About Us

Southill Outreach was established in 1990 in response to needs identified by a group of interested persons, who were involved both within the Southill community and the Probation Service. It developed as a pilot project that was funded by the Department of Justice through the Probation and Welfare services.

Southill Outreach operates a range of activities, incorporating preventative and supportive work to young people as well as providing a supportive service to their families.

Southill Outreach - About Us

The young people are also targeted in terms of the range of activities provided, and the workers act as advocates for young people who may present with issues such as substance misuse, homelessness, offending behaviour and poor or non attendance in school or training courses.

Southill Outreach also provides an In-reach programme to young people detained in St Patrick’s Institution, Oberstown or Trinity House. Staff continue to engage with clients during their period of detention and are involved in devising a pre-release programme to enable the young person to re-integrate into their community on their release. We work to meet the needs of each young person to enable them to reach their full potential.

Our Staff

Pat Mc Carthy - Outreach Worker

Pat joined Outreach as Linkworker having previously worked voluntarily for the project and conducted collaborative initiatives with Outreach when he was employed in the Community Training Centre with the Southill Soccer Academy.

Following his in-service training in Brief Therapy he went on to gain a certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy with NCII. He was a founding member of the Southill Youth Forum and during his time as Youth Justice Representative to the Childrens Services Committe the Forum became the now established Limerick City Child and Youth Forum.

This belief in the effectiveness of wide systems of networks (based on the principle of "It takes a village to rear a child") has led to collaborative initiatives with a wide range of Agencies including cross-border youth exchange in partnership with UL Access office, orienteering campouts with Garda Diversion Groups, Youth Fire Programme with the Fire Service, fishing expeditions with the Fisheries Board, football matches against Community Garda and Prison Officers teams, 'First Tee' golfing program at Rathbane Golf Club, joint activities with Trinity House Adventure Therapy team, boat-building with the Ilen Wooden Boat School, and participation in the Street Leagues Football program where one of the Outreach team has been selected to represent Ireland in the Street Leagues World Cup 2014. Pat has participated in a variety of research works and studies including CAAB's Inter-agency Co-operation, attending a Safer Communities by Dr Martin Power, and assisting with research on the TV documentary 'John Lonergan's School Principles'. He was one of the Irish delegates to the International AVP 3-day Gathering In Oxford and attended a Streetworkers Conference in Stockholm.

As an Inreach Worker for the Project Pat initially delivered AVP workshops mostly in Limerick Prison but also sessions in Mountjoy and Castlerea. Following the principles of the Project's 'Through-Care' strategy Pat has devised, conducted and sustained strong links with the criminal justice services and revelant agencies in supporting those in custody and their families.

Pat believes while it is important to ensure that all the risks and supports are identified for those on release from custody, the core principle of focus on relationship is essential - connecting and being with others allows clients to reflect, learn, think about change and growth. Using the principles of Restorative Practice is central to Pat's work and he is the Project's rep on the RP sub group. Pat believes local meaning, inclusion, integrity and congruence are central to respecting the dignity of the clients Outreach are entrusted to serve.

Pat is a delighted father of two adult sons. He enjoys sports and is a passionate supporter of Munster Rugby and Liverpool FC. He loves the Atlantic coast, board games, boats, movies, music, cooking and soft days.

Lynn Kenny - Outreach Worker

Lynn has worked in outreach since January 2009 having achieved a degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care from St. Patrick’s College, Carlow. Prior to working with Outreach she worked in sheltered housing for the elderly, and she has also worked in the disability sector. Lynn is a qualified kayaking instructor, and she enjoys cooking and the outdoors.

Clare McAleese - Administrator

Clare is from County Antrim and worked in the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for 15 years as Housing Officer and left the organisation in 2006 to relocate to Tipperary. She set up and managed the Smartmove project in North Belfast under First Housing Aid and Support Services.

She joined Outreach in August 2012 following eight years as Community Employment Supervisor with Nenagh Community Network and Nenagh Arts Centre.

Apart from the administrative aspect of her roles Clare has always played a strong part in developing and maintaining community initiatives and strives to ensure that the needs of the service users are met in a holistic and non-judgmental way.

Clare is married with four young children and has very little spare time to enjoy walking, socialising and shopping.

Siobhan Abbott - Manager

Siobhan is the Manager of Southill Outreach having joined the organisation in September 2011.

Her background is in Customer Service, Education and Community Development. She managed the Le Cheile Mentoring Project when it opened in Limerick, which fulfilled a long held ambition to work in the area of Youth Justice. The move to Outreach was a natural progression and allowed her to combine her previous experience with her interest in developing programmes that challenge and engage young people.

As a passionate believer in restorative practices, Siobhan has trained as an IIRP trainer and is involved in the roll out of restorative practices in Limerick. The ethos of Outreach has always been to work in a restorative and inclusive way and Siobhan has used her training to embed restorative practices within the organisation.

Siobhan lives in the Tipperary countryside and enjoys reading, any kind of motorsports and trying to get a few minutes to herself!

Southill Outreach 5, Michael Street, Limerick

V94 V184

Telephone: 061 405 966 Mobile: 086 040 6062 Email: admin@southilloutreach.ie or siobhan@southilloutreach.ie

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