Young Lives at Risk Research Project

The OCO’s Young Lives at Risk research project aims to identify and address gaps in policy and services for Ireland’s most vulnerable children and young people.

The 12-month project which began in 2025 focuses on the experiences of children as young as 10 who are exposed to adversities such as family breakdown, poverty, educational exclusion, criminal and sexual exploitation, care involvement, addiction, homelessness, and repeated crises in mental health.

Children in these situations can often slip between services and miss out on the help they need. They are also at risk of getting caught up gangs and the criminal justice system. Evidence shows that these young people face a real risk of premature death or lasting harm if systems continue to fail them.

Over the course of a year, the OCO will carry out consultations with children and young people in these situations, which will inform the development of a joined-up action plan that brings together different agencies and services to improve supports and services.

Young Lives at Risk is inspired by the UK’s but shaped for Ireland.

Our Goal

The project aims to ensure that children and young people who are most at risk are seen, supported, and given the best possible chance to thrive.

It will do this by:

• Creating a report and action plan with clear recommendations for early identification and support for young lives at risk;
• Highlighting the views and voices of the young people themselves, showing what life feels like inside the system and ensuring that solutions are grounded in what matters to them;
• Building a clear picture of both the individual life stories and the wider structural barriers that have led to poor outcomes.

Through this work, Young Lives at Risk seeks to shift Ireland away from firefighting crises towards early intervention, prevention, trauma-informed practice, and long-term, joined-up support.

What will the project do?

• Review research and evidence about how early adversity (sometimes called ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences) impacts family life, education, health, and wellbeing across a child’s life.
• Examine how their rights are impacted across the lifecycle using a children’s rights framework.
• Talk directly with young people who have faced these challenges to hear what worked and what didn’t for them.
• Engage with professionals to understand barriers in the system.
• Learn from best practice, including positive examples from other countries.
• Publish an action plan in 2026 with clear recommendations for government, agencies,

Who are these young people?

• Early Childhood (0–5): Some children begin life in very vulnerable circumstances – experiencing neglect, poverty, domestic violence, or parental addiction and mental health difficulties. Without early family and community supports, these experiences can disrupt healthy development and lead to lasting difficulties.
• Primary Years (6–12): As they grow, some children show signs of distress through poor school attendance or undiagnosed learning and behavioural needs. Families may face unstable housing, poverty, or parental imprisonment. Too often, access to education or mental health supports is inconsistent, leaving children without the help they need.
• Early Adolescence (13–15): For many, this stage brings a turning point. Young people may disengage from school, experiment with substances, or become homeless. They are at greater risk of exploitation – through violence, grooming, or unsafe relationships – yet often find themselves excluded from services because they don’t meet strict thresholds for support.
• Late Adolescence (16–18): Older teenagers can experience multiple placement breakdowns, detention, or special care. This is the age when risks are highest for self-harm, overdose, or suicide, and when fragmented systems leave them moving between services with no clear lead agency.
• Transition to Adulthood (18+): Once they turn 18, many young people suddenly lose the little support they had. Without step-down care or ongoing therapeutic help, they may fall into homelessness, unemployment, or repeated cycles of trauma.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to learn more about the project you can email us at: younglives@oco.ie

 

 

 

• Samhna 2025
• Cineál: Tuairisciú
• Ábhar: Leanaí faoi chúram,