Celebrating Impact: Annual Report 2023

To read the full report click here. Hard copies are available on request at our offices.

We are thrilled to officially share our Annual Report about the impact of our work in 2023. It was a big year for Solas Project with significant transition and growth.

While numbers don’t always capture the true depth and scope of our work, they are helpful in giving an overview of our reach and areas of impact. Below are a few report statistics from each of our programmes:

EARLY INTERVENTION AND SCHOOLS WORK

• 720+ hours of direct contact with young people in our After Schools Clubs and over 3,600 meals served.

• 215 pupils took part in the Solas@School Business Programme, and 297 in the Sports Programme.

• 9 schools attended our annual Tag Rugby Blitz at UCD, with nearly 400 children and over 100 corporate volunteers.

SOLAS@SCHOOL Tag Rugby blitz at UCD

COMMUNITY-BASED YOUTH WORK

Liberate Young People Awarded National Community Safety Award

• 252 young people engaged with Liberate.

• 120 young people in intensive, long term engagements across the year.

• 16 young people were awarded a National Community Safety Award in recognition of their work on Halloween as part of the Liberties Haunt event.

YOUTH Justice

Rua

• 1,030 one-to-ones with young people.

• 270 group work sessions.

“Rua has uplifted the area through its empowering engagement with high-risk young people, fostering a sense of community and opportunity among local youth. The efforts made by the Rua team to build relationships with existing services has further strengthened support networks and enriched the range of resources available, creating a more collaborative approach to youth diversion in the area, with the shared goal of keeping people safe.”  - Inspector, Crumlin Garda Station 

TRY Youth WOrkers on community outreach

Compass (Prison Programme)

• 206 prison sessions.

• 58 young people engaged in prison/detention.

• 22 young people engaged in community.

TRY (TARGETED RESPONSE With YOUTH)

• 610 one-to-ones with young people.

• 1,378 other engagements (outreach, groups, family work).

• 1,988 direct contacts with young people.

Social Enterprise

• 23 young people engaged in The Yard.

• Commissioned to create the Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards.

• 3 young people received their Bronze Gaisce medal as a result of their work in The Yard, volunteering with our After School Club and participating in an adventure journey.

The Yard woodturning workshop

Organisation Achievements

Other notable achievements from 2023 included being shortlisted for a Good Governance Award in recognition of our commitment to accountability, transparency and delivering best practice in all our activities. We were also delighted to receive the ‘Investing in Volunteers’ badge of achievement for 2023-2026 in recognition of our commitment to volunteering and undergoing a thorough assessment. You can read more about the award and volunteer opportunities on our previous blog post here.

Strategic Priorities

And finally, as part of our larger vision for ongoing impact and strategy, we established four key pillars for our new Strategic Plan to help ensure that every support we provide our young people is effective and achieves its outcomes.

FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

While it is important to reflect on the achievements and lessons of 2023, we are already looking forward to our 2024 report and seeing the growth and impact being made through the continued implementation of these four priorities.

Creating Connections: Highlights from our Summer Residentials

As we settle back into our autumn routines with the return of school, we can't help but look back fondly on the fun and adventures of this summer across our programmes. 

A highlight for many of our young people was the opportunity to go on residentials — a few days away from the city to enjoy a change of scenery and participate in fun activities. This year, 40 young people from our Liberate team and 17 from our Justice teams experienced these trips. 

The residentials took place in Wexford and at The Cavan Centre, where some favourite moments included a highly competitive ball pit obstacle course and surprise visits from Sammy the seal during water activities. 

While these trips don’t always go exactly as planned, their value is immense. As one of our Liberate youth workers, Noel, shared: 

“You get to understand young people more on the residentials because you are spending a prolonged period of time together. It allows for a change of pace and to get to know each other better.” 

Tamara, from Rua D8, added: 

"There was a lot of childlike laughter on our residential, providing a safe place for young people to have fun and feel like kids again. We played hide and seek in the dark, as well as volleyball, swimming, and bodyboarding. We also worked on practical skills like building a campfire and adapting to the weather." 

Another highlight of the residentials were the connections formed—not just between young people and staff, but also among participants across different programmes. Our Justice teams, in particular, had the chance to connect with young people from TRY, Rua, and even a new participant who joined through a friend. 

