www.extern.org
Giving help and hope for over 20 years
We are Extern Ireland. For more than two decades we have worked tirelessly with our funders to tackle pressing social issues and bring help, support and hope to people facing vulnerable situations and those who find themselves marginalised by society.
We believe in giving people as many chances as they need to transform their lives. No matter how far down the road someone may have gone, wherever there is the slightest hint of openmindedness or the merest spark of willingness, we will always go the extra mile to support that person and bring positive change to their lives.
We do not judge or condemn. Nor are we miracle workers. Our commitment lies in enabling those who approach us to overcome their difficulties; to nurture positive change in their lives and build or re-build family ties for a brighter future together.
So who are we? Well, we are a team of everyday people, drawn from parts of society, blessed with a generous dose of compassion and kindness; an innate desire to help our fellows and the gift of seeing beyond what is…to what might be.
Chances are, dear reader, we’re very much like you.
Chair’s welcome
Recently I have been reflecting on the scale and scope of our organisation and the beneficial outcomes we help to bring about for individuals and families across Ireland.
The breadth of our services enables us to provide meaningful support to thousands and enhance lives in profound ways. Today our work embraces many service areas, yet they all interweave in a cohesive, integrated and highly efficient manner designed to secure the best outcomes for those we help.
None of what we do would be possible without the dedication and expertise of our frontline teams and support staff, both of whose commitment forms the foundation of our success. The 2023-2024 reporting year presented many challenges, yet I am very aware of the unwavering dedication of my colleagues and I am exceptionally proud of the tangible differences they continue to make in communities across Ireland.
Given the scope of our work, it is difficult to highlight individual service areas. Yet Orla’s story on page 10 stands out as a compelling example of the transformative impact of our Youth Diversion Project. Her determination to embrace new opportunities and change the course of her life is commendable. While full credit belongs to Orla, it is important to acknowledge the invaluable support and guidance provided by our Justice Services team in facilitating her journey.
Additionally, the work of our Traveller Primary Health Care team, detailed on page 11, deserves recognition. Despite being a relatively small team, their efforts have been instrumental in raising health awareness within the Traveller Community in Counties Cavan and Meath. This year, through a range of initiatives—including coffee mornings, conferences, calendars and art exhibitions—they continued to make a lasting impact.
In closing, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our frontline staff, support staff, volunteers, fundraisers, directors, management team and the Extern Ireland Board of Trustees. Their dedication ensures that our work continues to support marginalised individuals, families and communities across Ireland. As we publish this Annual Report, we remain acutely aware that our mission is as critical today as it was when Extern Ireland was founded over two decades ago.
Extern Ireland.
CEO’s welcome
As a society, we believe in compassion and helping each other. Compassion is an emotion that promotes meaningful connections and improves health and wellbeing.
I believe that ‘kindness’ is equally important, because kindness is the action that translates our good intentions into positive outcomes. And it is kindness that I see being put into action every day, at every level, by my friends and colleagues at Extern Ireland. I find it deeply inspiring.
The reporting year 2023-2024 saw Extern Ireland continue to deliver vital and often life-changing support to individuals and families. Indeed the families that are referred to us often present with complex needs arising from abuse, addiction, mental health issues and poor parenting. The key workers on our IHSS team programme (Intensive Home-based Support Service) do a remarkable job in helping to keep families together by nurturing home environments built on positive, healthy relationships. Find out more in the case study on page 8.
While kindness is evident throughout Extern, it is particularly prevalent amongst those who deliver our Extern Outreach Support Service (EOSS). The purpose of EOSS is to enable individuals to re-engage with their community, to re-socialise and, ultimately, to lead independent lives. But this takes time and involves making small, patient steps. The very high engagement levels of this service (page 13) says much about the kindness and patience of our team.
I am delighted to report that in 2023-2024 we were successful in achieving a ‘Silver’ standard Investor in People (IIP) award. This internationally respected award is an independent endorsement of how we apply best practice towards our people. Extern Ireland is facing challenges and change, so it is imperative that we listen to our colleagues, hear their suggestions and concerns and take action wherever possible.
