Wellsprings offers short to medium term residential placements for young women in need aged between 16-23 years, with the possibility of lifelong support through a dedicated outreach aftercare service. Vhi funding will support a staff engagement initiative focused on increasing knowledge around trauma informed practice. This will merge training and group facilitation to support learning opportunities focused on raising emotional resilience in young people, offering safe coping strategies and developing skills to recognise and respond to anxiety.

IRD Duhallow is a community based integrated rural development company. Its aim is to enhance the wellbeing of its communities and the overall economic and cultural life of Duhallow. They have designed a programme with varying activities that will give young people the skills to build and strengthen their resilience, and to prevent and/or manage anxiety they may face. These activities have been specifically chosen to nurture the 7 C’s of Resilience; Control, Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Coping and Contribution. These same characteristics that allow someone to rebound from difficult times also allow them to get the most out of life.

NiteLine is a student-run listening and information service for third-level students. We provide an anonymous, confidential, non-judgemental and non-directive phone line and instant messaging service to students of ten colleges and universities across Dublin, Kildare and Louth. This funding will support their “Project Bloom”: expanding their service and opening a branch in Limerick, ultimately provide our helpline and workshops to third-level students across Limerick city and the broader region.

MQI provide services and supports to people experiencing homelessness who may also struggle with addiction and mental ill health. This service works with homeless youths to provide education on harm reduction, drug use, coping skills, and conflict resolution. This service also supports young people with securing accommodation, justice and legal issues, and crisis intervention. Vhi’s support will be channelled into their Young Persons Programme is specifically designed for clients aged 18-25, to offer bespoke case work leading pathways to appropriate accommodation, drug treatment and onward journeys to education, training and employment.

Venture Out Wilderness Project offer a range of creative and innovative nature based programmes and interventions to support young people from disadvantaged communities requiring support to manage adversity and affect positive change in their lives. This funding will support them in continuing to deliver and expand their “Two Wolves Health & Wellbeing Programme”. This is an experiential school-based programme for young boys and men, aiming to promote their health and wellbeing, while also addressing issues around what it is to be a man in todays world.

Aiséirí provides residential and community based addiction treatment to young people aged 15 – 21 years. With Vhi funding they will be offering a new programme, “Connection”. This will have two focuses: 1. A sailing programme for those who are engaging in the community based recovery support groups for between 1 – 2 years. 2. Equine Therapy Programme for those who are in the earlier stages of engagement with their service – this will be weekly 2 hour sessions for a 12 week period. The overall aim is to increase engagement and provide education and learning about managing anxiety and building resilience through programmes evidenced to have proven these outcomes.