Extern Ireland

Extern Ireland Extern provides services to a range of vulnerable and marginalised people including children, young people, adults and families.

ROI Registered Charity Number: 20055318
Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC105869

Congratulations, Jessica! 🏆We're delighted to share that our team member Jessica Farmer, Multisystemic Therapist on the ...
12/08/2026

Congratulations, Jessica! 🏆

We're delighted to share that our team member Jessica Farmer, Multisystemic Therapist on the Bail Supervision Scheme in Cork, has been recognised with an MST "Whatever It Takes" award!

This award celebrates the people within the MST community of practice who go the extra mile - and it's richly deserved. Jessica shows up time and again for the families she works with, building strong professional relationships along the way. Her support for her colleagues has been instrumental as the Cork service has grown this year.

This is the second "Whatever It Takes" award to come to Cork this year - a proud moment for the whole team!

Well done, Jessica - this achievement reflects not just your own dedication, but the strength of the whole Cork MST team behind you. đź‘Ź

Extern welcomes Rethinking Remand: An assessment of pre-trial detention in Ireland, published this week by the Irish Pen...
22/07/2026

Extern welcomes Rethinking Remand: An assessment of pre-trial detention in Ireland, published this week by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), led by Executive Director Saoirse Brady and authored by Niamh McCormack.

The report shows people affected by poverty, addiction, mental illness and homelessness are disproportionately held in custody before trial, often for want of the right support at the right time.

Among its recommendations, IPRT points to bail supervision as a proven approach to reducing the use of remand. In doing so, it highlights the Youth Bail Supervision Scheme, governed by the Probation Service and delivered by Extern since 2016, as an example of how community-based supports can help young people remain in their communities while awaiting trial. The findings make an important contribution to the ongoing conversation about how best to support people in contact with the justice system and reduce reliance on custody where appropriate.

This reflects what Extern believe: community-based, trauma-informed support, meeting people where they are, should sit at the centre of how community based services are developed to support the justice system.

Read the report here: https://bit.ly/4pxGbR7

Thanks to the Dublin Airport Community Fund for awarding Extern Ireland €500 towards one of our youth programmes in Dubl...
20/07/2026

Thanks to the Dublin Airport Community Fund for awarding Extern Ireland €500 towards one of our youth programmes in Dublin💜

Funding will be used to purchase items such as footballs, rounders sets, activity resources, and other age-appropriate sports equipment.

The equipment will be used to encourage positive social interaction, teamwork, confidence-building and healthy lifestyles✨🙌

🤝 Yesterday our youth justice team welcomed two researchers from DCU, Dr Darragh McCashin and Kelly Razey, for a Day in ...
17/07/2026

🤝 Yesterday our youth justice team welcomed two researchers from DCU, Dr Darragh McCashin and Kelly Razey, for a Day in the Life visit.

Gary, Robbie and Leah gave them a real look at what a day looks like on the ground — from one-to-one sessions with young people, to team meetings and our Early Intervention group. They even got to meet some of the young people we work with.

Darragh said afterwards it was "a wonderful insight into the Extern day-to-day" — and we loved having them. Days like this help connect research with real frontline experience, and we're looking forward to more.

Thanks to the CORD Partnership for organising, and to DCU for coming along! đź’ś

Some people make a difference every day without seeking the spotlight. Our colleague Avril Tierney is one of those peopl...
26/06/2026

Some people make a difference every day without seeking the spotlight. Our colleague Avril Tierney is one of those people.

As Administrator for our Laois-Offaly services, Avril is the calm, capable presence who keeps things running smoothly. She's the kind of person who quietly gets things done, always with kindness, professionalism and a smile.

Now, Avril has achieved something truly remarkable.

She has written Cancer, Chaos & Courage – a deeply personal account of her experience with cancer. Honest, heartfelt and inspiring, the book reflects not only the challenges she faced but also the resilience, hope and courage that carried her through. By sharing her story, Avril hopes to offer comfort and encouragement to others facing similar journeys.

We couldn't be prouder of her. It takes incredible strength to live through such a life-changing experience, and even greater courage to share it so openly in the hope of helping others.

Cancer, Chaos & Courage is available now from Buythebook.ie.

If you're looking for an inspiring read, or know someone who could benefit from Avril's story, we'd encourage you to pick up a copy.

