Graduate Programme Tackling Homelessness in Ireland with €67,000 funding

Benefact Trust (benefacttrust.co.uk), the charitable owner of Ecclesiastical Ireland’s (www.ecclesiastical.ie) parent group, has awarded €67,000 to a leading cross-border charity supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Depaul Ireland. Benefact Trust’s funding is supporting an innovative graduate programme, which will attract, train and develop young people to work in the homeless sector.

The scale of homelessness across the globe is staggering. 1.6bn people don’t have access to adequate housing and 100m people don’t have access to any housing at all. In Ireland, homelessness records have reached a record high with over 15,000 people reported to be in emergency accommodation.

Depaul Ireland is one of Depaul International’s largest national providers. The charity has grown from a small Dublin-based operation to become a significant leader in the homeless sector, addressing homelessness across Ireland. The charity currently runs 42 specialised accommodation and outreach services. The numbers of people supported within these services grew by 45% in 2023 alone.

Depaul Ireland’s new graduate programme will support this increase in need, by training new graduates within the homeless sector. Each graduate will undertake a year’s rotation of Depaul Ireland’s services, gaining a breadth of skills and knowledge to develop a promising career in the charity sector.

Unemployment is at an all-time low, with the not-for-profit sector struggling considerably. Like many charities, Depaul Ireland has experienced challenges with recruitment and retention of staff and recognised that this strategic graduate programme could be the right solution.

Thinking more broadly, Depaul Ireland is also trailblasing a new way forward for other charities, helping to future proof the sector by bringing in new talent. Young people are increasingly demonstrating more socially conscious attitudes and can contribute fresh, modern, and sustainable ideas.

Ecclesiastical Ireland is proudly part of the Benefact Group (benefactgroup.com), a group of specialist financial services owned by Benefact Trust. The available profits from the group are donated to the Trust to fund churches and charities, like Depaul, across the UK and Ireland.

Ecclesiastical Ireland is a strong ambassador for Depaul Ireland, partnering with the charity in 2023 and 2024 to volunteer time, undertake fundraising, and raise awareness of the charity’s inspiring work.

David Lane, Managing Director for Ecclesiastical Ireland, said: “We feel privileged to support Depaul Ireland’s work through our own efforts and as part of Benefact Trust’s giving. Homelessness is a growing issue In Ireland and Depaul is taking the lead in tackling the challenge – helping over 7,455 individuals and 763 families last year.

“The graduate programme is a testament to the charity’s innovative and forward-thinking approach and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact on the graduates and Depaul itself.”

Helen Gray, Benefact Trust Director, said: “As a grant-making Trust, we’ve built strong relationships with the charities we’re supporting, and understand the struggles they’re facing when it comes to recruiting and retaining staff in such a challenging climate.

“Depaul Ireland’s Graduate Programme is exciting on so many levels. It’s a fantastic way to bring in new talent to Depaul; it’s offering young people that first step in their career; and it’s an investment in the future of the charity sector. Overall, an inspirational programme that sets a powerful example for other charities to follow.”

To find out more about Depaul Ireland’s work, visit: https://ie.depaulcharity.org/