Extern Ireland Annual Report 2022-23

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Ireland Annual Report 2022-23

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THE EXTERN DIFFERENCE We Reach In We Walk Alongside

WE WALK ALONGSIDE. We believe in giving people as many chances as they need to transform their lives. Whatever problems or challenges a person may be facing, we keep going back - and back - until they are ready to engage with us. And if someone chooses to step back from working with us, we leave them with one important message: “When you are ready, however long that may be, we will be here for you. And we’ll say hello again soon.”

WE REACH IN. Every day we work with people who are marginalised, who feel isolated and vulnerable, and may find themselves unable to break out of the situation they find themselves in. So, when we knock on a door for the first time, we are often seeing an adult, a family or a young person at their most raw or vulnerable.

And we understand, because we deal in reality. We are proud to work alongside people who society may have forgotten about, or dismissed as ‘hard to reach’. So, when that person is ready, we help them open the door to begin to change their life, by reaching in and offering the support that they need.

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CONTENTS Chair & CEO's Welcomes

4-5

We are Extern Ireland

6-7

Our Services

8-19

Young People & Families

8-9

Justice Services

10-11

Our Limerick Hub

12-13

Addictions

14

Minority Communities

15

Impact Survey

16-17

Our People

18-19

Volunteering: An Extra Special Year

20-21

Appendix: Company Details

22

Appendix: Board of Trustees

23

Appendix: Financial Accounts

24

Appendix: Our Funders

25

The names have been changed in the service user stories throughout this report to protect the identities of those involved.

Any accompanying photos we have used are for illustration only and should not be taken as bearing any resemblance to those people involved in our narrative.

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Chair’s Message As Chair of Extern Ireland, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the extraordinary impact of our collective efforts over the past year.

This annual report is not merely a compilation of simple facts and figures; it is a testament to the compassion and kindness that define our organisation. Within its pages, you will find stories of hope, resilience, and transformation – stories that reaffirm our belief in our shared capacity to bring about positive change.

This has been a year where we have continued to build upon the excellent work we have been doing across the country for the past two decades.

We continue to make progress in so many key areas, including further reaching in to young people who are at risk from criminal gangs through our Intensive Family Support Service in Drogheda, as well as continuing to grow our fantastic range of services from our Limerick ‘hub’. And we continue to advocate at the highest levels for those who are managing gambling addiction, while also ensuring that those living within the Traveller community have opportunities for better health outcomes.

I am also delighted to see our organisation-wide volunteering programme rolling out to the Republic of Ireland for the first time, and look forward to seeing the progress that this will make in the years ahead.

Our accomplishments are a tribute to the tireless work of our team, the enthusiasm of our volunteers, and the support of our valued funders and partners. They are the foundation upon which our success is built, and I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of them.

Our Vision We will aim to change lives to support a socially just and inclusive society.

Our Mission We will create opportunities and provide supports to enable everyone to meaningfully participate in society.

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I have also been delighted to welcome Colin Hayburn as our new CEO. He and his dedicated team across the organisation will continue to go from strength to strength, supported by our selfless volunteers, generous funders, and committed partners, without whose support our work would not be possible.

As we reflect on our achievements, we are also mindful of the challenges that remain before us. Our mission is ongoing, and there are still countless lives that can be improved, dreams that can be fulfilled, and suffering that can be alleviated.

Together, we can continue to create stories of hope, compassion, and transformation in the lives of those we serve. With your continued support, we are poised to achieve even greater heights in our mission to transform lives for the better.

Sincerely, Jim Daly, Chair, Extern Ireland

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CEO’s Message I am fortunate and honoured to be in the role of CEO of Extern as of January 2023. When I read the stories contained in this report, I am both humbled and inspired to now be part of Extern.

Faced with seemingly overwhelming societal and personal circumstances each person, within this report, has courageously met the challenges they have been presented with and has begun the journey to where they wish to be. I have the added privilege of being a witness to how the incredible staff at Extern engage with those we work with. I hope you are also inspired when you read this report.

I also hope, like me, you are challenged. Challenged to be part of a society that remembers and supports a community wherein no-one is left behind for whatever reason. We should also continually challenge ourselves to be informed about the issues in society that keep anyone from achieving their aspirations; be that for a place to call home; to feel safe; to keep their family together; to have access to education and employment; to be accepted and not judged by their past or their circumstances.

As an organisation Extern partners with, and is an advocate for, those who deserve a second chance. We have an outstanding team across the Republic of Ireland who put their heart and soul into their work. Our desires are to encourage each person to progress and not to be hindered or kept back by societal pressures. I am privileged to be part of this team and would like to thank the trustees for giving me this opportunity.

Finally, I have also been privileged to meet and work with our commissioners who have the unenviable job of discharging their statutory duties whilst under severe budgetary pressures. This will be an ongoing struggle in the years ahead, but I believe with good communication and prioritisation, together we can meet the challenges ahead to better the lives of those most in need.

Colin Hayburn CEO, Extern

Our Values 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 evidence-based services.

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We are Extern Ireland We are a charity which works across the Republic of Ireland to support people in bringing positive change to their lives – no matter how big or small that change may be.

The services we provide are as varied and diverse as the people we support. Just as no two people are the same, so too do we recognise that everyone we support is facing a unique set of circumstances and challenges.

