Existing Projects

Balbriggan Youth Service
The youth service in Balbriggan is ran by Foroige to provide support services for young people in Balbriggan and surrounding areas. A core objective of all programmes is to equip young people and other vulnerable groups with the skills and supports necessary to make informed choices surrounding issues that are drug related. The RDTF provides funding for a one and half youth worker posts.

Education Bursary
An Education Bursary has been developed to help those wishing to further their education in addiction studies. A grant is available of up to €2,000 to five individuals residing in the RDTF region with an interest in pursuing a course in addiction studies or related addiction therapies. It aims to upskill people working within a drug related support service and also provides support with the rehabilitation and integration of ex-drug users, following treatment, who wish to pursue an addiction related course. Preference is given to those who has completed treatment for addictions and/or have personal experience of addictions.

 Family Support Group

A new family support group for parents and carers of those affected by drug misuse is now available in Swords. A family support group is a safe and non-judgemental place where parents, spouses, partners, grandparents, siblings and other family members of those using drugs can come to discuss their problems.  The support group is free of charge and confidential.  It can also help to provide infromation to families on local addiction services.  The group is available every wednesday from 7.30pm - 9.30pm in 7 Forrest Mews, Swords

Fingal Traveller Organisation
Funding is provided for a Family Support Worker for the project who provides family support to Traveller families in North County Dublin. They also support a drug awareness programme on the Matt Lane Traveller site in the Naul with Swords Baldoyle Youth Service. The project aims to ensure a culturally appropriate community mobilisation response and will take into account the social integration of Travellers, their education and literacy levels.

Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs www.gbrd.ie
GBRD is a community-based initiative set up to address the drugs issues in the greater Dublin 15 areas. An RDTF funded Community Development Worker is employed full time within GBRD. GBRD aims to respond in a positive way to the changing needs of the community. This is achieved through community development, networking, awareness & information services, campaigning, family support and research.

Lantern Detox Project
One bed of an eight bedded detox project is funded through the RDTF for the Peter McVerry Trust’s Lantern project in Garristown. One bed can provide a six week residential detox programme from methadone for up to eight people within the RDTF region over a one year period. The Lantern has Clinical Governance approval from the HSE Northern Area. Support is provided from a multi-disciplinary team including a visiting G.P., nurse, psychotherapist, counsellor, manager and project workers.

North Fingal School Completion Project
Funding is provided to the school completion project to provide additional assisted homework clubs for young people at risk of early school leaving. It is hoped that this will modify the number of students that leave school early in North Fingal. The project provides a safe, structured environment in which students can gain academic assistance and guidance in completing homework. In addition, students can access personal development and recreational activities such as art, drama, music, sport and IT.

Swords Baldoyle Youth Service
The RDTF funds a Development Worker and Education Worker. Swords/Baldoyle Youth Service is a joint project of Catholic Youth Care and the County Dublin V.E.C. The purpose of the service is to assist and support the development of a local broad-based service to all young people in the North Fingal area. It seeks to provide opportunities for young people to develop fully and to become active members of the community.

Swords Balbriggan Community Policing Fora www.cpforum.ie
The Community Policing Fora brings together representatives from the local authority, Gardaí, public representatives and representatives of the community and voluntary sector to discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area with regards to reviewing levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, including the patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs. Since the region is so large, there are two individual Forums - Swords and Balbriggan initially with the hope of expanding it to other towns within the RDTF catchment area.

Local Drug Education Network in Swords
Following a comprehensive mapping exercise of school’s substance use policies throughout the region, it was proposed to develop a regional drug education network to promote greater synergies between in-school and community based drug education providers. After exploratory meetings, it was decided that a more localised forum be established and piloted in Swords. This network provides opportunities for all those involved in drug prevention and education to come together to liaise, share ideas and pool resources to maximise the impact of preventative educational programmes in the region. The overall aim is to help develop cohesive drug education in Swords.