BREAKING THROUGH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice Chairperson & Aftercare Worker, Tusla
Ciaran Kenny qualified from Athlone Institute of Technology with an Hons Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care in 2004. Ciaran has worked with vulnerable young people for over twenty years both in residential care as well as aftercare. During his time working with Don Bosco Care, Ciaran founded both the Don Bosco Care football team and activity centre. Ciaran is currently employed as an Aftercare Worker with Tusla, based in Dublin North Central, working closely with young people both in care and accessing aftercare, supporting their transition from various care settings, and assisting in the coordination and delivery of their individual aftercare plans.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member and Aftercare Worker, Focus Ireland
Daniel has worked with Focus Ireland across various services since 2008 after graduating from DIT with a social care degree. He has been an aftercare worker since 2017, working collaboratively with Tusla and other stakeholders to meet the needs of care-leavers in Dublin North City. Daniel also has a private practice as a psychotherapist and graduated with an MA from DBS in 2020. As both an aftercare worker and a psychotherapist, Daniel places the relationship with all of his clients at the centre of his work, and he is passionate about advocacy, equality, dignity and working collaboratively to improve the outcomes for the most vulnerable in our society.
Darlene is a confident, honest and hardworking administrator with many years' experience in various organisations. She possesses effective organisational skills and proficiency with administration and practical tasks.
She is a quick learner who can absorb new ideas and can communicate clearly and effectively with everyone she deals with.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member & Assistant Professor in Social Work, Trinity College, Dublin
Eavan is an Assistant Professor in Social Work in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Trinity College Dublin, a Higher Diploma in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin, and a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College Dublin. Eavan's PhD explored the educational pathways of adults with care experience in Ireland using a life course perspective. Prior to joining the School of Social Work & Social Policy, Eavan worked in the homelessness, housing, and mental health sectors in both Dublin and Toronto, Canada. Eavan also spent two years working with Practice and Research Together in Toronto where she was heavily involved in supporting staff in child welfare agencies across Canada to use evidence-informed practices in their work. Eavan teaches Introduction to Social Research on the Masters in Social Work, the Masters in Child Protection and Welfare, and the Masters in Social Policy and Practice. Eavan also teaches Human Development in Social Contexts on the Masters in Social Work course and Psychology for Social Work on the Bachelor in Social Studies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member & Advocacy Officer, EPIC
Edel holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care from Sligo I.T. She has extensive experience working in various Children's Residential Centres for over 9 years as a Social Care Worker, Acting Social Care Leader/Deputy Manager and Acting Manager for a period .Edel was the first established Aftercare Worker in the then HSE Dublin South City Area and developed the Aftercare service (Now part of TUSLA Dublin South Central). Edel joined the team in EPIC - ‘Empowering People in Care' in January 2017 as an Advocacy Officer.
Fiona has over 20 years accounts experience covering both practice and industry. Her role at Breaking Through is to ensure that all financial records are maintained in a timely and efficient manner and in line with legislation. She assists and supports Yvonne in sourcing new funding and supplying existing funders with full financial and traceability back-up.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Gerry has been on the Breaking Through Board since it was first established. Employed directly by Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to co-ordinate the network of Youthreach and the VTOS programme by providing direct ongoing support to the key stakeholders associated with both programmes.
Gerry's role involves working at a strategic level within the Department, but also possesses a broad range of managerial experience of managing and leading EU funded based projects over the last 20 years. Gerry has a strong commitment to supporting young people and adults who are experiencing a whole range of educational challenges and endeavours to be a voice for these within the various departments.
Gerry has represented the Department at many different fora at local, regional and national levels.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member, Facilitator & Nurse
Mary has a background in Psychiatric Nursing and worked as a registered nurse for 36 years. During this time she trained in Psychotherapy doing a Masters in Psychotherapy and Post Grad Diploma in Systemic Family Therapy. She also holds a Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. She holds a level 6 QQI qualification in Training delivery and evaluation. As a result of her vast experience and expertise she has created and facilitated group and individual programmes for stress and anxiety in both personal and work related environments. She also facilitates Programmes for National Office of Suicide Prevention, namely, SafeTalk and ASIST as well as presenting Wellbeing programmes for Mental Health Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member and Head of Youth Services, Focus Ireland
Neil Forsyth has worked for the homeless and housing charity Focus Ireland for nearly 20 years. He is responsible for all Focus Ireland's services for young people, including its aftercare services, under-18 residential services, day services, mediation and therapeutic services and youth housing projects. Part of his role involves coordinating the implementation of Focus Ireland's current strategy, a key element of which is the prevention of youth homelessness. He has also contributed to the development of a range of national policies, including the National Aftercare Policy and the government's recent Youth Homelessness Strategy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Member & Aftercare Worker, Crosscare
Sharon is an Aftercare Worker with Crosscare and has worked in this role since 2006 to present. She has worked in partnership with the Unaccompanied Minors, HSE team, offering them a day programme and assisting them with their education and sourcing funding for third level. Sharon started her career working with children in a nursery setting for ten years; she then went on to work in Smylys, Monkstown Residential for a year working with both boys and girls under the care of the HSE. Following on from this position Sharon worked with Home Again (formerly Los Angeles), residential unit for boys, she held this position for seven years. Sharon has a degree in Social Care Practice. During the course of her career Sharon has supervised DIT students on placement.
Reporting to the Board, Yvonne is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the organisation, developing and implementing the strategic plan.
Yvonne is a great ambassador for the organisation and its values whilst leading and developing a dedicated, ambitious staff team. A strategic thinker who can work collaboratively with the Board to realise Breaking Through's vision. Valuing both good governance and best practice in her role, Yvonne is highly organised and self-motivated and enjoys a fast-paced environment with a wide & varied remit.