Finally, I want to thank our Board of Trustees as well as our supporters, partners, funders and donors. Together, they share our values and our commitment to working together to achieve better outcomes for our service users across Ireland.
Respect
We value the feelings, opinions and rights of our service users, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
Integrity
All our decisions and interactions will be ethical, open, honest, and transparent.
Compassion
We care about our service users and colleagues and will act with empathy in all engagements.
Accountability
We hold ourselves and each other responsible for our decisions and actions.
Professional
We work inclusively with service users, colleagues, and key stakeholders to deliver high quality supports and evidencebased services.
Colin Hayburn CEO, Extern
Eavann Murphy Chair,
The Extern Ireland Approach
Helping to empower lives and build resilient communities
Empowering lives . Despair is an appalling condition. It feeds off isolation, it induces inertia, it leads to a dark, sorrowful place. And it blights the lives of so many in our society. Yet no matter what an individual’s situation may be, we are here, reaching out a hand that offers practical, life-changing, empowering support. Clasp it, and we will support you to move forward. Leave it, and we’ll still be here, ready when you are.
“Extern has changed my life, massively. I wasn't looking after myself this time last year. I am a different person.”
Building resilient communities. Resilience is about the ability to bounce back from life’s challenges; to recover from adversity and not get overwhelmed. Yet every day we work with people who are in vulnerable and marginalised situations, families and communities facing increasingly complex challenges that they are struggling to manage alone and without access to other services.
We are here to give everyone the support they need to manage and to overcome whatever difficulties they may be facing. We are here to help people and communities regain self-trust and self-belief and to build the resilience that will see them through whatever life may throw at them in the future.
“I haven’t had a single lapse since I first got in contact with Extern. My relationships, my communication skills and my ability to concentrate at work have all improved. Crucially, I have found healthier coping skills for dealing with stressful situations. I’d like to think that maybe one day I too can give back to help others who have been where I was when I faced my problems with gambling addiction.”
Declan, Extern Problem Gambling, Dublin
Helping families to thrive and grow
Extern has been providing services in Ireland to support vulnerable and marginalised people - children, young people, adults and families - for over two decades.
LOCATIONS: Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Roscommon, Midlands, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth
HIGHLIGHTS:
In the past year, Extern's Janus programme supported 329 young people, providing tailored interventions and mentorship. The programme helped participants build resilience, develop life skills, and access essential services.
The nature and scope of our services may have evolved over 20 + years, but our commitment to developing individual programme plans that address the complex needs of each service user remains unchanged.
Our Intensive Home Support Service (IHSS)
The people who come to us present a myriad of challenges that can impact negatively on their daily lives. Families typically show complex needs arising from abuse, addiction, mental health issues, criminality, poor attachment and neglectful parenting. Our IHSS programme is an Intensive Home-based Support Service lasting 6-9 months whose primary purpose is to keep families together and in their own community. Our key workers help to create more nurturing home environments built on positive, healthy relationships, which enhance the overall quality of family life.
Where children are at risk
Our IHSS programme was introduced as a pilot project in Dublin in 2007. The programme has evolved but its primary goal is to help the adults in the home to become better parents. There are sound reasons for taking an IHSS approach to this issue. Research shows that young people who grow up in care are four times more likely to have poorer longterm outcomes than young people growing up in a family setting. Most notably, children who grow up in care are up to four times more likely to suffer poor health 30 years later than those who grew up with their parents. So by supporting young people to be maintained or returned to family settings, Extern’s IHSS programme is helping to build long term positive outcomes for them and their families.
Into action - how it works
Families are usually referred to Extern by a child protection or child in care social worker. This means that a referral to us is a serious matter and is usually the last step before a child or children face leaving the family home and going into care. At the first meeting in the family home we discuss the project, what it looks like, what it means, what is expected of the parents and what support we can offer. The programme is voluntary, so parents will either proceed with us, or withdraw at that point.
Our team provides intensive support to parents with up to three meetings every week. Gradually, as the parents work through and resolve their challenges, they become more confident and gain trust in their ability to manage situations in more positive ways, with better outcomes for their children.