We are not there to judge or offer empty promises.

We are there to give everyone – whatever their situation, whatever their past – the right support to manage the challenges they may be facing.

WHAT WE DO ADDICTIONS The Extern Problem Gambling project provides personcentred engagement through dedicated resources and referral pathways for people affected by problem gambling and their families. See Page 14 to find out how they have been engaging with peer organisations on an international level to find even more effective ways of providing support.

6,609

young people engaged through our Youth Gambling Awareness programme 6 I EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23

16 services supporting young people, families and individuals

DISABILITIES Our Disabilities Services provide a needs-led, creative, flexible and person-centred approach to supporting people with a disability and/or autism.

Turn to Page 13 to see at firsthand how our team has been supporting one of our service users with making positive choices towards becoming an independent member of his community.

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YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES Our Young People and Families services focus on building the capacity of individuals and families, supporting their individually assessed needs through a strengths-based approach. See Page 8 for how we are building positive, trusting relationships with the aim of keeping families together, improving family function and resilience and increasing better parenting skills.

549

people supported by our Young People and Families projects

196 young people and families engaged by our Youth Justice services

JUSTICE SERVICES We put our service users at the heart of our decisionmaking, taking a holistic, needs-led and trauma-aware approach to meeting the challenges they are facing.

See Page 10, to find out how our frontline teams working across our range of youth justice projects are supporting young people and families with making meaningful change in their lives.

MINORITY COMMUNITIES Our Traveller Healthcare programme places members of the community at the heart of their activities, building positive, trusting relationships and giving them an active voice in the decision-making process. Turn to Page 15 to see how the team have been positively engaging within the local community.

7,387

people benefitted from Extern’s support across ROI this year EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 7

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YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES GIVING NEW HOPE Working across the country, our services have continued to reach in to meet the needs of young people and families who have a range of complex needs, including those facing threats from criminal gangs.

Since opening in Drogheda in 2021, the Intensive Family Support Service (IFSS) has begun to have a noticeable impact in supporting young people at risk of being groomed by gangs in the area.

Working out of the town and covering a wide area, the project - which is funded by the Department of Justice - was created in response to a scoping review of community safety and wellbeing supports in the town. This followed a period of acute crime-related violence, which included the horrific murder of a local 17year-old who had been engaged with adults in criminal networks from a young age.

The dedicated team of professionals have had a busy year of activity in addressing each of four main strands of work: Intensive Family Support; Pro-social Behaviour Support; Community Efficacy; and Supporting Network Disruption.

Among their priorities have been tackling the critical issues facing many families, such as accrual of drug debts and subsequent intimidation to extort money or to coerce young people into criminal behaviour to offset the debt.

“The issue of children and teens being groomed into criminal behaviour is a major challenge in the community,” explains project manager Liz Cronin. “That often manifests itself in that we have young people and families who are under acute financial pressure, but also the threat of violence is often imminent. So that has a real ripple effect in terms of community safety, as well as family safety and wellbeing.”

While ‘typical days’ are what Liz and her team strive for with the families they support - days that have a routine which can support pro-social behaviour and a sense of wellbeing – such is the varied nature of the team’s work that their

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duties can stretch across a wide range of tasks.

“Our project workers and community mentors are by and large in the community, in people's family homes or wherever they're living at the time,” says Liz. “This can mean supporting families with parenting needs, linking in professionally with partners in statutory organisations, or supporting sport and cultural programmes, as well as with health and housing needs.

“The criminal gangs don't give the opportunities to families to integrate into public and community settings or to engage in pro-social activities within their communities. So we disrupt this and let opportunities happen for families to reach positive outcomes. It’s about empowering families to use the tools that they have and to develop them.”

Reaching in to the lives of service users is often the biggest challenge facing many of the team, as issues like drug debt intimidation can lead to families not actively looking for help, as it is linked to offending behaviour.

“We work with the families to challenge that mindset, so we support them with attending school programmes, attaining educational training,” says Liz. “A lot of people are distanced from the workplace too and they're isolated as a result, so we'll make sure that we remove barriers to that as well.

“We also support people with issues around immigration visas, and with access to mental health supports and developing a plan for this.”

While the nature of the work may be challenging, the past year has seen plenty of highlights for the team as well, such as community sports days with local families within the areas where they live.

Team members from Extern's Intensive Family Support Service, who have been bringing life-changing support to young people in Drogheda this year

“We had up to 300 families come together and reclaim the space for the kinds of fun, social activities that they will be able to look back on and remember as such a positive thing that they did," says Liz. Going forward, the priorities for the project are to increase their capacity to support local communities in line with the Youth Justice Strategy position that there should be “no wrong door” for young people who need support.

“We're looking to continue to provide stability and support to our service users and then to increase our capacity to support the communities,” says Liz. “Our referral base within the community would be a big priority for us, so that really has to continue to be a big focus for what we do.”

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YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES

YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES COMMISSIONERS: Tusla; Department of Justice SERVICE USERS SUPPORTED: 549 LOCATIONS: Dublin, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Kildare, Wicklow, Louth, Galway, Roscommon, Cavan HIGHLIGHTS: 276 families given support by the Janus programme across Ireland; 80,950 hours of service delivered across the country

“HOW THE JANUS PROJECT WAS THERE FOR ME ...”

