A west Dublin charity is helping marginalised young people rebuild trust, improve their wellbeing and move away from harmful or criminal behaviour through a trauma-informed model of care. A new report says Candle Community Trust in Ballyfermot is making a significant positive difference by placing relational and emotional safety at the centre of its work.
Breaking News: What the Candle report found
Candle Community Trust supports up to 60 young people each day through education, training, therapies and wider practical assistance. The organisation works with people aged between 10 and 25, with many referrals coming from Tusla and the Irish Probation Service.
The independent report, written by consultant Dr Rob Worrall, examined the charity’s work through observations, interviews with staff, parents, participants and partner organisations, as well as a review of relevant practice literature. Tusla and the Irish Probation Service funded the research, reflecting their role as two of Candle’s main funders.
Its central finding was that Candle’s approach works particularly well because it prioritises safety and trusted relationships. The model recognises that childhood adversity and trauma can affect behaviour, learning, relationships and a young person’s ability to participate in education or support services.
How trauma-informed support is changing lives
Candle’s work is based on a trauma recovery model that treats challenging behaviour as a possible response to a young person’s experiences rather than simply as an act deserving punishment.
Staff seek to understand what may have happened in a child’s life and what their behaviour communicates. That means approaching a young person with curiosity instead of anger, while providing consistent boundaries and support.
Michael Ruddy, an outreach mentor and project worker, said many of the young people he supports have had experiences that made it difficult to trust others. A lack of secure attachment in childhood can contribute to emotional dysregulation, hyper-vigilance and a defensive response to situations that feel threatening.
For some children, ordinary experiences such as being comforted, sharing family meals, hearing bedtime stories or learning new skills may have been limited or absent. Candle’s work attempts to provide a stable environment where young people can feel listened to, accepted and safe.
Early progress may begin with a young person feeling safe enough to return, believing they will not be judged and recognising that adults are genuinely listening.
Progress does not always follow a straight line
The report emphasises that change is not always linear. A young person may make progress, experience setbacks and then re-engage with support. For Candle, early success can be as important as formal qualifications or a complete change in behaviour.
Participants quoted in the report described gradually lowering their guard after experiencing sustained support from staff. One young person said the centre helped them change how they related to other people, including moving away from fights and pushing others away.
Another described staff as meeting them where they were, creating a sense of safety that developed over time. These experiences highlight the importance of reliable relationships in services supporting children and young adults affected by disadvantage.
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Who Candle Community Trust supports
The Ballyfermot organisation works with young people aged 10 to 25 who may be affected by poverty, family adversity, trauma, educational disengagement or involvement with the juvenile justice system. Many are referred through Tusla or probation services, although the centre’s support extends beyond any single intervention.
Its services combine several forms of help rather than focusing only on one issue. This wraparound approach can include:
- Education and accredited learning
- Vocational training and preparation for employment
- Therapeutic support
- Outreach and mentoring
- Help with emotional regulation and resilience
- Support for relationships, identity and confidence
The intention is to respond to the whole person and to recognise that behaviour, education, mental health and social circumstances are often connected.
Reported outcomes include education and crime prevention
The research identified a range of outcomes for young people who attend Candle. These include preventing or reducing involvement in crime, improved emotional wellbeing, stronger resilience and progress in accredited education.
The report also recorded gains in personal development, confidence, identity, relationships and active citizenship. These outcomes matter not only to individual participants but also to families, schools, communities and public services.
Reducing repeat contact with the criminal justice system can be a long-term process. The report’s emphasis on persistence reflects the reality that young people facing multiple disadvantages may need sustained support before change becomes visible.
Why the approach matters in Ireland
The work comes amid continuing concern about unequal opportunities for children and young people across Ireland. Access to stable housing, supportive family relationships, education, mental health services and safe community spaces can vary significantly depending on a person’s circumstances.
Ruddy said life was not a level playing field for young people. His comments underline a central issue in youth justice and social care: difficult behaviour may have an understandable history, even when it causes harm or creates serious challenges for families and communities.
Candle’s model does not dismiss responsibility. Instead, it seeks to combine accountability with an understanding of trauma, giving young people a realistic opportunity to develop safer ways of responding and relating to others.
What happens next for Candle’s model?
Candle director Dervella McNee said the report confirmed the impact of the organisation’s work and expressed hope that its findings would assist other services supporting young people at risk.
The publication may also contribute to wider discussions about trauma-informed practice in education, youth work, social care and the juvenile justice system. Its findings suggest that consistent relationships and emotional safety should be treated as core elements of support, not optional additions.
The report does not suggest that every outcome is immediate or guaranteed. Instead, it presents change as a journey that depends on trust, patience and the willingness of services to remain engaged with young people during difficult periods.
Frequently asked questions
What is Candle Community Trust?
Candle Community Trust is a charity based in Ballyfermot, west Dublin. It provides education, training, therapies and wraparound support for young people aged between 10 and 25.
What does trauma-informed support mean?
Trauma-informed support recognises that adversity can influence behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships and learning. It aims to create safety and trust while responding to the causes of behaviour as well as its consequences.
Who funds or refers young people to Candle?
Many young people are referred by Tusla or the Irish Probation Service. Those organisations also funded the independent report into Candle’s work.
What outcomes were identified?
The report identified progress linked to crime prevention and desistance, emotional wellbeing, resilience, accredited education, confidence, identity, relationships and active citizenship.
Conclusion: a practical lesson for youth services
The Candle Community Trust report offers a clear message for Ireland’s youth services: meaningful change often begins when a young person feels safe, heard and believed in. By combining education, therapy, mentoring and persistent relationships, the Dublin charity is helping marginalised young people move towards greater stability and opportunity.
For communities across Ireland, Candle’s experience shows why trauma-informed care deserves attention in conversations about youth justice, education and public services. The most important takeaway is simple: behind challenging behaviour is a person whose future can still change when the right support remains in place.