€1.6m redevelopment at Candle Trust will help young people build better futures
THE new €1.6 million redevelopment of the Candle Community Trust project in Ballyfermot was opened on Tuesday morning.
Candle Community Trust offers therapeutic ‘wrap-around’ services, education and training to as many as 60 young people on a daily basis. It is co-funded by the Probation Service.
The project works with young people referred to it by the Probation Service and Garda Juvenile Liaison officers as well as the Garda Diversion project, the HSE and family groups.
The project also works closely with Oberstown Detention Centre creating a pathway for young people to transition to a structured, supportive, and nurturing environment on release and to continue their education in order to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
Speaking about the new facility, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne TD, said: “I am delighted to be here to officially open the new Candle Campus. It is an innovative and progressive facility and will provide essential services to help young people build and carve out a better future.
“Candle Trust is a model project for the provision of programmes to young persons and has already had various international delegations attend their new campus which is a testament to their work.”
Brian Johnston, Minister James Browne, Bianca Kennedy (teacher) and Leah
Candle is at the cutting edge of child centred, trauma informed practice and provides a safe and therapeutic environment for young people, many of whom come from challenging and marginalised backgrounds.
This significant investment of €1.6m means that Candle can continue to deliver therapeutic services to young people most in need.
Brian Johnston, Director of the Candle Community Trust, said: “Candle uses trauma informed approaches and restorative practice methodologies to provide a wrap-around service to young people.
“The results are a fitting context for a service that espouses to be trauma informed in its thinking and approaches.”