Space to grow and new experiences
The majority of meetings focus on parenting skills and family routines to help meet the children’s needs. Day trips and family days out are another important means of giving everyone fun time together in a new space. We also provide residential overnights which are a great way to learn how the family members function together. Our 5.00pm –9.00am phone line offers another level of immediate 24x7 support for the family. This might be used if there were an incidence of domestic violence.
A greatly improved home situation
This case involved two young boys living in a toxic and unhealthy home environment and listed on the child protection notification system. Mum and dad had mental health/addiction issues and the boys frequently witnessed incidents of serious domestic violence. Our case worker put much effort into building family relationship and helped mum and dad to understand the impact that emotional and physical abuse was having on their children.
Mum was directed to addiction support services and her addiction is no longer an issue. She lives apart from dad and her relationship with her sons has improved dramatically. She puts the boys first and is more mindful of their needs. Her own confidence has grown, the home situation is very much better and the boys have been delisted from the child protection notification system.
Janus Programme
Extern’s Janus programme provides support to young people and adolescents aged 8-17 who display severe challenging behaviour, such that it poses a risk to either themselves or to others. By providing an individually tailored programme, Extern aims to support each young person so that they remain at home and are supported within their community, or enter the lowest level within the care system. However, this factual description says little of the intense commitment, endeavour and care our Janus teams and key workers invest in the process of transforming the lives of young people in the programme.
One-to-one support for young people facing the justice system
Extern Ireland Justice Services offer support to young people and families who have become involved with the justice system.
Our support reaches out to young people who may have come to the attention of An Garda Síochána, as well as those facing a possible custodial sentence. Our aim is to help those who engage with us to move away from the behaviours that are negatively impacting on their lives, and avoid outcomes that could severely impact their future.
Youth Diversion Projects
Extern’s Youth Diversion Projects (YDP) help young people under 18 years of age. It aims to prevent young offenders and children who are involved in anti-social behaviour from committing further offences and entering into the adult criminal justice system. In the 2023-2024 reporting year, 95% of referrals to the youth diversion projects came from specially trained Gardaí called Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers. As with all of Extern’s justice services, engagement is voluntary. The success of any YDP hinges on winning the heart and mind of a young person and showing them that there are alternative, better paths they might follow, rather than the one they are on.
Janus Justice
The Extern Janus Justice programme is a flexible, oneto-one support programme for young people aged 12-23 years. Young people are referred to Extern by the Juvenile Liaison Officers and the Young Person’s Probation Service. Each young person is assigned their own Extern case worker who works closely with them. Our goal in providing this individually tailored support is to prevent the young person from going into custody, or their behaviour escalating within the justice system.
A remarkable turnaround At 17, Orla was involved in a serious assault on another young woman. Her parents appealed for leniency and her Juvenile Liaison Officers referred her to Extern’s YDP team in Limerick. It emerged that Orla had a number of mental wellbeing issues, including ADHD, problems with sleeping and chronic anxiety, plus she was a habitual cannabis user.
Her project worker referred her to the Substance Misuse Team to reduce her drug use and her anxiety lessened as a result. Her overall attitude got better and relationships at home improved. Orla would not return to school but she agreed to attend employment agencies. She eventually secured a place on a Beautician Course, at which she excelled. As she started looking for jobs, her confidence grew, but there was still a major hurdle to face.
A ‘restorative caution’, as used by the Gardaí, provides an opportunity for an offender to meet the victim with a view towards repairing the harm that has been done. The young woman who had been assaulted sent a letter stating what had happened, highlighting the huge physical, emotional and mental damage she endured as a result. Orla was shocked by this and wrote a letter to the young woman expressing her whole-hearted remorse. She was not charged and has since found a job and is contributing positively to her community. She wanted to change and she has done so.
This year, Extern’s Bail Supervision Scheme made a powerful difference in the lives of 58 young people. By offering tailored support and supervision, we ensured they had the guidance needed to navigate the legal system and avoid reoffending.
