YAP Ireland CLG are delighted to announce the launch of their 2016 Annual Report and their Strategic Plan 2017-2020. The launch took place in the YAP Head office in Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin on 23rd March 2017.

Speaking ahead of the launch Siobhan O’Dwyer, CEO YAP Ireland CLG said

“I am delighted to present the Annual Report 2016 which illustrates a very productive and successful year for Youth Advocate Programmes Ireland. The Annual Report shows in a real way the positive impact of the YAP Model on the lives of Young People and Families both in the outcomes achieved, their comments and stories and the achievement for the third year running of the Investing in Children Award.

The adherence to the Principles of the Model is the reason why the service is so successful as evidenced by the feedback from Young People, Families and Referrers.

Strengths based, Needs Led, Never Give Up, No Reject No Eject, Flexibility, Creativity and Wraparound.

YAP staff make these principles real every day in their work and the impact on the Young People and Families of working in this way is clear not just while with the service, but long into their future.”

Speaking ahead of the launch Aidan Browne, Chairperson of the Board of YAP Ireland CLG said

As I review the annual outcomes from the work of YAP over the past five years I am very much struck by the fact that these are not average outcomes which might be achieved by any programme €“ they are exceptional outcomes!

The outcomes are consistent year on year and they are felt equally by the young people and their parents or carers.

I believe these outcomes are achieved because of the underlying philosophies of YAP €“ we reject nobody, we eject nobody and we begin by looking at the young people€™s strengths. We follow this up by choosing exceptional people as advocates from the communities where the young people live and we train and support our advocates to be consistent with our model and to do what we say we will do.”

It was a great morning in the YAP Head office with the sucessful launch of their Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and their Annual Report 2016. The annual report shows the outcomes for 2016 were fantastic and the stategic plan highlights that the YAP plan going forward is truly exciting.

We would like to extend a huge thanks to Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, Gary Kiernan from Tusla, Ann Rabbitte, Fianna Fail Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs and of course all the wonderful young people and parents that gave up their time to speak on the day.

Click Here to view the Annual Report

Click Here to view the Strategic Plan