Extern

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who supported our Christmas appeal for those most in need this festive season! Thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve received essential donations, including winter clothing, toiletries, food, toys, and personal care gifts. These have been distributed to our hostels, homeless support services, and young people and families, bringing much-needed comfort and care. Special thanks to our amazing staff and corporate sponsors for making this possible. Together, we’re made a real difference for those facing hardship this Christmas.

This festive season, the wonderful staff at Queen’s Business School have come together to support Extern's homelessness services. Through their Christmas Appeal, they've generously donated essential items, toys, and gifts, ensuring that many in our community will have a brighter Christmas. Thank you to everyone who donated – your kindness and generosity will make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A massive thank you to Anthony McCloy and the amazing team at McCloy Consulting Limited for their phenomenal £2,000 donation to Extern! This generous donation will be split between two projects: Homeless Support Teams: Your donation will help provide essential practical resources for people experiencing homelessness, giving them the tools and support they need to rebuild their lives. Make & Give Group: Part of this gift will help launch their inspiring new social enterprise, which empowers individuals through creativity, community, and purpose, providing opportunities for personal growth and financial independence. Your support doesn’t just change lives – it transforms futures and will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of those we help every day.

Extern are so grateful to the University of Limerick for their incredible support through the Christmas Bike Appeal! Thanks to their hard work, 13 beautifully refurbished bikes were donated to us and will go to families in our Tusla - Child and Family Agency Justice, and Disability services in Limerick. The appeal raised an incredible €7,500, and with the help of Moynan's and Mags’s Bakehouse, over 40 bikes were renovated and distributed to those in need across Limerick. A heartfelt thank you to all the faculty, students, and sponsors who made this possible. From all of us at Extern, thank you for making Christmas a little brighter for the families we support!

Our residents at MUST Hostel have been busy spreading holiday cheer by creating stunning Christmas paintings on our windows! From Rudolph to festive scenes, their creativity has truly brought the spirit of the season to life. For those who may not know, MUST Hostel provides tailored accommodation, support, and care to single men and women aged 18-65 who are experiencing homelessness in Mid-Ulster and South Tyrone. These beautiful artworks are a reminder of the incredible talent and resilience of our residents. A huge well done to everyone who contributed - it’s made our hostel feel even warmer and brighter this Christmas!

A huge shoutout to the amazing group of volunteers at Make and Give, who meet each week to create beautiful crafts. Over the past few months, they've been selling their stunning creations at local events, to friends, family, and staff, raising an incredible £1,000! With the profits, the group has generously decided to donate the funds to our Homeless Support team to buy essential winter items for those in need. Well done to everyone involved – this is absolutely amazing!

Are you passionate about creating positive change in the lives of young people? Extern is seeking dedicated professionals to join our team in Limerick. We have two exciting opportunities available: Youth Justice Worker (Social Care Services) Role: Youth Diversion Project (YDP) As a Youth Justice Worker, you’ll play a vital role in supporting young people involved in the Youth Diversion Project. Your work will focus on guiding individuals away from offending behaviours, fostering their personal development, and helping them make positive life choices. Project Worker (Social Care Services) Role: Janus Programme The Janus Programme is dedicated to helping young people overcome personal challenges and achieve their potential. As a Project Worker, you’ll provide direct support through tailored interventions, empowering young individuals to thrive. Why Join Us? Generous Employer Pension Contribution. Competitive salary and benefits package. Opportunity to transform lives and build stronger communities. Flexible Working Arrangements Employee Assistance Programme Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Pay Start your journey of making a difference today. https://lnkd.in/eFpsQJ_n

A huge well done to Debbie Clyde, one of our amazing Project Workers in Extern's Multi-Disciplinary Homeless Support Team, on graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders. Debbie’s dedication and expertise play a vital role in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, and her hard work and commitment to professional development is truly inspiring. Please join us in giving Debbie a huge round of applause for this incredible achievement.

This Homelessness Awareness Week, we're sharing something deeply meaningful from the Ormeau Centre. Our residents decorated the Christmas tree with heartfelt messages of what they truly want for Christmas. Among these touching wishes, one message stood out: "I just want my own front door." This simple yet powerful statement reminds us why the theme for #HAW24 is #TimeforChange. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Join us in raising awareness and advocating for an end to homelessness.

Since 2013, NIACRO and Extern, as co-chairs of the Homelessness Prevention Forum, have championed collaboration among services working to prevent homelessness. Today, during Homelessness Awareness Week, we were thrilled to welcome Julie Steele AMInstLM, CIHM, Engagement & External Affairs Manager with the Chartered Institute of Housing, to our event. Julie joined us to unveil the Forum's new vision, mission, and values and to explore opportunities for professional development. The Homelessness Prevention Forum is a voluntary coalition of diverse services and organisations united by a shared commitment to create a society where everyone has a safe place to call home. Acknowledging the invaluable work of frontline staff in this effort is crucial, as they are the driving force behind this life-changing mission. #HAW24 #Time4Change Homeless Connect