Many young people come to us without positive role models in their lives and with little or no idea of the opportunities that are available to them. It is a privilege to be part of the process of helping young people to bring about positive changes in their lives and to overcome what they had previously regarded as insurmountable hurdles.
Willingness to change
Damian, 20, was serving an 18-month sentence in Limerick prison for serious drug offences. However, after five months his behaviour was so good that he was able to apply for and obtain release on bail, subject to regular attendance at the Garda Station. He was also referred to Extern for the Janus Justice programme by his Adult Probation Officer.
Damian bonded well with his Extern key worker and showed a keen interest in the programme and willingness to change. His bail release stipulated that he had to show progress in education or employment. Unable to read or write, his key worker helped him to join an adult literacy course and later a computer skills course. He completed these successfully and signed up the next level for both courses. He also attended addiction services and took advantage of the support available.
The Court recognised Damian’s progress and his attendance at the Garda was reduced. He has since signed up to speak to younger people coming into the Janus Justice programme and share his experiences so that they can learn from this and avoid following a similar path.
Delivering our Traveller Primary Healthcare Programme
Irish Travellers are an indigenous ethnic minority group with their own culture, value system and shared history. Extern's Traveller Primary Health Care Programme is aimed at improving the health outcomes of members of this community across Counties Cavan and Meath.
1,440 hours of direct contact delivered by our Traveller Healthcare team across Cavan and Meath
Extern Ireland’s front line support to the Traveller Community comprises our local Manager and five Traveller Primary Health Care workers. During 2023-2024 this dedicated unit focused on three key areas for ongoing health improvement: Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Mental Health. The team gave out information on available supports and continued to raise awareness on all other health-related issues relevant to the Traveller Community, particularly mental health awareness.
Tea, coffee and chat
Among the new initiatives launched this year was the introduction of informal monthly coffee mornings held in a local café in Cavan town. These proved very popular and were well supported, with between 10-15 Traveller guests attending each month. Our team invited a number of guest speakers to talk about their services and how they could be of benefit to the Traveller community. These included the Suicide Bereavement officer from Pieta house, the Domestic Violence link worker from CTM and the SCAN nurse, who explained how to access the service.
Traveller Youth Mental Health Conference
In October 2023, Extern and other Traveller organisations in HSE Community Healthcare, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo hosted a conference in Sligo titled ‘Traveller Youth Mental Health and Education’. Its purpose was to highlight the issues of accessing services and breaking down barriers that many Travellers face, every day. The event was well attended by the Traveller Community, with personal contributions from many young Travellers. The conference put a focus on many of the positive initiatives currently taking place in the areas of education and existing support services.
Traveller art exhibition
Irish Travellers are gifted in their creative abilities, whether that be in story-telling, painting, sewing, embroidering and making something out of nothing. During this year we worked with local mental health services to organise a Traveller art exhibition for members of the Traveller community throughout County Cavan. This event served not only to celebrate Traveller heritage and culture, but also to improve Traveller mental wellbeing and create a sense of pride and ownership in this community’s culture.
Breaking down barriers
As part of networking and building relationships in the community and with other services, the Extern Ireland team took part in the “Hello, how are you?” campaign being run by Mental Health Ireland. Organised in partnership with HSE Suicide Prevention officer, the Council and Cavan town library, this open event gave Extern an opportunity to showcase our work and introduce ourselves to the ever-expanding community of people and services in Cavan town.
Building resilience in the face of a crisis
The Irish Traveller Community is facing a mental health crisis. Their suicide rate is six times higher than the rest of society and more than one in 10 Travellers die by suicide. Shockingly, 65% of them are under 30.
Extern is acutely aware of this situation. Our team continues to prioritise promoting positive mental health and wellbeing within the Traveller community and improving Traveller access to mainstream mental health services. Specifically, Extern is working with the Suicide Resource Officer and Traveller Mental Health Coordinator to establish a Suicide Response plan for Travellers. Team members have already undergone Safetalk training and will also receive psychological first aid training to improve their understanding of how to deal with attempted suicide or ideation and how to access support.