“My mum wasn’t well, so I lived with my dad. He didn’t have a house, so we moved to lots of different places but these only lasted a few weeks.

We then had to go and live in B&Bs because we were homeless. My dad would rob from shops and sometimes he would take drugs. One day, lots of police came and banged down the door. My dad got arrested and went to prison so I had to go and stay with my granny for a while.

I was getting into trouble a lot in school because I got angry and would hit other kids if they said or did anything to me. I was cheeky with the teachers too.

I didn’t want to stay living at my granny’s so when my dad got out of prison, he brought me to live with him and his partner and my brother and sister. I liked it there. Dad went into treatment for drugs and things started to get a lot better.

My Extern worker was always there for me to talk to about everything that was happening. She helped me learn different ways to stop myself from getting so angry and to get on better in school. She brought me out every week to do fun things and sometimes I did overnight stays, which were great.

Extern came to some of my hurling matches to support me and during the summer they had lots of group activities, so I got to make new friends. I am a lot happier now.

Extern also helped my dad a lot; he is doing really well now so I think we will have a good future. My only wish is that I had a longer time to spend with Extern!"

Declan, Janus Project, Kildare EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 9

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JUSTICE SERVICES HAVING AN IMPACT Working across three key project areas – Bail Supervision, Janus Justice and Youth Diversion Projects – our youth justice services recorded another busy year of activity, engaging with young people and their families to help provide positive pathways for those at risk of, or already engaged within, the criminal justice system.

Our Bail Supervision Schemes had a successful year improving the lives of families in the community, with many positive outcomes for those they are supporting.

addition of a strand which builds upon the work of Extern’s Janus Justice programme, which had already been running in the Limerick area for a number of years.

In our newer hubs of Limerick and Cork, the project has been making huge progress in becoming better established, and is now more wellknown among local youth justice organisations, as well as being recognised for the difference it is making in the lives of the families with whom they work.

Where the already existing version of BSS was designed for young people who are living at home with a caregiver, this alternative model caters for young people who are living in residential care, supported accommodation or living independently (i.e. not living at home with a caregiver).

Key to this has been building strong stakeholder relationships with An Garda Síochána, Probation Officers and school staff, among others.

Providing an individual 1-1 keyworking service, this new element has been designed to bridge a gap which had been identified for a section of hard-to-reach young people who required support but who did not fit the criteria for the already existing scheme.

The project has also facilitated positive outcomes for many of those it supports, including one young person in Limerick who is now attending third level education and completing a 12-week ‘Access to Apprenticeship course’. Another with severe social anxiety who hadn’t left their home for over a year was successfully reintegrated to mainstream education, attending family holidays and socialising with positive peer groups.

Meanwhile, for one 16-year-old, who hadn’t been to school since the age of nine, our support enabled them to re-engage with learning. And there was a very positive step forward for another who was managing problem substance use when they produced a test that they hadn’t used drugs in 30 days, after engaging with Extern for 20 weeks.

Bail Supervision in Dublin and Cork has also been enhanced by the

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Meanwhile, in the Limerick Janus Justice project itself we are continuing to increase referrals from both probation and Justice Liaison Officers for young people that are continuing to offend past the intervention of YDPs and who need a tailored 1-to-1 intensive service.

And the life-changing work of our Youth Diversion Project teams was the focus of a special visit by James Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Justice.

Mr Browne met staff from Extern’s two YDPs in Co Kildare, during a special visit to the team’s offices in Naas, where he heard about the lifechanging work which Extern carries out in support of young people across the area.

Our staff were also among the guests at the Annual Youth Diversion Project Conference, in Dublin.

Hosted by the Department of Justice, the event offered delegates an opportunity to meet face-to-face at a large scale event for the first time since the Covid pandemic, where they could collectively consider their own experience of implementing the 2021-2027 Youth Justice Policy.

JUSTICE SERVICES COMMISSIONER: Department of Justice SERVICE USERS SUPPORTED: 196 LOCATIONS: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kildare HIGHLIGHTS: 60 hours each of engagement provided to families in the Limerick BSS; reduction in criminal behaviour among all young people engaged

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JUSTICE SERVICES

“THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROJECT HAS GIVEN ME SUCH POSITIVE MEMORIES” “During Covid, me and my friends were trespassing in an old shopping centre, where we broke up a few things and got in trouble with the Guards. I didn’t really fit in when I was in school so not saying no to stuff like this made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t play any sports or wasn’t part of any team so I was always hanging around the town getting into trouble.

I hated going to school and being around my parents, because we were always fighting so I started getting in more trouble, taking my dad’s car and driving it. I was sleeping all day and staying out with my friends all night. I just stopped listening at home, and any time a fight would start I would just leave.

My Extern worker made a plan for me to do work experience before going to the Youthreach programme. I feel a lot happier now, and I am getting on better with my parents. I see how hard my father works for my family, and we make memories together every day. I haven’t been in any trouble recently and I have changed the people I hang around with. I got my first ever paycheck too, and even joined the gym!

My Extern worker was with me through all of this, and helped me even when I was getting in loads of trouble with everyone. I have such great memories of the things we did together, like ziplining through the forest.”

Patrick, Youth Diversion Project, Athy

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LIMERICK HUB A CENTRE OF LIFE-CHANGING ACTIVITY The past year has seen our services ‘hub’ in Limerick go from strength to strength, as it continues to provide a wide range of services to young people and families.

