Highlights of 2021-22

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The Extern Problem Gambling project continued to expand its reach with a series of workshops aimed at highlighting the dangers of betting among young people. The workshops, which were funded through the HSE National Lottery Grants scheme, were rolled out to students at secondary schools across the country to highlight the impact which problem gambling can have on individuals, families and communities.

Our ground-breaking Bail Supervision Scheme continued to reach in to new areas in Cork and Limerick following a successful tender to open new schemes. Building upon the success of the Dublin project, which opened in 2016, the new schemes include expanded referral pathways, while the Dublin project has now widened its reach to new geographical areas outside the city.

The launch of our new Extern Extras volunteer campaign met with a great response in May, with expressions of interest and applications received for a variety of roles, including telephone befrienders and drug outreach workers. The campaign has since been rolled out to the Republic of Ireland.

24,449 people benfittted from Extern's support across the island of Ireland

Our Innis and Dismas hostel teams were among the winners of the Adult Services of the Year award at the NI Social Work Awards, along with Kristina Januleviciute from our Linx team in the Children Services Social Worker of the Year category. And there was success for our Ormeau Centre team at the 2022 NI Health & Social Care Awards (above) when they took home the prize for Supported Living Service of the Year. Drugs outreach team member Neil Potter was also named Volunteer of the Year, while Danielle Finlay, from our Regional Homeless Support Team, was awarded Social Worker of the Year.

The launch of our Safe Haven campaign was an important milestone in our work to build our fundraising profile across the island of Ireland. Launched in April, and followed by a Christmas-focused drive in December, the campaign helped showcase the life-changing work being carried out at our range of respite centres across Ireland north and south.

5,799 people given direct support with mental health and/or addictions across NI

The opening of our new Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) in Drogheda at the beginning of the year has enabled us to bring even more supports to young people at risk of engaging in criminal activity. As well as intensive face-to-face support, the project provides young people and their families with access to one of Extern’s respite facilities.