Looking ahead
Throughout the course of the year, our team collected stories that celebrate Traveller culture and history from individuals in the Traveller community. These were compiled into a calendar which also carries information about mental health supports and tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing. The calendar carries key messages of Extern's Traveller Primary Health Care programme into their homes, ensuring that vital information is easily and readily available to every member of this community.
EOSS: prioritising personcentredness, community inclusion and active citizenship
Our Extern Outreach Support Service (EOSS) was launched in May 2018 with the aim of supporting individuals to remain and flourish in their community.
their unique needs.
Give choice, give power
One of the greatest strengths of EOSS is its voluntary nature. This means that for the young person taking part there is no pressure or coercion. It is entirely their choice whether or not they participate and when you give somebody choice, you give them power over their own lives. As a result, the service enjoys very high levels of engagement and low cancellations.
Into the community
The primary purpose of EOSS is to enable individuals to re-engage with their community, to re-socialise and, ultimately, to lead independent lives. This takes time and involves making small, steady steps in the form of shopping trips, visits to museums, going to the zoo and to concerts. It means signposting young people towards different support services. And it involves helping them to secure meaningful employment.
Reaching out through OUTREACH
We work mostly with young people and children across Counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick whose primary diagnosis is autism, a condition which often brings high levels of anxiety and a tendency to isolate. We focus very much on OUTREACH to people who cannot physically travel to us, meeting them at home and bringing them out into the community, where possible. This gives them a chance to re-socialise and catalyse some change in their lives. It also gives parents a break.
The year in brief
The reporting period 2023-2024 was a busy year. Our 14 project workers engaged with circa 54 service users, and delivered almost 14,000 hours of direct contact. The complex nature of the referrals we receive means that we must constantly review our training needs and the skill base of our team. To this end, we completed a bespoke safeguarding training module for our staff to ensure that adult safeguarding is given the priority it deserves. We also undertook an assessment to ensure that our service meets the needs of our client base as effectively as possible. A key component of this has been, and will continue to be, ensuring that the voice of our service users is heard, loud and clear.
The Outreach model in action Tony, a young man of 21, has a diagnosis of OCD and ASD. He left school at 15 due to bullying issues and anxiety. He lives with his parents and two siblings in an isolated cottage, which means he has no peer group and seldom leaves the house. However, Tony is a talented artist and on a one-to-one basis, he is an extremely polite and wellmannered person who offers very engaging company.
Our EOSS case worker began their sessions with Tony almost two years ago and they provide an exemplar of the Outreach model in action. The case worker would collect Tony from home, always allowing time to engage with his parents, and then take him on various excursions to places he wanted to visit, as well as suggesting new locations and activities.
Tony’s OCD compulsions present a huge challenge to him, and mean that he must complete many different rituals each day to ground himself. Yet he always makes a huge effort to be ready for Extern staff and he has responded extremely well to nature walks, forest trails and art therapy, all of which form a part of our engagement with him. This has resulted in Tony making great improvements.
Gambling Addiction Every road to recovery is unique
We believe that problem gambling is the manifestation of complex personal circumstances. We are here to help anyone on the island of Ireland who has been impacted by gambling harms - whether their own gambling or that of a loved one.
During the 2023-2024 year, our team provided 978 counselling sessions to 128 individuals whose lives have been harmed by gambling. Most of those using our counselling service are people in active addiction, however we also worked with family members and other concerned persons. In addition we received and responded to 242 helpline contacts via phone calls, emails, text messages.
Erasmus+
This year saw the conclusion of our three-year Erasmus-Plus Programme for Experts by Lived Experience. Working in collaboration with gambling addiction projects in Finland and Norway, we have produced a programme to train people with lived experience of gambling addiction and recovery to provide support to others.
Extern Youth Awareness Programme
The problem gambling rate among teenage boys in Ireland has more than doubled in the last five years. We are working to address this problem through our workshop programme to secondary school pupils across key areas within Ireland. During the year, we engaged with over 6000 students in 68 schools across 19 counties, highlighting the issues of problem gambling and encouraging them to reflect on how they might be impacted, even if they are not aware of it.
“I feel hopeful about my future.”
