Dublin youth services awarded nearly €50,000 for creative projects

Two Dublin youth services have been awarded a collective €49,350 through the Arts Council’s Youth Ensembles Scheme as part of the Arts Council’s programme to develop youth arts in Ireland

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 15:45, 18 Aug 2026 View Image Droichead Youth Theatre's 'Critical Miss', directed by Christina Matthews (Image: Bill Woodland)

Young people in Dublin’s North East Inner City and Lucan are set to benefit from grants of nearly €50,000 aimed at empowering youth.

Two Dublin youth services have been awarded a collective €49,350 through the Arts Council’s Youth Ensembles Scheme as part of the Arts Council’s programme to develop youth arts in Ireland. Swan Youth Service in North East Inner City Dublin has been awarded €25,000, while Crosscare Lucan Youth Service has been awarded €24,350.

Swan Youth Service aims to ensure young people live in an equal, inclusive society where they feel connected to their own community. They offer services that help ensure youth have control over their own destinies and can reach their full potential.

Whether through learning a musical instrument, career guidance and youth employment, or youth diversion programmes, Swan offers secondary school students a chance to engage with youth workers or simply have a safe space to hang out with friends. By advocating on behalf of young people, Swan is particularly focussed on the most vulnerable, marginalised, socially excluded and risks members of the community.

Crosscare focuses on helping people and families when facing difficult life challenges and provides assistance to those experiencing homelessness , migrants and refugees, as well as offers youth services. Their youth-led programmes respond to the needs of young people from the age of 10 to 24.

Programmes include Crosscare counselling, drug and alcohol supports , diversion projects, gambling supports, Travellers youth services and more. Crosscare’s Lucan services offers support to vulnerable young people in the area and works together with local community groups.

This year, a total of €246,439 has been awarded to 13 groups across Ireland through the Youth Ensemble Scheme. By centring young people in the creative process, this scheme affords opportunities for confidence building, developing leadership skills and building community connections.

Research has shown that access to and participation in the arts is an essential part of childhood which improves all aspects of children’s lives. The arts can provide a safe and inviting space for children and young people, where they have choice and agency, can develop their ideas, interests and skills, and encounter new experiences and possibilities.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan highlighted the positive effect of participation in the arts on the health and well-being of people of all ages. He stated: “For children and young people, who are at a crucial developmental stage of their lives, access to the arts is of particular importance.

“It is vital that we provide younger generations with safe spaces to explore and expand their creative abilities and collaborate with their peers in a meaningful way. This scheme is one of the many foundational supports that help to embed art and creativity in communities across the country.”

The Youth Ensemble Scheme is one of a number of Arts Council schemes that support the development of youth arts in Ireland. In addition, the Arts Council is also a partner in multiple State initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people.

The Arts Council states they will continue to work with national and local government, and local arts infrastructure, to support partnerships in the areas of early childhood, education and youth arts. Chair of the Arts Council Maura McGrath said: “It is my pleasure to announce this year’s recipients of the Youth Ensembles Scheme. This scheme is particularly important in that it empowers young people to take a leading role in creative projects.

“By providing young people across the country with opportunities to participate in all stages of the creative process, this investment helps our mission of ensuring that the arts are accessible to all.”

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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