Minister meets youngsters who made the Smart move with Garda youth diversion scheme
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JLO Catherine Cronin, Sgt Edel Dugdale, Minister McEntee, Sgt Elaine Long, and Superintendent Martina Noonan at the event to mark 20h years of the SMART project in Trim.Image 2 of 2
Mary Gormley, Crann Support Group Board Member; Marie Daly, CEO Crann Support Group CLG/Founder Member of SMART Project; Martin Daly, founder member of SMART Project; Minister for Justice Helen McEntee; Kevin Martin, Project Secretary/Founder member SMART Project; Mary Hibbits, Youthreach Trim/Committee member of Project; Caitrín McGrath, South Meath School Completion/ Committee member of Project; Cathreen Sherrock, Project Manager.Young people who had gone through the SMART Project, a youth diversion programme based in Trim spoke of the positive impact it had on their lives as it marked it's 20th anniversary.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee was special guest at the event in the Castle Arch Hotel which was also attended by Superintendent Martina Noonan and community policing members from the Trim and Kells Garda Districts, as well as founder member Marie Daly, who is CEO of their employer, the Crann Support Group, as well as Crann board members.
The SMART Project is a youth crime prevention initiative to divert young people who have been involved in anti-social behaviour in anti-social and/or criminal behaviours.
"We aim to bring about conditions whereby the behavioural patterns of young people towards law and order can develop and mature through positive interventions and interaction with the project," explained Project Manager Cathreen Sherrock.
At the event, Ms Sherrock spoke of their appreciation of the support they receive from Crann Support Group, community policing, juvenile liaison officers, community based projects, Meath County Council and voluntary organisations in the area but also added that the "project would not be possible without the input and support of our families and young people both past and present over the last 20 years".
Minister McEntee acknowledged the importance of the project and all youth justice projects around the country and spent time speaking to the young people and their families.
The SMART project has an office in Haggard Street and has expanded in recent years into the Kells District area. There are four people employed with the project-two youth justice workers, a family support worker and a project manager.
The majority of referrals tend to come from Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers, school completion officers, education welfare officers, community gardai, social services and schools.
A worker will meet with the young person and their family for an assessment and if they are deemed eligible for the project, they are assigned a youth justice worker who get to know them and provide the required interventions.
They identify any interests that the young person might like to get involved in such as cooking, hair and make-up, beauty, sports, DJ-ing, for example. They can also sign up to do the Gaisce President’s Award.
They also organise day trips and outings such as go-karting, or trips to Tayto Park. SMART has been involved with the local tidy towns group over the years as well.
Youth Justice Worker Mark Molloy said the project has generally been very successful in working with the young people. "We have had repeat offenders who have gone on to not offending at all after engaging with the project.
"It is also about positive guidance to build self-esteem and self-confidence to take responsibility for their own decisions."