Dec 16, 2022 | News & Events
The Coalition Conversations was hosted by Mental Health Reform held on 8th December 2022 in the Wood Quay Venue, Dublin.
The aim of the event was to celebrate the work of the mental health sector in 2022. Discussions centred around three themes:
- Housing and Mental Health – the case for change, moderated by Rory Hearne, Assistant Professor of Social Policy, NUIMaynooth
- Protecting the Mental Health of Future Generations, moderated by Berni Smyth, CEO of KDYS
- Responsive Mental Health in an era of Global Displacement, moderated by Roisin Clarke, interim CEO of Mental Health Reform.
Guest speakers who engaged in the discussion on the future of youth mental health which was moderated by Berni Smyth, CEO of KDYS were Dr Niall Muldoon – the Ombudsman for Children, John Keogh – CEO of the ISPCC, Bernie Keogh – Executive Director of Lust for Life and Niamh Fennell – Youth Ambassador with Jigsaw.
This insightful discussion examined learning gained during the pandemic, the need to ensure that mental health services for young people are age-appropriate and coordinated and panellists shared the view that services need to fit young people not the other way around.
Panellists also spoke about the value of safe spaces for young people to meet and early intervention and prevention for young people including teaching young people to recognise and communicate about their emotions from a young age.
Dec 15, 2022 | News & Events
Massive congratulations to Nicole who won the Youth Work Ireland Nollaig 2022 Christmas Card Competition (category 15-18 years). Enjoy your prize 
Dec 8, 2022 | News & Events
A big thank you to all the Schools, Youthreach, NLN, Resilience & LCA groups for attending the KDYS Youth Information Annual event in KDYS Tralee on the 7th December.
KDYS Youth Information is a free confidential information service for young people aged 12-25 years and covers the areas of employment, education, health and wellbeing, rights and entitlements, sports, travel, leisure and European opportunities.
KDYS Youth Information is available across County Kerry with the main KDYS Youth Information hubs in KDYS Tralee and KDYS Killarney.
KDYS Youth information hosted a Youth Information event for young people in KDYS Tralee on 7th December 10am-1:20pm and are hosting the event again in KDYS Killarney on the 15th December 10am-3pm. Both events will be followed by a networking event for those engaging or working with young people, in Tralee from 2-3pm and Killarney 3-4pm.
This event is to provide young people with information and highlight resources which are available to them. To inform young people about the different opportunities they have within County Kerry and to give service providers and agencies an opportunity to continue to build strong interagency links and develop new connections.
The following groups/organisations have participated on the 7th and will be participating on the 15th:
- KDYS Youth Information,
- KDYS UBU,
- KDYS Youth Clubs,
- KDYS Human Resources
- Jigsaw Kerry,
- EURES,
- Eimear, Irish Student studying in Europe
- Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership
- Kerry Comhairle na nÓg
- Kerry County Council Arts
- HSE – DASH – Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Health
- KETB – Kerry College of Further Education,
- National Learning Network,
- KETB – Music Generation Kerry,
- An Garda Síochána,
- Apricity: A Wellbeing Initiative. Sharon Roache
- Tara O’Donoghue Photography
- Animal Roadshow
Dec 8, 2022 | News & Events
Please see images attached for KDYS Youth Information Annual Youth Information Event Brochure
Oct 28, 2022 | Education, News & Events
KDYS Youth Information delivers a ‘KDYS Transfer Programme’ to 6th class students across Kerry. The programme aims to support young people in their transition into secondary school.
KDYS have been delivering the KDYS Transfer Programmes to schools across the county for over 15 years and have impacted on more than 35 schools annually since 2021. The programme was researched and produced by KDYS youth workers, utilising both internal and external resources and was reviewed and updated in 2022 by the then 6th class students from several schools across the county. The programme is delivered in a fun, informative and interactive manner.
KDYS Transfer Programme is made up of four sessions delivered weekly using a workbook. . This workbook will remain with the student at the end of the programme. Each session focuses on a different aspect of secondary school. The programme aims to reduce anxiety associated with moving onto second level education. Young people are encouraged to ask questions, to identify their concerns and expectations. To get to know as much as they can about their new school prior to moving in September.
In 2024 KDYS Youth Information introduced a pilot peer education programme, to enable 4th year students to deliver the programme to 6th class students. The programme has been piloted in Castleisland and Killorglin. The Transition Year students in Castleisland Community College and Killorglin Community College have trained to deliver the KDYS Transfer Programme to three primary schools in Castleisland and one primary school in Killorglin.
This programme provides TY students with the opportunity to gain additional skills and to share their knowledge of life in secondary school with 6th class students. The 6th class students in turn get to build positive relationships with the TY students, providing them with a readymade support network when they move into secondary school in September.
May 12, 2022 | News & Events
The Board of KDYS is delighted to announce the appointment Ms. Berni Smyth as the new CEO of the organisation. Berni will join KDYS from Tusla and will take up her appointment on June 7th, 2022.
Berni comes from Galway. She has extensive experience of providing supports to children and families in the voluntary and community sector starting out in her career as a youth worker with Galway Youth Federation in the early 1990’s. She has won numerous awards for innovation and for her contribution to the sector – most recently receiving an Irish Woman of the Year Award in 2020 for public service.
Berni comes to KDYS with over 25 years experience of working with children and families in a leadership capacity. She has a specialist interest in the rights of minority ethnic children and intensive family support evidenced through her direct work in the community, her research and as an associate lecturer with the Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway. Her published research and models of best practice have been presented internationally. She has provided consultation and facilitation services to statutory and voluntary agencies in areas such as strategic planning, conflict resolution, child protection and welfare and youth participation.
For the past five years, Berni has worked with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency leading out on national and regional initiatives including the national Meitheal training programme for both the voluntary and community sector. In her most recent role, she was responsible for Service Experience and Feedback for the West region, project-managing several national programmes to promote learning from the experience of service users.
Berni has enhanced her leadership and governance skills through her voluntary contribution to a wide range of Boards and committees and as an expert advisor in the international arena. She was the Chairperson of the Irish Refugee Council (2016 – 2021) and previously led Macnas International Street Spectacle through a highly successful change management programme.
Berni is a qualified secondary school teacher, has a Masters in Family Support and most recently completed a PostGraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution. She is delighted to be joining KDYS.
Guest speakers who engaged in the discussion on the future of youth mental health which was moderated by Berni Smyth, CEO of KDYS were Dr Niall Muldoon – the Ombudsman for Children, John Keogh – CEO of the ISPCC, Bernie Keogh – Executive Director of Lust for Life and Niamh Fennell – Youth Ambassador with Jigsaw.
