Solas Project

Last week was National Volunteer Week and what better way to mark the occasion than with our Volunteer Celebration!

It was a special opportunity to recognise the incredible people who give their time, care, and energy to support our young people week in and week out. But more than that, it was a chance to celebrate the young people themselves and all they continue to achieve.

Throughout the night, young people shared powerful reflections on the impact volunteers have had in their lives, alongside a moving musical performance as a heartfelt thank-you. We also heard from local Gardaí and corporate partners about the positive difference these relationships and programmes are making across the wider community.

Since 2007, volunteers have been at the heart of Solas Project. Their consistency, encouragement, and belief in young people help create spaces where young people can grow in confidence, feel supported, and realise their potential.

To every volunteer who has walked alongside our young people over the years, thank you 🌟

Responding to the Research Part 1: Education

Following the recent launch of “A Socioeconomic Analysis of Dublin’s South West Inner City” by Dr. Barra Roantree, and some of the stark findings it revealed, we want to share more about what we as an organisation are actively doing to address the statistics through our targeted work in the South West Inner City (SWIC).

The report revealed that third-level progression rates for students in the area are less than half the national average. In our latest blog post, we highlight our Solas@School Futures Programme and the work being done to ensure young people in the community are given opportunities to explore their options, broaden their horizons, and make informed decisions about their futures.

Read the full blog: solasproject.com/blog-posts/a-brighter-future-from-stats-to-opportunities

A huge well done to our team and young people who took on the Dublin Half Marathon 👏🏃
Taking on a challenge like this takes real courage, commitment, and determination, and we’re so proud of everyone who stepped up and crossed that finish line.

In the words of Ashling, our Justice Programme Manager:
“In this job, we get to be alongside young people as they achieve great things. Today, young people and their youth workers took on a challenge they all feared and overcame together. What a day.”

A brilliant reminder of what can happen when young people are supported to challenge themselves and realise what they’re capable of 💛

A big thanks to Dublin City Council for supporting us and providing our tickets