Working from their offices in the Watch House Cross area of the city, the teams cover a wide area both geographically and in terms of the range of services provided, including youth justice, family support and disabilities.

While it might be tempting to think of the site as one unique ‘hive mind’ of collaboration, however, such crossover between projects is not an automatic given. Rather, the strength comes from teams being able to benefit from the broader insight provided by each other’s experience of unique situations or scenarios that might be affecting service users.

“Where we work closely together is not so much with specific families, but if I encounter a problem in the justice services that I haven't come up against before, I might find that the other managers would have done so in their projects,” says justice services manager Michelle Kennedy.

“The families often have a lot of issues that could be present in any service, so it's really helpful for us as managers to have each other to bounce ideas off or problem-solve with. If you're passing someone or they're in your office, you can just have a chat and try and figure things out together.”

While having such a strong concentration of services in one part of the country has meant much greater profile for our work with service users and among our commissioners, this has not always translated into a wider public awareness. Although, as youth services assistant manager Claire Cussen points out, this is something of an advantage given the nature of their work with people who are marginalised.

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“Obviously the families we work with know us and they really appreciate the service and the support, due to the fact that we go in and there is no judgment, regardless of what's going on,” she says. “If you're not engaging with us, though, we are quite under the radar – but that works for people, as there can be that stigma attached to having services coming into the home, so I think that works for individuals as well.”

It is a view shared by Bryan Gough, who manages the Extern Outreach Support Service, which works with people who have autism or intellectual disability: “The days of putting the name of the organisation you work with on the side of a bus, or going around with branded t-shirts is gone, because families and services we work with don't want that stigma.

They don't want to be seen by the wider community as needing a service, they just want to get on with their lives the same way as anyone else. They might need a little support at a particular point in time in their lives, but that doesn't define them as who they are.”

As with so much of the work being carried out across Extern, for staff the rewards of their roles are in seeing the change and progress which can be made within the lives of young people and families.

“I had a lovely conversation with a young man who said that his life has changed in the past twelve months,” says Bryan. “He hadn't left his house for years, and he told me he was going to be starting a job in the next couple of weeks. He had gained some friends, he had clubs that he went to on the weekend and he was in the process of writing a book that hopefully gets published. So from someone who said he hasn't left his

house in a number of years previous to that, that's a really positive story.”

Says Michelle: “We use the line ‘changing lives every day’ a lot in Extern sometimes without really thinking about it. But it’s definitely the most exciting part, meeting a child who you genuinely know that your service has changed their life, when you know that it was going a completely different direction. I think that's really what keeps us going.”

Adds Claire: “It’s about the outcomes that you see for young people. We had a young person who came through our services and is now a volunteer with Extern. He has progressed onto third level education and that's a major success.

“Those small wins are the snapshots that you get, like when we have somebody in at five o’clock of a Friday evening that has just experienced something extremely traumatic and you're providing a place of safety for them for the next three nights - the difference that that makes, that they feel safe, regardless of what's going on in the background.”

DISABILITIES SERVICES COMMISSIONER: HSE SERVICE USERS SUPPORTED: 53 LOCATIONS: Limerick; Clare HIGHLIGHTS: 1,682 individual sessions delivered; 14 new referrals received; funding secured for three additional project workers

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“EXTERN HELPED ME TO FIND MY OWN INDEPENDENCE" “I was living in a residential unit but I wasn’t happy there, I wanted to live independently and have my own place and freedom.

My Extern key workers helped me to move out of the unit and find my own apartment, which has been a great thing for me.

They really look out for me. We do activities together which I enjoy, and they help me sort out problems like when my phone or laptop isn’t working. They drive me to places I want to go and we listen to music.

They help me when I get frustrated and speak up for me in meetings when I am nervous. They support me to make decisions for myself and talk through options when I am unsure of what decision to make.

We have weekday sessions together where they support me with daily living skills like cooking, cleaning, taking care of my personal hygiene, money management, and managing my relationships with family members.

Thanks to Extern I can now do many things that I could not have done in the past, such as live independently and take care of myself.”

Jack, Service User, Extern Outreach Support Service (EOSS), Limerick

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ADDICTIONS AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE For our Extern Problem Gambling project, this year saw its collaboration as part of the Erasmus+ Experts by Lived Experience programme near its completion.

“The innovative EU-funded programme was co-produced by Extern alongside Finnish social welfare organisation Sosped, and Spillavhengighet Norge, which supports people with problem gambling in Norway.

Running for three years, the Experts, by Experience programme aimed to train people with lived experience of gambling addiction and recovery who wish to provide supports to others. Altogether, four participants completed the programme.

This is the first time such a programme had been delivered in Ireland alongside international partners. It is hoped that this will help to enable the voices of ordinary people with lived experience of problem gambling to be included in moves to regulate the betting industry island-wide.

The team also recorded a podcast episode in Norway, with their Norwegian and Finnish colleagues, to detail the work of the project.

Barry Grant, manager of the Extern Problem Gambling project, said: “Through our participation in this programme, we have learned that there has never been a greater need for more voices to advocate for reform of the gambling industry and improved public health supports to treat and prevent gambling addiction and gambling harms in Ireland.

