Community-Based Advocates

As grassroots community-based Advocates, we are often residents of the communities in which we work so we understand the cultural diversity that exists within the community. In addition, we have solid working knowledge of local support services and have developed networks that make this support readily available to the young people and families. We are employed on a fixed-term contract basis to work with young people and their families within their communities.

One-To-One Contact

Our work can consist of up to 15 hours, one-to-one contact with the young person every week for six months, depending on the needs of that young person. Activities carried out with the young person are goal-driven and needs-led, based on the strengths of the young person and their family. We can be creative in our approach to working with the young person and families as a flexible and bespoke service is given to everyone. We bring our own unique talents to the work and activities with young people can vary greatly from getting involved in a sport to receiving support around attending school.

Training and Experience

The training and experience gained by us through our employment with YAP Ireland has long-term beneficial outcomes for us and our communities. Training consists of 4 full days YAP Core Module training and ONE day Child Protection Awareness Training developed in conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland. We also have access to a 24 hour on-call service, so advice and support is never far away.

YAP Ireland Advocate

Berenice
YAP Advocate

After working many years in Catering I decided I needed a change of career and happened to see an advertisement for YAP Ireland. The experience I had was just basically having trained a lot of Young Chefs and I had loved that part of my old job. After joining YAP and working on a lot of different cases the most rewarding part of this job is to see the change in a Young Person just from having a safe place to talk and having their own personal cheerleader.

Geraldine YAP Ireland Advocate

Geraldine
YAP Advocate

My experience working with Yap over the past 2 years as an advocate has been an amazing journey. I have had the privilege to work with many young people with each and everyone of them being unique. Each young person brought their own life experience ,needs and expectations and hopes and dreams. I love that YAP is strength based and it really does provide intensive support for young people and their families and it always felt so good to be part of such a great team.

Derek YAP Ireland Advocate

Derek
YAP Advocate

I have the opportunity to work with some incredible young people who need some encouragement and guidance in their lives. These young people want to make changes in their lives and to be given the chance to help them to make those changes is an amazing experience. Since starting with YAP in July 2018, I have completed a number of training courses. Mediation, conflict management, cognitive behavioural therapy and psychology are all subjects that I am now well versed on and I would not have had the opportunity to become so had it not been for my involvement with YAP Ireland.

After working many years in Catering I decided I needed a change of career and happened to see an advertisement for YAP Ireland. The experience I had was just basically having trained a lot of Young Chefs and I had loved that part of my old job. After joining YAP and working on a lot of different cases the most rewarding part of this job is to see the change in a Young Person just from having a safe place to talk and having their own personal cheerleader.

Berenice, YAP Advocate

My experience working with Yap over the past 2 years as an advocate  has been an amazing journey. I have had the privilege to work with many young people with each and everyone of them being unique. Each young person brought their own life experience ,needs and expectations and hopes and dreams. I love that YAP is strength based and it really does provide intensive support for young people and their families and it always felt so good to be part of such a great team .

Geraldine, YAP Advocate

HELP US CHANGE LIVES

The training and experience gained by Advocates through employment with YAP Ireland has long-term beneficial outcomes for you and your communities.