CAIM Empowers staff seized the opportunity in 2024 to attend a wide variety of events via EU funding, including the Salto Youth Inclusion and Diversity Forum in Belgium, which brought together 130 people all committed to ensuring participation is available to ALL including those with fewer opportunities, a truly powerful and inspiring event. We also enjoyed visiting Finland to develop partnerships for young people who are Not in Employment, Education of Training (NEET) and to Austria to work with youth workers wanting to foster greater inclusion of people with disabilities, where we were delighted to share our own training materials. We look forward to many more exciting and engaging opportunities going forward to learn more about the wide range of programs that can be funded by the EU, connecting with the team at Ireland’s National Agency, Leargas, to identify how to bring EU Goals to life.

CAIM Empowers is committed to bringing those opportunities to life and has been delighted to be involved in the development of various projects and programs and has collaborated with Redial Partnership in Dublin as part of their amazing work on the EU Funded NEXUS Project, and with Cavan Autism Centre EU Microgrant ART FEST event. We are also thrilled to have our Director of Services, Faye Hayden, act as a coach to two newly approved European Solidarity Corps Projects.

The European Union and many associated countries are our oyster, and they are YOURS TOO. If you would be interested in collaborating with CAIM Empowers to:

Consult on the design, development, and delivery of your project ideas and organisation goals, including end to end project management support.
Work with our highly experienced staff as a coach on you European Solidarity Corps or Youth Participation Project.
As a project partner for a wide range of projects that include KA210 Small Scale Partnerships, KA220 Collaboration Partnerships or CERV Funded projects.
As an SME in Youth Work for marginalised and minority groups.
As a Neurodiversity SME and Training Provider.
As a research partner.

Or just for a chat about the approach of CAIM Empowers as part of a community of practice, then do please get in contact via our book an appointment function in the toolbar or via email at caimempowers@gmail.com

Our EU PIF document and testimonials are available on request.

This is a 4 - 6 hour program (depending on capacity of the participant to tolerate sensory/emotional inputs), that can be delivered in person or online. Available to Target group C.
This program is delivered by young neurodivergent people aged 17+. The program is designed to assist ND OG to understand, accept, celebrate and encourage themselves to value the person they are and connect to the exceptional community they are a part of, and is driven with particular attention to key focuses 2 and 3 of the Eire Og National Policy Framework and the 11 EU Youth Goals as part of EU YouthStrategy.
Sessions can be run at the same time and in the same building as CASS Program Session 4 to assist with facilitating greater attendance.

4-hour program, that can be delivered in person or online.
Available to target groups A, B and C.

The program includes a brief session on the science of Neurodivergence, then explores it’s impact, strengths and challenges; the medical and social models of Neurodivergence; understanding ND traits and their impact in day to day life, e.g. stimming, hyper focus, special interests, the additional 3
senses, understanding the importance of routine and structure.
On request ‘Dad only’ sessions are available.

20 hour program delivered over 4 months, in person and online, however can be delivered fully online if necessary. Suitable for target groups A and B, using a toolkit framework.
This support program will be customised to attendees needs, and is offered to families experiencing moderate to higher needs requiring more intensive targeted support:
Session One – 2 -3 hours Introduction and Needs assessment (90mins-2 hours for an individual, 2-3 hours for a couple)
Session Two and Three – 2 x 2 Hour Online Sessions – customised content to meet the needs
identified of participants via session 1.
Session Four – 1 x 6 hour In person Session (this can be offered online)
Capacity building approaches, using key modules, supports and resources from the CAIM comprehensive toolkit framework, adapted to suit the needs of participant in the session. Empowering participants to change their expectations, attitude and approaches to their family / support setting in a way that fosters responsibility, accountability, and celebration of difference, reconciling the needs of the Neurodivergent child/teen and the program participant.

Session Five – within 60 Days of session four 1 x 2 hour Online Group Session, a safe and non-
judgmental space, exploring / reflecting on the situations that have been experienced since the
previous sessions and identifying what worked, didn’t work and building a plan for the future.
Session Six – within 90 Days of session four 1 x 2 hour Online Group Session, exploring the
situations that have been experienced since the previous sessions and identifying what worked, didn’t work and reviewing the future changes likely to happen as the child / young person goes through various ages and stages, and planning and preparing for this.
Sessions Seven and Eight 2 x 2 hour facilitated sessions in the ‘Online Tribe’ Community with other
parents/carers/support staff – these ‘Online Tribe’ sessions will be established to connect participants
to people experiencing similar challenges, with a view to building their ongoing support and self advocacy.

This is a 4–8-hour program designed for Target Group B.
With a Core Focus on ‘what is wrong FOR the child not WITH the child’ the LEARN sessions encourage and empower support professionals to think differently about the children and teens who think differently, that are in their care. Recognising the importance of a safe environment, where everyone is valued, is at the core of success. Empowering and equipping program participants to deliver on this in their professional capacity.

This is a free support program offered by CAIM that supports relevant organisations in accessing EU funding in conjunction with Leargas https://www.leargas.ie/ to ensure the inclusion of ND young people and youth works supporting them in the development of EU Participation in line with the EU Youth Strategy and EU Goals. This includes support in the design, application, and delivery of key EU Youth programs under Erasmus+, for example:

- EU Discovery Inclusion

- Youth Exchanges

- European Solidarity Corps

- Youth Worker Mobility

- KA 1, 2 and 3 Projects

EU – 4 - ND also supports accessing of training programs via SALTO-YOUTH

BISHOPP Is aimed at working with all key stakeholders in the whole school community, working towards inclusive environments that support young people experiencing Emotional Based School Avoidance, School Anxiety and School Placement Breakdowns. This program brings together components of all of CAIMs programs, to

a. Equip all stakeholders with the skills and mindset needed to help young people survive and thrive throughout their educational journey, using bespoke approaches to the unique needs identified for each student.

b. Identify emerging need and young people at risk of experiencing barriers to school attendance, and at risk of becoming NEET, creating network of SMEs across the ND community including ND people, parents to ND people, educators experiencing similar challenges, and professionals in key education provision and youth services roles, for example Educational Welfare Officers, CYPSC Co-ordinators, ETB Youth Officers / Inclusion Managers, and Youth Workers in key diversity and inclusion projects, including UBU Scheme Targeted Youth Work Projects and TYESI Target Youth Employability Scheme Initiative participants.

c. Exploring with key stakeholders alternative education provision both in Ireland and Internationally, driving forward innovation opportunities for pathways to education completion and lifelong learning methodology.

What we offer:

> EU For All

>ND Og

>BEGIN - Beginners Guide to the Impact of Neurodiversity

>CASS – Coaching, Advocacy, Signposting, Support

>LEARN – Leading Empowering Alternatives Required for Neurodivergents

>EU-4-ND

>BISHOPP – Building Inclusive Schools Helping Opportunities for Participation and Progress.