“We believe that Experts by Experience can - and should - play a vital role in this process, at all levels of policy-making.”

ADDICTIONS COMMISSIONERS: Various SERVICE USERS SUPPORTED: 6,228 LOCATIONS: Co Waterford (covering all of Ireland) HIGHLIGHTS: 532 hours of counselling delivered; 68 schools visited as part of Youth Gambling Awareness programme

“BECOMING AN EXPERT BY EXPERIENCE CHANGED MY VIEW OF GAMBLING” “For years I had struggled to find the right treatment method to stop gambling, and it was Extern’s understanding of what I was going through that gave me the courage and belief in myself that I could change my life.

When I heard that they were piloting the Experts by Experience Programme in 2022, I volunteered to be part of the group as I was excited to see an organisation in Ireland promoting the use of lived experience of gambling harm.

The programme was my first introduction to a network of peers in Ireland who not only understood recovery from gambling harm, but who also, like me, wanted to use their negative experience to create positive change.

We had weekly meetings to discuss the content of the programme workbook which contained information relating to regulation in Ireland, Norway, and Finland, different types of gamblers, dangers associated with gambling, and the treatment options available. This was then coupled with information on selfcare, personal recovery, and engaging with the media as an expert by experience.

Being part of the EBE Programme helped me to gain a further insight into the current state of play with regard to the gambling landscape in Ireland. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the programme and to have connected with like-minded people across Ireland.”

Claire Donegan, Experts By Experience programme

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MINORITY COMMUNITIES CAVAN TEAM SHOWCASE REVAMPED 'HUB' Our Cavan-based teams took centre stage for a special ‘Meet the Team’ event to showcase our newly refurbished offices in the town.

The drop-in event was attended by key stakeholders from statutory and community organisations in the area, who were provided with a tour of the facility and took the opportunity to find out more about our work locally, including our newly-opened respite centre for young people at Oakport Lough in Co Roscommon.

The Cavan building is used as a base for our Traveller Primary Healthcare programme, as well as our Janus and Time Out projects in the area, and underwent a clear-out and redecoration. It is now being offered to other groups within the local community for use as a resource for workshops and meetings to be held.

As part of the refurbishment, the Traveller team have developed their ‘hub’ as the focal point for their

Members of our Traveller group displayed their incredible artistic skills as part of a special joint exhibition in Cavan town during the year. Held as part of a collaboration between Extern and a range of other support organisations within the area, the exhibition was a celebration of art, heritage and culture from the local Traveller community, aimed at showcasing the work of some very gifted artists.

workshops. From here the team (above right) – who are all recruited from the local Traveller community – runs regular meetings and events aimed at promoting practical and important healthcare initiatives.

Extern manager Colin McCusker said the event provided an important opportunity to open up new avenues of partnership working in the area.

“We were delighted to welcome so many guests to hear more about our work in the area and see at first hand the impact that our projects can have on the lives of so many here,” he said. “This was also an important moment for our Traveller healthcare team, who did a wonderful job of representing Extern on the day, alongside their colleagues in Janus and Time Out. I

know that many of the guests were very impressed with the scope and impact of the work we do, and have expressed great interest in connecting further in future.

“Such engagement events provide an important opportunity to showcase our work and strengthen existing relationships as well as building upon new opportunities for collaborative working.”

MINORITY COMMUNITIES COMMISSIONER: HSE SERVICE USERS SUPPORTED: 218 LOCATIONS: Cavan, Meath, Louth HIGHLIGHTS: 1,440 hours of direct contact delivered by our Traveller Healthcare team across Cavan and Meath

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OUR IMPACT Every year, through a special stakeholder survey, Extern Ireland seeks feedback from those we support, including referring professionals, parents and young people themselves. These statistics from 2022 show the impact we have had on hundreds of people across Ireland.

WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THINK ABOUT EXTERN

100%

96%

of young people believe they are treated with respect and honesty by Extern staff

of young people believe they have learned new skills through Extern’s involvement

96% believe through Extern’s support they are more involved in their community

“My key worker is amazing and really helpful.”

Young Person, Dublin

98%

95%

of young people believe they now get on better in their day-to-day life after engaging with Extern

of young people feel Extern has encouraged them to attend school

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THE PARENTS’ VIEW

98%

100%

of parents stated that their relationship with their child has improved after working with Extern

of parents feel more confident in their role as a parent thanks to Extern’s support

94% of parents believe their child’s ability to get on with other young people has improved as a result of Extern's involvement

97%

of parents believe their child now gets on better with other members of their family due to the supports provided by Extern

99% of parents feel their children’s relationship with teachers has improved because of Extern’s support

“The service was amazing.

I got a lot of support when I needed it.” ” Parent, Limerick

A PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE

100% of referring professionals believe Extern follow through on what they say they will do

“This work has been life-changing for the young person.”

Referring Professional, Galway

96% of referring professionals feel Extern supports have assisted in improving young people’s educational attendance

100% of referring professionals believe Extern staff are flexible and responsive in meeting young people’s needs

100% of referring professionals believe young people are more positively engaged in their local communities

“I was very impressed with Extern and the service they provided.”

Referring Professional, Dublin

100%

of referring professionals said that there was an overall improvement in the young person’s wellbeing since attending Extern

EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 17

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OUR PEOPLE CORPORATE SUPPORT Every day, our fantastic frontline teams go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of so many of the diverse range of people we support across our wide range of projects.

