Breaking Through CLG

Breaking Through: Supporting Those Who Support Ireland’s Most Vulnerable

Every day across Ireland, people work tirelessly to support young care leavers, vulnerable young people, and those at risk of suicide or self‑harm. Standing behind them is Breaking Through, a small charity with a big heart.

For 26 years, Breaking Through has quietly and consistently strengthened the people on the front line — aftercare workers, youth workers, mental health practitioners, community professionals and volunteers — ensuring they never have to do their work alone.

Strengthening Communities Through Training

Breaking Through coordinates suicide intervention and prevention training as part of Ireland’s national strategy, Connecting for Life across various HSE areas and has built a trusted reputation for quality, care and attention to detail in delivering this essential work.

Training programmes give communities the tools to recognise warning signs, offer help and connect people to support. Participants consistently praise the training as “invaluable”, “practical”, “life‑changing” and “essential for anyone supporting vulnerable people”.

In 2025 alone, the charity coordinated 281 suicide prevention and self-harm awareness training events, equipping 5,213 participants to be suicide-alert.

Details about free training can be found here  www.nosp.ie/training

Supporting Professionals Who Work With Care Leavers

Breaking Through manages the Irish Aftercare Network, which connects more than 700 members across over 100 organisations.
These members are the professionals who support young people leaving State care — including aftercare workers, youth workers, housing workers and others involved in helping care leavers move towards independent adulthood.

The Network gives them a space to learn from one another, share challenges, and stay up to date — all with the aim of improving outcomes for young people leaving care in Ireland.

Advocating for Better Outcomes

Breaking Through remains deeply committed to influencing policy and advocating for improved supports for care‑experienced young people. Through the Irish Aftercare Network, the organisation has contributed to key national conversations on youth homelessness, aftercare standards, housing access and the lived experience of care leavers.

Recently, representatives met with the Minister for Children and the Ombudsman for Children, and have a meeting scheduled with the Minister for Housing to highlight urgent issues around aftercare supports, data gaps and housing pathways — ensuring the voices of both young people and frontline workers continue to be heard at the highest levels of government.

At the Irish Aftercare Network Conference, co-ordinated by Breaking Through on 9 October 2026, delegates provided exceptionally positive feedback. More than half of attendees (51%) awarded the conference a perfect score of 10 out of 10, with an overall average rating of 9.1 out of 10.

Delegate Voices

“ The care and heart is palpable in the room from the attention to detail and comfort placed in the planning to the speakers and content.”

"I always get something from this conference."

"A fantastic annual event. Professionals caring for professionals."

"The Irish Aftercare Network Conference is an event I have come to look forward to each year. It's like a community of love and support."

“This conference reinforced my love for this work.”

“I always love this conference – feeling hopeful, positive & motivated about my work

A Small Team Making a Big Impact

At the heart of Breaking Through’s work is a committed team of just five staff members, working hand in hand with a voluntary nine‑member board.

As one board member noted, Breaking Through’s strengths lie in its ‘professionalism, compassion and dedication’ — qualities that define the team and shape its nationwide impact.

A Charity with Heart — And a National Impact

Breaking Through may not be a household name, but its impact touches communities in every corner of the country. Through training, advocacy, connection and care, the organisation strengthens the people who support Ireland’s most vulnerable — creating a ripple effect.

Breaking Through are the proud winners of a Good Governance Award 2022 and were shortlisted in 2023 and 2025.