“I am a 26-year-old guy from the North West of Ireland. I’ve got three and a half years of recovery behind me, but before that my life was a mess. I was in a very low place mentally and had dropped out of college as a result of my gambling. But working with Extern has helped me to really turn things around. I completed Extern’s counselling programme and I’ve stayed in contact with them ever since. I’m now in my fourth and final year of an addiction counselling degree and I plan to specialise in helping people impacted by gambling harms. My mental health and resilience have improved massively since getting into steady recovery, my self-confidence has grown and I feel hopeful about my future.”
David
532 hours of counselling delivered; 68 schools visited as part of Youth
Our support is freely available to anyone who wants help for their own gambling, as well as their family members, partners and others. It takes courage to ask for help but the point to remember is that recovery is possible and we see it every day.
A growing problem
Problem gambling is hard to measure and often hidden, and while it can be difficult getting an accurate picture of the extent of the issue, it is clearly becoming more widespread. Research suggests that that 1-in-30 adults in Ireland suffers from problem gambling – around 130,000 people. Problem gambling impacts not just on the individual involved but on their family and friends, so its effects can be devastating, both financially and socially.
Acknowledging Extern’s Support Services.
Extern Ireland’s frontline teams make an incredible impact on the lives of people who come to us for support. But they don’t do it alone.
Our support engine
Working away behind the scenes are colleagues with specialist skills in IT, Human Resources, Data Protection, Learning & Development/Employee Wellbeing and Finance. And let’s not forget the staff in Audit & Risk, Safeguarding, Communications, Contract Management and Administration.
Why our Support Services matter
A Force Multiplier is a factor that dramatically increases the effectiveness of a group. Our support service colleagues act as Force Multipliers, which means that by performing their functions effectively and providing the right frontline support, they enhance our overall ability to deliver Extern’s services to those who need them. We face formidable challenges from increasing demand for our services and ever-tightening budgets. Our support services are critical to helping Extern address these difficulties, now and into the future.
Investing
in our People
One of the corporate highlights of our 2023-2024 reporting year was the achievement of a Silver standard Investor in People (IIP) award. We had previously held a Bronze award, so our elevation to a Silver accreditation is a major achievement.
IIP: why we do it
IIP is not a soft option. It demands a considerable amount of time and the willingness to take a rigorous and honest look at ourselves. An IIP accreditation might give us a slight edge in competitive tenders, but our primary goal in undergoing the IIP process is to gain collective insights into how well everyone in our organisation thinks we are doing and to identify areas where we need to improve.
A
Menopause Friendly employer
A part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Extern supports a menopause friendly work culture where no one need be afraid or embarrassed to talk about this subject and where employees have the confidence to ask for help and support if they need it. We continued to pursue our Menopause Friendly accreditation throughout 2023-2024 and are confident it will be issued in due course.
Into action
Extern’s promotion from Bronze to Silver standard IIP accreditation is a resounding accolade for what we have accomplished to date. Our organisation has always endeavoured to be at the forefront of the charity sector when it comes to looking after our people and we must continue to do so. The 20232024 IIP work was invaluable and while it proffered many learnings, there are four priority areas that we will continue to develop:
• Recognising and rewarding people: Extern is nothing without its people and we will continue to review and update pay scales and pay structure subject to affordability.
• Developing Leadership and Management capability: we will ensure that we have clearly defined career paths for staff wanting to become managers and services staff wanting to progress through services.
• Ensuring communication is cascaded effectively: positive messages about individual and team performances, successes and achievements will be shared across the organisation on a regular basis.
• Having the right people at the right time: we will actively advertise all opportunities and benefits internally and externally and proactively promote the organisation as a fulfilling place to work. We will make our recruitment process more applicant friendly and review our recruitment strategy to ensure we attract high quality candidates as cost effectively as possible.
Diversity inclusion
Extern supports people from many different backgrounds, situations and contexts. We strive to maintain an environment that promotes the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and we are committed to embedding these in our practices, policies and organisational culture. We hold a Bronze Diversity charter mark and maintained this accreditation during 2023-2024, with the aim of progressing to silver status in the near future.