And supporting them are a team of highly-skilled professionals and specialists across a range of corporate support services, including ICT, Human Resources, Finance, Data Protection, Admin and many others.

These dedicated people ensure that all of the functions and processes are in place to enable our services within local communities to be able to provide the best service possible to the people they support.

“As an administrator my working day is always full, dealing with everything from emails to minute taking, among other things. But I like to help the team wherever I am needed, whether it’s helping dish out the food at a family fun day for our service users, booking family friendly events like the Christmas panto or being involved in creating good relationships with other services in our area by having networking coffee mornings.

“I enjoy working for Extern as I feel as though I am part of a bigger picture and am helping to deliver crucial services in the community. I like doing work that helps to promote a positive employee experience, whether this is learning and development or an employee wellbeing initiative. In my role there is also scope to be creative in terms of approaching things differently to how they’ve been done before and to put my mark on things, and I like having that challenge.”

Matthew Harbinson, Learning, Development and Wellbeing Advisor

The teams are so dedicated to their work and their drive to improve the lives of the people we work with is an inspiration to me. Nothing they are challenged with is ever too much; they always find a solution and invest so much of themselves in their work.

As a mum myself, my heart breaks when I hear some of the conditions that families are living in. The cost-of-living crisis has affected so many and I can understand, even from my own family, how quickly it can all change, as everyone is living from wage packet to wage packet.

The best part of my role is having colleagues who I can call friends whether it’s a work-related issue or a private personal chat they are all available to offer help and support. The friendships I have made are lifelong and I am incredibly proud of every one of them and their devotion to their work.”

Anita McKeating, Administrator, Dublin

“I decided I wanted to work in the charity sector because I loved that whole idea of being able to give something back to others. Working for Extern has given me a real insight into the challenges faced by many people within the community, and how we can assist them to overcome these.

On a day-to-day basis, my job is to develop and implement policy, and to coach and mentor people on HR best practice. I do a lot of one-on-one coaching, and I support individuals, both managers and workers, who may have concerns or issues arising in the workplace that they need addressed.

What stands out for me about Extern is the culture. Everybody is so caring, and friendly and welcoming. There is very much an ‘open arms’ approach, and I was very quickly incorporated into the team. Another thing that’s very positive is the level of flexibility and support that is given to staff.

People here are so passionate about what they do, and everybody just really wants to do their absolute best to help others.”

Deirdre Congdon, Senior HR Business Partner

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OUR PEOPLE

“I wanted to work for a charity, but helping out in the background rather than on the frontline, so that’s why I enjoy my role so much. I can do my bit for Extern in the best way I know how.

Most people consider GDPR to be rather a dry subject, but if you understand it, it is quite interesting in how it affects other laws and legislation. There are so many aspects to it, everything from handling Subject Access Requests and dealing with data breaches, to working with frontline services to help them comply with legislation through things like policies and procedures, guidance, and training.

With so many projects and funders to think about, it can be pretty challenging at times, but it’s enjoyable too and quite rewarding.”

Keeva Turner, Data Protection Officer

“My days are packed with a variety of tasks all aimed at keeping our tech operations running smoothly and securely. My main job is overseeing the daily hustle and bustle of the IT department and making sure projects are moving along nicely.

The services provided by Extern whether it's assisting those facing homelessness, dealing with mental health issues, or providing support to families - require a reliable and efficient IT backbone. Our task is to ensure that this remains capable of supporting the diverse range of services offered. While our work may mostly reside behind the scenes, the significance of IT's role in supporting and enhancing the frontline services is undeniable.

Caoimhe McDonald and Matthew Harbinson from our HR team saw their hard work and dedication repaid this year after receiving their Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management, while Caoimhe completed her ILM in Volunteer Management

Having been a part of Extern for a decade, I’ve witnessed first-hand the commitment the organisation has towards creating a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and communities. The ethos and the purpose-driven approach of Extern make it a remarkable place to work.”

Alan Keenan, Assistant Manager of IT

Our HR team have been busy throughout the year, with key achievements including: • A new HR Information System (People HR) Introduced from September 2022 • We established an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion forum • Developing and delivering our E-Learning to include an online organisational induction for all new starts • Strengthening our suite of HR policies to keep in line with changes in legislation and best practice • Improving our processes in relation to Performance Appraisals and Supervision • A continued focus on employee reward, including implementation of pay increments and cost of living award to support recruitment and retention • 51 new starts commenced and inducted

EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 19

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VOLUNTEERING AN EXTRA SPECIAL YEAR… Our volunteering programme continued to grow throughout 2022-23, building upon the successes which had been achieved the previous year with the establishment of the Extern Extras programme.

As we began the year, we were able to reflect on the first full year of the new and improved Extern Extras programme, which had seen the launch of several new opportunities, revised role descriptors, and brand-new bespoke volunteer training courses, as well as a cohort of enthusiastic new volunteers and Community Champions.

On the back of these developments, it was during 20222023 that we really started to reap the rewards of the new and improved processes we had established, welcoming 32 new volunteers to the organisation.