As Brene Brown eloquently puts it: 

"I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship." 

This definition resonates with us as we strive to prioritise building lasting meaningful connections with young people in our work. The residentials offered a wonderful example of the joy that emerges when young people have the opportunity to connect beyond their everyday environments. 

Strategic Framework Launch

“The difference for me between Solas Project and other services is that they don’t give up, they actually care. On my days when I’m broken and down and feel like I have nobody, Solas is the place for me to go…it’s that little safe space so I’ll always be grateful to them forever.” – Young Person, Rua Programme

On Thursday, May 16th, we had the joy of launching our strategic framework, which outlines our organisational priorities for the next five years. We titled the framework "Never Give Up" to express our unwavering commitment to our goals, our communities, and, most importantly, our young people. This sentiment was beautifully expressed by one of our young participants in the quote above who shared at the event about his experience being a part of our Rua programme.

Other highlights from the event included a panel from our Junior and Senior After Schools Clubs who shared about the fun and activities they get to do together. When asked what they would say to someone new at their club, a Junior participant responded:

“We’re a kind group of people who do activities, go to the sports hall, and we have food.” – Junior Club Participant

This simple sentiment reminds us that it's often the little things—kindness, shared experiences, and meals—that make the biggest difference. As we determined our strategic priorities, we focused on enhancing the sustainability and reach of our existing programmes that already do these things well. This ensures that our goals are achievable and aligned with our vision of helping children and young people recognise their worth and reach their full potential. Our four strategic priorities are outlined in the graphic below; to read more about each one in detail click the button below.

A final significant highlight of the launch event was the presence of Salla Heron, the original founder of Solas Project, which began as an After Schools club for girls in Basin Lane. It was moving to see how far Solas Project has grown since its humble beginnings in 2007, now supporting approximately 700 young people in Dublin annually.

We extend our sincerest thanks to everyone who attended the launch event: our Board, young people, statutory funders including CDETB and Probation, representatives from the Irish Prison Service, Gardai, corporate and university partners, representatives from local schools, community and youth organisations, and some of our TDs and councillors. Together we can work towards societal change to ensure future generations do not face the same challenges our young people do today. As we look ahead to the next five years, we do so with gratitude, determination, and hope.

Investing in Volunteers

At Solas Project we recognise the reciprocal value of volunteering. Our young people benefit immensely from the opportunity to build relationships with trusted adults from a wide range of backgrounds. Simultaneously, research indicates that volunteers themselves also benefit, with volunteerism being linked to improved mental and physical well-being. According to Mental Health Ireland’s National Volunteer Strategy:

“As well as the satisfaction from making a positive difference within their local community, volunteers have reported better mental health, better physical health, and a greater opportunity to make friends.”

We currently have approximately 120 volunteers who serve each week throughout the year as well as an additional 200+ corporate volunteers who participate in short-term volunteer programmes each year. In 2022 we decided to formally demonstrate the value that volunteering adds to our organisation by embarking on a journey with ‘Investing in Volunteers’, which is a quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers. It aims to improve the volunteering experience for all volunteers and demonstrates that organisations value the enormous contribution made by their volunteers.

After undergoing a thorough assessment in 2023, we are delighted to have been awarded the badge of achievement for 2023-2026 in recognition of our commitment to volunteering within the organisation. As part of the qualitative data, we received some great feedback we’d love to share. Volunteers commented on how welcome they were made to feel when joining the organisation and how they’ve been able to see positive progression in young people over time.

What Our Volunteers are saying:

“Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Meeting the other volunteers at the start was a positive experience”.

“It has taken me out of my comfort zone and benefits my professional development. I thoroughly enjoy it and volunteering has helped me clarify the area of work that I want to go down.”

“I’ve grown as a person, I come away every time buzzing and I’m always learning something new.”

“You get so much energy from the kids. I’m proud to say that I’m a volunteer with Solas Project.”

“I enjoy it so much. Every day that you are there is valued. Getting a thank you from the children and seeing them progress is so rewarding”.

It is clear from their feedback that our volunteers understand the impact that consistently showing up for a young person can have on building a trusting relationship. Every volunteer brings something different with their skill set and significantly adds value to the work we do. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with us, be sure to check out our volunteer page to see our current opportunities.

TRY Model Launch

“…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.