Leinster Society partners up with Irish Youth Foundation for the Christmas Lunch

We are delighted to announce that this year's charity partner for our Leinster Society Christmas Lunch is the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF).

The Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) was set up 40 years ago by Norma Smurfit with the sole mission of ensuring that every young person in Ireland has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive. In that time, they have invested over €30 million in young people and given 500,000 children and young people the opportunities, mentors, and safe spaces they need to thrive.

They fund and support community-based projects that provide safe spaces, trusted mentors, and opportunities for personal growth, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and brighter futures.

Their work focuses on addressing the root causes of inequality by investing in youth services that tackle issues such as poverty, mental health, education gaps, and social exclusion. Through strategic partnerships and targeted funding, they enable grassroots organisations to deliver high-impact programmes where they’re needed most.
However, the need for the work they support has never been greater. 1 in 5 children in Ireland are living in poverty and 1 in 10 are experiencing consistent deprivation lacking access to basic resources, opportunities, and support systems. 

The funds that we can raise at our Christmas Lunch this year  for the IYF is vital to help them meet this growing need and ensure that every child has the chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

A Youth Worker's story of guiding a young man to his Junior Cert

Mary, a Youth Worker, has been working with a young man in her
project since the age of 8. She remembers a day when she had to go to the
child’s school to advocate on his behalf. The child was being expelled for bad
behaviour, which had culminated in the boy hitting his teacher. The school
could no longer tolerate this behaviour. Mary met with the Principal and filled
him in on the child’s back story. The kind of story that often remains hidden.
Unless there’s a caring and supportive adult in your life.

This young boy’s story was harrowing. His father was physically, emotionally
and mentally abusive to his wife and two children. The young boy witnessed
his father physically attack his mother on numerous occasions and experienced
significant abuse himself. The father was involved in gangland activity and
eventually ended up in prison.

A kind neighbour brought the boy a puppy to help him adjust. When his Dad
returned from prison, he saw how much his son loved the puppy and in order
to re-instate his authority, on his first day home he broke the dog’s neck, in
front of his son, and threw him over the balcony of the flat complex. The following
day the boy attacked his teacher in school.

On foot of Mary’s advocacy, the boy was allowed to stay in school and Mary
has continued to support him. A few years later, this same young boy was the
victim of a horrific attack. A rival criminal gang petrol-bombed the boy’s family
home. He, his mother and sister suffered horrific injuries. They spent months
recovering in ICU. Mary was abroad at the time, with the Irish Youth Foundation,
taking part in a fundraising challenge. She flew straight home to support
the boy and his family.

Last year, Mary spoke at one of our fundraising events and told us this story.
The same young boy had just completed his Junior Cert Maths paper and had
phoned Mary to tell her it had gone well. He is on track to complete his post
primary education and hopefully go on to 3rd level education.

All over Ireland, Youth Workers like Mary are advocating on behalf of lost
young people every day.
Note: Names and minor details have been changed to protect identities.