“Overall, we have seen a continued interest in volunteering both internally and externally,” says Volunteer Coordinator Caoimhe McDonald (right). “Members of the public are passionate about Extern’s mission to transform lives, and we continue to be humbled by their kind offers to volunteer to work alongside our staff teams. As we emerged from the worst of the pandemic, many people also felt called to give back to and support their local communities.

“Across the organisation, word has also been spreading about the amazing work our volunteers do, and many more managers and staff teams were in contact during the year to express an interest in engaging volunteers.”

15

projects and programmes supported by our volunteers across the island of Ireland

20 I EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23

£30,000 raised with support from volunteers

As well as continuing to fill many of the existing roles, this year we were able to offer some new volunteer opportunities, including recruiting for an Education Support Volunteer for Extern Ireland, as part of our Youth Diversion Projects, which support young people aged 12-17 who are at risk of, or who are involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour.

Delivered in partnership with the HSE, the Iscoil programme is a nonprofit online learning service that offers young people a pathway to learning which supports them to obtain an education and achieve their potential.

In Northern Ireland, meanwhile, our volunteers have been filling a variety of roles, including preparing meals in our hostels, delivering mental health and bereavement support groups in the community, helping our drug and alcohol street teams, or delivering exciting workshops activities to our young people.

“Following the Covid 19 pandemic, we have also seen a change in the typical profile of those becoming volunteers,” says Caoimhe.

“Whereas the assumption would often be that volunteers would be retired, almost all of our volunteers are working, studying, have childcare commitments or even volunteer with other organisations or sports clubs. Many are working towards a new career or to learn new skills, and therefore the need for flexibility is more important than ever.

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VOLUNTEERING “Volunteers have also been commenting on the quality of the training they have received from Extern’s award-winning Practice Development Unit, telling us how the courses not only enable them to carry out their role, but in many cases are also beneficial for their studies and future careers in social care.”

As well as the bespoke training courses which are delivered ‘live’, this year a number of online modules were also launched using the MS Sway platform. This allowed volunteers to complete a range

of courses in their own time, and to better meet their own commitments.

As the year drew to a close, the Extern Extras programme was looking forward to a bright and productive year ahead, with continued growth in volunteering in Extern Ireland, as well as the goal of working towards a prestigious Investors in Volunteering award and even a Volunteer’s Forum.

SAYING THANK YOU Dozens of our volunteers and Community Champions from across the organisation joined us for a special celebration event during the summer, as well as a Festive Favourites coffee morning for Christmas.

12

unique volunteer roles filled

Lee Travers volunteered with Extern’s team in Athy, Co Kildare, as part of the iScoil programme, which offers young people a safe learning environment to re-engage with education, achieve qualifications and access further education, training and employment.

“I first became involved with Extern after hearing about the iScoil programme in Athy. The project was new to Kildare and the team were looking for an assistant to help with rolling it out. As I was going on to do a Professional Masters in Education (PME), I was excited to get some experience outside of the school system and to be aware of the support and opportunities an organisation like Extern can offer.

The events were held not only as a way for us to thank those very special people who have been devoting their time and energy to our work, but to allow volunteers the opportunity to meet and share their stories and insights.

Volunteers from across our projects, including those working in Extern Ireland, travelled to the summer and Christmas events, where they shared their own very personal stories of volunteering, took part in games and activities and had the opportunity to meet the wider Extern family.

I was surprised at how well-prepared Extern made me feel before starting any of the volunteering work. My induction involved several different training sessions and made sure I was set up and ready to go.

Volunteers were treated as if they are paid staff, and I really liked this approach.

Through volunteering with Extern, I found that I'm more aware of some of the challenges that face young people and the wider community. This has helped me greatly in my day-to-day life and allows me to look at things from a different perspective.

Everyone I have met along the way has been so friendly and welcoming.

The Extern staff and the service users are all amazing people and you can feel a real warmth and trust between everyone. The young people are all characters in their own way and make the weeks fly by.

I love the fact that everyone in Extern believes that another chance can change a life - that makes Extern really special!”

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REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Chair Jim Daly

Directors Aideen D’Arcy Ian McAvoy Marian Quinn Eavann Murphy Niall O’Sullivan (appointed 20 October 2022) Stephen O’Boyle (appointed 20 October 2022) Allen McCartney (retired 13 December 2022)

Company Secretary HBK Secretarial Services Limited, Dublin

Management Team Danny McQuillan, CEO (resigned 14 July 2022) Colin Hayburn, CEO (appointed 16 January 2023) Dr Gavin Adams, Director of Business Development (resigned 3 October 2022) Sharon Hearty, Director of Policy and Development (appointed 30 January 2023) Jonathan Carroll, Director of People and Organisational Development Pauline Flynn, Director of Finance and Corporate Services Leslie Ann Scott, Director of Services Deirdre O’Driscoll, Interim Director of Services RoI (appointed 12 September 2022) Neil McKittrick, Director of Services NI (appointed 6 February 2023)

Principal Bankers: Bank of Ireland Naas, Co. Kildare

Auditors: Moore NI Donegall House, 7 Donegall Square North Belfast BT1 5GB

Company Reg No: 383201

22 I EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23

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

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EXTERN IRELAND BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jim Daly

Jim is from Clonakilty, Co Cork. He is a qualified teacher and 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 for 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.

