Bridge is a limited company with charitable status, funded by the Probation and Welfare Service, the City of Dublin ETB, and the Irish Youth Foundation based in Dublin 8. Established in 1991, Bridge is an intensive probation supervision scheme in which young adult persistent offenders from the Dublin area are engaged in a demanding community-based programme.

Bridge aims to prevent re-offending by these young adult offenders who would otherwise serve substantial prison sentences by reducing the incidence of criminal behaviours by participants and helping them become re-integrated into communities.

Bridge offers the court and prison authorities an alternative community-based sanction through the provision of a high level of worker client contact, group work programmes, as well as internal and external support services to reduce re-offending and thereby enhance the process of social inclusion.

Bridge provides a range of services to participants that are delivered by a multi-disciplinary team including Probation Officers, Education Staff, Key Workers and Community Employment.  The core phased progression programme in Bridge is known as ‘Change Works’ and provides several options for each participant to avail of.  Based on a comprehensive needs assessment, an individual learning programme is put in place for each participant which includes some mandatory and elective modules.

City of Dublin ETB and project staff work with participants on an individual basis to provide the advice, information and support necessary to enable participants access training, education or employment.  All participants have access to one-to-one literacy tuition from the time they are accepted onto the programme.

Summary of what courses are provided:

• QQI Level 3 Word Processing
• QQI Level 3 Career Preparation
• QQI Level 3 Culinary Operations
• QQI Level 3 Art/Drawing
• QQI Level 4 Culinary Techniques
• QQI Level 4 Mathematics
• QQI Level 4 Home Repair & Maintenance
• QQI Level 4 Understanding Interculturalism
• QQI Level 5 Criminology
• QQI Level 5 Barbering Techniques
• QQI Level 5 Creative Styling
• QQI Level 5 Hairdressing Theory & Practice
• QQI Level 4 Retail Sales
• QQI Level 4 Human Biology
• City & Guilds Level 1 & 2 Bicycle Mechanics
• VTCT Level 2 in Barista Skills (equivalent to QQI Level 4 in Irish Framework)

The Bridge education based Community Employment Scheme has a current capacity of 40 participants and focuses on education and integration back to the workplace. It is a drugs rehabilitation CE Scheme as well as a mainstream Scheme.

Participants are offered a two-week trial to demonstrate that they can commit to the 19.5 hours per week required by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). During the induction period, the Bridge team focus on the participants learning plan to provide the most appropriate classes and courses which can vary across both Bridge and City of Dublin FET College Pathways Centre.

The rationale behind this process is to ensure full commitment and engagement with a clear pathway to progression and future employment or further education. Each Community Employment participant is entitled to four years on the scheme. A review is carried out by the Community Employment supervisor every three months with all participants.

The primary objective is to have the third and final year utilised as an exit plan to achieve the required training qualifications, acquire skills and work experience necessary to enter the workplace. In this manner, the individual would be fully prepped to succeed in their future endeavours.

Address:

The Bridge Project, 131 Francis Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8

Tel: 01 4734644