“There is loyalty to services, people go above and beyond.”
“There has been a paperless push, we are moving away from oldfashioned systems.”
Here’s what our stakeholders say about Extern Ireland.
We value the opinions and experiences of the young people who use our services, as well as their parents and other professionals who engage with us. Our annual stakeholder survey gives us a special insight to how these groups view our services and the impact we have had on their lives. Here’s a snapshot of 2023.
HOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE REGARD US
96%
of young people felt they could trust their Extern Project Worker
94%
of young people believed overall things had improved for them since starting with Extern
98%
of young people felt included in making plans and decisions with their Extern Project Worker
96% of young people felt their Extern Project Worker supported them to reach their goals
“My key worker is amazing and really helpful.”
Young Person, Dublin
96% of young people would recommend Extern to other Young People
96% of parents felt they understood why the young person was on an Extern Programme
97%
100% of professionals were satisfied with the progress being made towards meeting the objectives set out on the referral form 96% of parents believed that the young person had a good relationship with their Extern Key worker
95% of parents said they were included in making plans and decisions with Extern
A PROFESSIONAL VIEW
94% of parents would recommend Extern to others
100% of professionals were satisfied with the progress being made towards meeting the objectives set out on the referral form
99% of professionals felt they received sufficient regular feedback from Extern Workers around the young person’s progress
100% of professionals felt comfortable to challenge Extern staff on issues they felt needed addressing in relation to support provided to the young person
100% of professionals felt Extern was responsive and flexible in meeting the needs of the young person/family
100% of professionals would recommend Extern to other professionals
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
EXTERN IRELAND BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair
Eavann Murphy (from 23 November 2023)
Jim Daly (resigned 24 November 2023)
Directors
Aideen D’Arcy
Ian McAvoy
Marian Quinn
Niall O’Sullivan
Stephen O’Boyle
Dr Joan Broder (appointed 1 January 2024)
Clodagh Lynam (appointed 1 January 2024)
Company Secretary
Colin Hayburn (from 23 November 2024)
HBK Secretarial Services Limited, Dublin (until 23 November 2023)
Management Team
Colin Hayburn, CEO
Leslie Ann Scott, COO (from May 2023)
Jonathan Carroll, Director of People and Organisational Development
Pauline Flynn, Director of Finance and Corporate Services
Sharon Hearty, Director of Policy and Development
Deirdre O’Driscoll, Director of Services RoI
Principal Bankers: Bank of Ireland
Naas, Co. Kildare
Auditors:
Moore NI
Donegall House, 7 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB
Company Reg No: 383201
Principal Solicitors: Beauchamps
Riverside Two, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, D02 KV60
Registered Office 1st Floor, Block 4
Monread Leisure & Commercial Centre, Monread Avenue Naas, Co. Kildare, W91 YWX3
Charity Commission No.
CHY15770 & 20055318
Jim Daly
Jim is from Clonakilty, Co.Cork. He is a qualified teacher ad former school principal who has successfully completed his studies with the Institute of Directors to become a chartered Director. Jim spent 16 years working as a public representative and announced his intention to retire from politics in 2020 while serving as Minister of Mental Health & Older People. Jim has a keen interest in children’s welfare and education and recently completed studies at UCC in Trauma Informed Care. He is currently a non-executive Director of a number of private and not-for-profit boards as well as providing consultancy services to a wide range of businesses, especially in the health area. He is currently the CEO of the Private Hospitals Association.
Eavann Murphy
Eavann holds degrees in HND Computer Science, Masters in Marketing Management, and ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Finance from the University of Ulster. Currently, Managing Director for the Wholesale Division at eir Group and founding Chair of the eir Group Brand Council. With extensive corporate experience in banking and telecommunications, including roles at Bank of Ireland and Vodafone. Also served on the Board of Governors for Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. Completed the Institute of Directors Chartered Directors Diploma in 2021.