We are absolutely bursting with pride today!A huge congratulations to three incredible young people from our Athy Youth ...
24/06/2026

We are absolutely bursting with pride today!

A huge congratulations to three incredible young people from our Athy Youth Diversion Project, who graduated with their iScoil QQI Level 3 - what an achievement.

Since September, these young people have shown up, worked hard, and pushed through challenges to reach this moment. Their dedication, commitment, and perseverance throughout the year have been truly inspiring - and today they got to celebrate that with the people who matter most.

We were treated to a full house as family members and project staff gathered to cheer them on - exactly as it should be.

To our graduates - we are so proud of everything you have achieved. This is just the beginning, and we cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next.

And a massive thank you to our brilliant youth justice team and School Completion Project workers, whose unwavering support made this possible.

We were pleased to attend the UNESCO conference hosted by University of Galway, where Extern colleagues showcased a post...
23/06/2026

We were pleased to attend the UNESCO conference hosted by University of Galway, where Extern colleagues showcased a poster highlighting our integrated family support approach across youth justice services.

Our presentation focused on how we work alongside young people and their families to deliver joined-up, trauma-informed support, with a strong emphasis on participation and ensuring that lived experience informs practice.

This approach reflects our commitment to working holistically with families experiencing high levels of vulnerability, recognising the complex and often overlapping challenges they face.

The poster generated strong interest from delegates and sparked valuable discussion on effective models of family support within youth justice systems, and the importance of embedding trauma-informed and participatory approaches in service design and delivery.

It was a valuable opportunity to share Extern’s practice on an international stage, while also learning from academic and practice-based perspectives across the sector.

We are so proud of Lauren Fitzgerald, Project Worker with our Janus Dublin North team, who recently travelled to Toulous...
11/06/2026

We are so proud of Lauren Fitzgerald, Project Worker with our Janus Dublin North team, who recently travelled to Toulouse, France to represent Extern at a three-day youth and social work seminar at Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès

The seminar brought together practitioners from across Europe - including Spain, Finland and Ireland - to share insight into social and youth work practice with first-year students, and to explore opportunities for future collaboration across organisations.

Lauren delivered a 20-minute presentation introducing her work with Extern and the broader landscape of social and youth work in Ireland, and took part in workshops and discussion groups alongside students and local practitioners.

It was a brilliant opportunity to share the positive impact our work has on young people and families — not just here in Ireland, but on a European stage. 💜

Well done Lauren - you were a fantastic ambassador for Externđź‘Ź

We have an exciting opportunity for two Project Workers to join our Extern Outreach Support Service in Limerick - and we...
11/06/2026

We have an exciting opportunity for two Project Workers to join our Extern Outreach Support Service in Limerick - and we'd love to hear from you!

This is a permanent, full-time role supporting service users across North Cork and Kerry, working as part of a team based in Limerick. The role is hybrid, offering the opportunity to work from home as part of your week.

We're looking for someone with a trauma-informed, compassionate and non-judgemental approach, with the creativity and flexibility to engage individuals with complex needs who may be reluctant or mistrustful of services.

The details:
Salary: €42,624 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Limerick (Hybrid)
Closing Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026 at 12 noon

We offer a brilliant benefits package including 26 days annual leave (rising to 32 after 5 years), generous pension contributions, enhanced sick and parental pay, flexible working, Life Assurance, an Employee Assistance Programme and much more.

Full details and how to apply are available on our website.

https://bit.ly/peoplehr-job-opening

This month, Deirdre Kennedy, Family Support Worker with Athy Youth Diversion Project (YDP), joined Kildare Traveller Act...
20/05/2026

This month, Deirdre Kennedy, Family Support Worker with Athy Youth Diversion Project (YDP), joined Kildare Traveller Action in Athy for the Darkness Into Light walk 🌅

It was a simple but powerful morning where people came together across the community to remember, to support one another, and to shine a light on mental health awareness.

Extern’s Youth Diversion Projects support young people aged 12–17 who may be at risk of, or involved in, anti-social or offending behaviour. The work is grounded in early intervention, trust, and consistent support, helping young people build confidence and find positive pathways forward.

The walk was also a strong example of partnership in action, with Athy YDP and Kildare Traveller Action coming together to encourage participation and strengthen community ties.

A quiet, reflective morning - but an important reminder of the strength that comes from showing up for each other.

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