Garda Youth Diversion Projects are community based and supported youth development projects which seek to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social or criminal behaviour. These projects facilitate personal development and promote civic responsibility.

 

 

 

 

Investing in your Future

Foróige operates 30% of Garda Youth Diversion Projects. These are a partnership between the Irish Youth Justice Service, Garda Community Relations and Foróige.  GYDPs also receive second worker post funding from the European Social Fund, which has resulted in increased capacity to provide more one to one work, more challenging group work, and, in particular, to increase the employment readiness of the young people we work with.
 

 

GYDPs aim to:

• Involve young people in suitable activities to facilitate personal development and encourage civic responsibility and improve their long-term employability prospects.
• Divert young people from becoming involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour.

In achieving the above, projects will seek to support and improve local Garda community relations and enhance the quality of life in the area.
The projects have expanded rapidly in recent years and are proving a major instrument in the management and development of young people at risk.

Who can Access the Project:

• Young people referred by an Garda Síochána.
• Young people identified as being at risk of becoming involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour.
• Young people involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour.
   

Type of Programmes and Activities:

• Intensive Group work
• Individual work
• Life-skills
• Mentoring
• Peer education
• Youth information
• Family support
• In-schools programmes
• Drugs education
• Teenage health initiatives
• Personal development programmes
• Community based programmes
• Seasonal programmes - Summer / Easter
• Video production
• Special Interest Groups
• Cookery
• Health and fitness
• Outdoor pursuits
• Day trips

 

European Social Fund

Under ESF, Garda Youth Diversion Projects are eligible to receive funding under two activities of the 'Increasing Participation and Reducing Inequality in the Labour Force Priority' aspect of the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007 - 2013.

 

These activities are:

Activity 2.6 – Sub Measure 1 funding

Activity 2.7 – Sub Measure 2 funding


The objective of Sub Measure 1 is to enhance the employability of participants in GYDPs by providing them with key skills in the area of Personal Development and IT.
 

This Sub Measure will improve the prospects of sustainable employment by identifying pathways, including further and second chance education, for individual participants towards the labour market, combating discrimination in accessing and progressing in the labour market and promoting acceptance of diversity in the workplace.

The objective of Sub Measure 2 is to provide support for participants in accessing further education and training through the recruitment of ESF funded Youth Justice Workers, who will work with participants, relevant agencies and employers.  The ESF funded Youth Justice Worker is additional to the existing Project Youth Justice Worker. 

 

Investing in Your Future