disadvantage and marginalisation, where there are high volumes of youth crime and where there is a history of early school leaving and generational unemployment.

The service is flexible in nature and provided on days and times that best meet the needs of the service users, including evenings. Likewise, the service can be brought to them, rather than relying on them ‘self-presenting’.

Diversions in the form of overnight stays are also an effective method of getting young people out of their everyday environments and providing opportunities for experiential learning and life skills development.

Risk assessments are carried out to determine the types of interventions required, as well as identification of any safety measures that need to be in place for the project to work effectively. The assessment includes consideration of family, education, community risks and current patterns of offending behaviours.

Our four Youth Diversion Projects (YDP) - based in Naas, Athy, Raheny (North Dublin) and Limerick – supported a total of 388 young people and their families with a range of life-changing interventions in 2019.

Individual Intervention Plans

Individual Intervention Plans (IIP), ensure that the specific needs of each individual young person are considered, including the wider impact of their personal social ecology.

Organised group work sessions are used for developing conflict resolution skills, cooperation skills and being able to see issues from another’s perspective.

Regular home contact occurs through home visits and telephone calls, while named keyworkers develop connections with the primary carers and other key people.

This allows a trusting relationship to be established for both the family and the young person, with the keyworker frequently acting as both a role model to the young person and family, but also being central to predicting and averting periods of crises.

The programme also places great importance on working with local residents, community groups, local partnerships, community centres and any other local services relevant to the young people’s needs.

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SUPPORTING: Young People & Families

HOW DO I ACCESS THIS SERVICE? Referrals through Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer (JLO), Education Welfare Officer, school or Youthreach programme, community organisations or self-referral from families and young people.

CONTACT:

Athy YDP
Office 8, Athy Community Enterprise Park,
Woodstock Industrial Estate,
Kilkenny Road,
Athy,
Co Kildare
Tel: 00 353 (8) 6014 9375
Email: [email protected] 

Limerick YDP
Southill Hub,
Donough O’ Malley Park,
Limerick
V94x 341
Tel: 00 353 (0)86 386 0763

Email: [email protected]

Naas YDP
1st Floor, Block 4,
Monread Leisure and Commercial Centre,
Monread Avenue,
Naas,
Co Kildare
Tel: 00 353 (0)86 014 9375
Email: [email protected] 

Raheny Youth Diversion
St Monica’s Youth Resource Centre,
Tonlegee Road,
Raheny
Dublin 6
Tel: 00 353 (0) 86 777 7400

Email: [email protected]