“…Youth workers need models to articulate the purpose and value of their work to politicians and the public, and to explain foundational assumptions about society, young people, values, and mechanisms for personal and social change. Robust on-going discussion about models clarifies the relationship between theory and practice and enables youth work to make use of advances in knowledge in other disciplines, and to innovate constructively when faced with social and political change.”
- Cooper, Youth & Policy 2012 p.98

This month we are celebrating two years since the Targeted Response with Youth (TRY) Project officially joined Solas Project as part of our Justice Team. As the project continues to grow, the team has worked hard to develop their own model outlining their bridging approach to working with young people. As expressed in the opening quote, youth work models are necessary to not only help establish the foundational purpose and value of the work, but to also demonstrate the relationship between theoretical approaches and their practical applications.

After months of planning, discussing, writing, and designing, the TRY Model was officially launched this January over Zoom. During the launch, a total of 64 people tuned in to hear our team share about the various stages of the model, along with corresponding stories from young people of how the levels of support have made a difference for them.

An important aspect about the model’s Bridge of Community approach, as explained by Justice Programme Manager Ashling Golden, is that it is not a linear progression and young people may find themselves at different stages during various circumstances and life events. The overarching theme of the model is to always meet young people where they are at through providing consistent and practical supports. This can be summarised in the team’s motto:

“Nobody is too far gone, everybody is worth it, everyone can change, communities can improve, society can flourish.”

Click the button below to view the full model.

TRY MODEL

The Main Event

Hosted at our newest office space on Oliver Bond St, the event was truly a community-wide effort. For weeks leading up to the date, staff and volunteers coordinated entertainment, treats, decorations, and of course: presents! Thanks to the fundraising support from Udemy, via The Irish Youth Foundation and other generous donors, we were able to provide gifts for 60 children who attended the event from our Junior and Senior After Schools programme and families from our Liberate programme. Some of our very own team members and young people surprised us with their artistic talents, including face painting, music, and elf impersonations.