Aideen D’Arcy
Having graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with a BA, Aideen undertook an MSSc in management studies as well as gaining professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Irish Council for Social Housing. A dynamic and highly experienced professional with over 30 years’ experience working in social housing at a senior level throughout Ireland, Aideen initiated a number of award-winning housing projects. She has a proven track record of working collaboratively with commissioners and communities to deliver positive change.
Ian McAvoy
Ian lives in Belfast and was educated at MCB and London University. After graduating in economics Ian studied accountancy. After a spell in practice, he became the Finance Director of a leading Irish brand and was promoted to Chief Executive, holding that position for 16 years. He has much expertise in strategic planning, transformation, finance and marketing. Ian was Chair of PlayBoard, Vice Chair of Sport NI, Director of Sport NI, and is presently Vice Chair of Ark Housing. He has a keen interest in rugby and football, initially as a player and now as an administrator, and holds the position of Chairman of Rugby at Queen's University, Belfast. He is married to Lynne with three grown-up children.
Marian Quinn
Marian has a long career in child and family services, having held roles as a community youth worker, Youthreach Coordinator and Director of Services in the HSE. In the Reception and Integration Agency, (DoJ), Marian was responsible for developing and implementing a child protection policy for Direct provision centres as well as a range of initiatives aimed at supporting families in the asylum process. She took on the CEO role with the childhood Development Initiative in 2007, from which time she has taken it from a start up to one which is recognised for its high quality, evidence-based interventions, its innovative approaches and ability to translate research into learning for practice and policy. Holding an MA in Adult Education, a BSC in Youth and Community Work and a qualified General Nurse, Marian has significant governance expertise, has been a member of several Stare and NGO boards and holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance.
Stephen O’Boyle
Stephen is from Galway and attended NUI Galway where he studied Commerce and went on to become a Fellow Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland having trained with one of the big four Accountancy practices. Since then, he has been living and working in Dublin in the banking sector across multiple roles including Corporate Banking, Credit, Retail Banking, Recovery, Strategy, Governance & Compliance and Mergers & Acquisitions. He is a qualified Financial Advisor and Member of the Institute of Bankers of Ireland. Stephen has several years’ experience in lecturing in Accounting and Economics on a part time basis. Stephen has completed a Masters in Risk Management and Corporate Governance.
Niall O’Sullivan
Niall O'Sullivan is a seasoned professional currently working in Financial Compliance with significant expertise in Data Protection Law and compliance standards. He holds both a Master's and an Honours Degree, as well as a significant background in academic research. Niall has extensive experience across the Technology and Higher Education sectors, including roles at Trinity College Dublin and major organisations like Apple and Aviva. His career is underpinned by a strong foundation in academic research, combined with deep technical knowledge, enabling him to effectively navigate complex regulatory and compliance challenges.
Joan Broder
Joan has over 40 years experience of developing, delivering and managing a range of services for adults, children and parents / carers across the island of Ireland. Upon leaving school, Joan took up a post with the Civil Service in Dublin before completing a degree in Social Administration. Joan subsequently held several positions including residential Social Worker, Director of Supporting Families and interim CEO of a charity. As a self-employed consultant Joan has experience of undertaking reviews, evaluations, tendering expertise, project management as well as acting as chair of the NI Degree in Social Work Partnership for a 5 year period
Clodagh Lynam
Clodagh has worked in adult literacy services in Dublin for seventeen years, bringing her into daily contact with people who are experiencing poverty, addiction, unmet educational needs and homelessness, including Travellers, refugees and people who have been through the criminal justice system. Clodagh’s board experience includes more than 6 years as chair of the Endometriosis Association of Ireland (EAI), where she was involved in building up the activities of the organisation and expanding both the board of directors and the volunteer base. She also oversaw compliance with the Charities Governance Code. Clodagh’s work for the EAI included organising and facilitating patient support meetings, as well as support-line work.
EXTERN IRELAND
Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an Income & Expenditure account) for the Year Ended 31 March, 2024
EXTERN IRELAND
WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING:
Kildare County Council
Hospital Saturday Fund
ESB / Energy for Generations Fund GAISCE The President’s Award Economic & Social Intervention Fund Irish Youth Foundation
info@extern.org
www.extern.org