Aideen D’Arcy MBE

Aideen was educated at Queen’s and the Ulster Universities. Aideen taught in the post-primary sector before embarking on a career in social housing for over 30 years, specialising in the provision of supported accommodation for vulnerable people. Aideen served on the NI Regional Council of the Society of St Vincent de Paul for over 15 years and undertook several initiatives to improve standards of accommodation and service provision of the organisation's homeless facilities throughout Ireland.

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 holds the position of Chairman of Rugby at Queen's University, Belfast.

Allen McCartney

Allen is by profession a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, with degree qualifications in both electrical engineering and corporate leadership. He had a distinguished career at Director level in Northern Ireland Electricity and Viridian Group and brings a wealth of experience from previous public sector board appointments in the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, the Department for Regional Development, and the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland. He is a Lay Magistrate and an Assessor for the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency.

Marian Quinn

Marian is a qualified Life and Business Coach and General Nurse. Her career has focused on children, young people and families through roles in both the statutory and non-profit sector. She has also lectured part-time in Maynooth University, Ireland, at post-graduate level in Adult and Community Education. Since becoming CEO of the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) in 2007, Marian has overseen the design, delivery and evaluation of practice models across a spectrum of needs. Marian has previously held roles in the HSE and Department of Justice and has also worked directly with young people and early school leavers. Marian has been a member of the new Children’s Hospital Board, and the Social Work Registration Board.

Eavann Murphy

Eavann studied HND Computer Science, Masters - Marketing Management and ACCA Diploma Accounting & Finance at the University of Ulster.

She was the founding Chair of the eir Group Brand Council. Eavann has an extensive corporate career working in Bank of Ireland, Northern Ireland, from 1988-2000 in various marketing and strategy roles, then in Telecommunications with Vodafone 2000-2014. Since 2015 she has worked within the eir Group managing key business units across consumer, business and public sector markets. She previously served on the Board of Governors for Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and completed the Institute of Directors Chartered Directors Diploma in 2021.

Stephen O’Boyle

Stephen is from Galway and attended NUI Galway where he studied Commence and went onto become a Fellow Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland having trained with of 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 holds both a Masters and Honours Degree from Munster Technological University. He works full-time in the Higher Educational sector at Trinity College’s Dental School as an Instructional Designer, while completing his doctoral research on Educational Technology in medical Higher Education.

Niall has spent his career working in Technology, Higher Education and Financial Services. He has worked in a variety of large-scale organisations such as Apple and Europe’s largest insurance company, Aviva, before progressing onto Higher Education. Niall has maintained a strong focus on research-informed practice throughout his career.

EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 23

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EXTERN IRELAND

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an Income & Expenditure account) for the Year Ended 31 March, 2023

2022/23 Total Income €13.0m

2022/23 Total Expenditure €12.3m

2021/22 Total Income €13.3m

2022-23 €M Tusla 7.3 HSE 2.1 Dept of Children & Youth Affairs 2.4 Dept of Justice (YDP) 0.9 Other Income 0.3 Total Income 13.0

2021-22 €M 7.6 2.1 2.2 0.8 0.6 13.3

2021-22 Total Expenditure €12.1m

Addiction Services Disability Services Justice Services Minority Communities Young People & Families Total Income

Unrestricted £

Restricted £

2022-23 €M 0.2 2.0 2.4 0.2 7.5 12.3

Total Funds Mar 2023 £

2021-22 €M 0.1 1.8 2.0 0.2 8.0 12.1

Total Funds Mar 2022 £

Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies

5,145

5,153

10,298

312,180

Charitable Activities

2,420,889

10,523,701

12,944,590

12,992,924

Other trading activities

1,207

-

1,207

1,056

-

-

-

-

2,427,241

10,528,854

12,956,095

13,306,160

(2,043,161)

(10,240,895)

(12,284,056)

(12,111,727)

-

-

-

-

(2,043,161)

(10,240,895)

(12,284,056)

(12,111,727)

-

-

-

-

Net income / (expenditure) for the year before transfers

384,080

287,959

672,039

1,194,433

Transfers between funds

29,095

(29,095)

-

-

Net movement in funds

413,175

258,864

672,039

1,194,433

Total funds brought forward

2,004,589

1,150,070

3,154,659

1,960,226

Total Funds Carried Forward

2,417,764

1,408,934

3,826,698

3,154,659

Investments Total Income and endowments Expenditure on: Charitable Activities Raising Funds Total Expenditure Other Recognised Gain/(Losses):

Reconciliation of funds:

24 I EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23

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WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING:

The Grace Trust

Hospital Saturday Fund

Kildare County Council

ChangeX

EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23 I 25

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“Offering kindness and support can lighten a person’s load in their darkest times. It’s always worked.”

Janus Team Member, Galway

26 I EXTERN IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT // 2022-23

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“Extern gave me the confidence to confront my fears head on. I haven’t looked back since... ” Young person from EOSS Service, Limerick

Extern ROI - Annual report 2023.qxp_Layout 1 30/11/2023 11:22 Page 28

Staff and young person from our Limerick Services

twitter.com/externcharity facebook.com/externcharity instagram.com/extern_charity/ 1st floor, Block 4 Monread Leisure and Commercial Centre, Monread Avenue, Naas, Co Kildare W91 YWX3 Tel: +353 (0)45 878720

linkedin.com/company/externcharity

info@extern.org www.extern.org