Solas Project

03/09/2026

Our Annual Team Week gives us the chance to step away from the day-to-day, look ahead, make plans, have the big conversations, and remind ourselves what brings us together in the first place.

This year, we were lucky enough to spend an overnight at East Coast Adventure who have hosted residentials for us before. Alongside the planning and reflection, our team got out on the water, hit the trails, and made the most of the saunas and cold plunges.

A good reminder that looking after the team is part of looking after the work.

02/09/2026

A recent report by the National Youth Council of Ireland and TASC paints a stark picture of youth unemployment, highlighting the barriers many young people face in accessing education and employment.

As one of our Youth Workers shared:
“Getting more young people to stick with education is key to changing the employment landscape in the city’s most economically deprived areas but the supports need to be there to counter the more immediate pressure on many to contribute to household incomes.”

A thought-provoking read on the challenges facing young people, and the importance of ensuring the right supports are there to help them build brighter futures.

Report suggests teenagers are disproportionately affected by failure of jobs market to fully bounce back

01/09/2026

It’s been a fantastic summer of fishing trips across both our Liberate and Rua programmes! 🎣

These trips are a great opportunity for young people to get out in nature, spend time together and learn some new skills along the way. Some of the lads have described the trips as both an adventure and a peaceful day out, and they’re already looking forward to going again!

A special thank you to Southside Angling for providing all the bait for our most recent fishing trip. We really appreciate your support!

01/09/2026

🏈 What happens when everyone starts from the same place?

In the article below, Beyond Sport shares how NFL Flag has become a new way for us to build confidence, connection and leadership with young people.

Because almost everyone was learning the sport for the first time, it created a genuine level playing field, giving young people the opportunity to try something new, get involved and discover they could be good at something they’d never tried before.

Understand the impact of flag football youth development on Ireland's youth, creating community and confidence through sport.

27/08/2026

☕️ Barista training complete!

Over four weeks, our young people got hands-on with everything from pulling espresso to steaming milk, finishing with a great visit to AWOL Society

It was brilliant to see how quickly they got stuck in, getting nerdy about coffee and coffee shops along the way! There’s something especially rewarding about seeing young people learn a practical skill where they create something with their hands.

Well done to our budding baristas! 👏

24/08/2026

Feeling chic: summer edition at Solas Project 🌞

19/08/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to give your time this year?

We’re looking for volunteers to join Step Up, our one-to-one mentoring programme, supporting young people aged 10–18 to build confidence, connection and positive relationships.

Interested in getting involved? Get in touch with Emily at [email protected] with any questions or to apply.

17/08/2026

*MEET THE TEAM*

Will joined us in June 2025 as our Operations and People Manager, following 12 years in Social Care, most recently as a Quality Officer, before making the change to Youth Work. In his own words:

“I love the variety of my role, being able to support the programmes one minute and then dealing with the day-to-day operations of Solas Project the next.”

Originally from Dublin and now living in Kildare, Will holds a BA Honours in Psychology and a Level 7 in Photographic Studies, and is currently completing a Master’s in Work and Organisational Psychology.
Outside of work, Will enjoys camping, being outdoors and all things motorcycles. With a young family and his studies keeping him busy, he’s looking forward to getting back out on his bike and exploring new places when he can!

14/08/2026

Join us this Sunday, 16 August, from 11am–4:30pm at the Newmarket Flea, where young people from our Yard Social Enterprise Programme will be selling a selection of beautiful handmade woodturning pieces.

12/08/2026

Did you know that residentials aren’t all just fun and games? 👀
While the fun is definitely a big part of it, residentials are also a great opportunity for young people to build and practise everyday life skills in a new environment. From:
- Cooking meals together
- Cleaning up and doing the dishes
- Managing their time and preparing for activities
- Planning what to pack

Alongside these practical skills, residentials also give young people the chance to develop communication, teamwork, responsibility, and learning how to be present and grounded in a new environment.

By the looks of it, the lessons and laughs from this summer’s residentials will stay with our young people for a long time.