Schools
Inspiring the Future Ireland is a careers programme that helps students build a foundation for career success
School
Free Careers Programmes
Exclusively to schools in South County Dublin
Our mission is to offer young people from our community the inspiration, motivation, knowledge and skills to help them achieve their career potential.
Research shows that children as young as five years old form stereotypical views about the jobs people do based on gender, social background and ethnicity. Inspiring the Future Ireland aims to raise young people’s aspirations and instil in them the belief that they can achieve anything they put their minds to.
By meeting volunteers from the world of work, students are introduced to a variety of role models which can have a positive impact on their relationship to education and, as a result, on their future potential.
Inspiring the Future Ireland works with students, teachers, and volunteers across South County Dublin by making connections, building relationships and improving outcomes by helping young people recognise and reach their potential.
Currently our project offers volunteer visits, career development workshops, STEM workshops, work placements with leading employers, university access events and themed events.
Did You Know?
Inspiring the Future (ITF) is a free programme for primary and secondary school students across D.E.I.S schools (primarily) in South County Dublin created to broaden their horizons. It aims to challenge stereotypes and address unconscious biases that can limit young people’s potential.
Inspiring the Future connects students with volunteers, from a huge range of jobs. It engages students with the practical applications of their learning, overcoming barriers in their future and learning more about careers and pathways to get there.
Volunteers have signed up to share with young people their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm about what they do at work and how they got there. They attend your school to inspire your students and help them to make more-informed subjects and future career choices.
It’s easy to sign up to Inspire the Future. If you work at a school, you can simply Register here Pledge form | Inspiring the Future Ireland
Primary Schools
Interactive Thematic Events
Our interactive thematic events offer students a hands-on, inspiring way to explore the world of work. These events connect schools with professionals from a wide range of sectors, with a focus on STEM, through focused, engaging sessions that bring careers to life. These events take place in person and are tailored to suit different age groups and school needs. They also include events around biodiversity and sustainability.
Find Your Inspiration
This programme offers everything you need to run a careers module with your students. This FREE programme offers teacher training and a ‘Find Your Inspiration’ Pack that includes; 8 lesson plans, careers tools and puzzles, games, and careers maps unique to South Dublin County Dublin, all with the goal of motivating and inspiring your students!
Careers in your Community
Volunteer speakers from a wide variety of sectors will meet with your students to engage in a fun and interactive discussion about their career journey, pathways to their type of work and their sector in general.
We’ll do all the work to organise the sessions.
Secondary Schools
Our programs welcome students from TY, 4th 5th and 6th Year
Work Placements
Inspiring the Future Ireland is on a mission to empower young individuals in South Dublin. Our goal is to connect them with Ireland’s top employers, offering invaluable experiences. By engaging with these industry leaders, we aim to ignite a spark of inspiration and motivation, encouraging them to explore diverse career paths within these exciting sectors.
Through these placements, we strive to instill in young minds the belief that they belong in these remarkable workplaces. We firmly believe that with determination and dedication, they can carve out a place for themselves in these fantastic industries. Join us in paving the way for a bright and prosperous future for the youth of South Dublin.
University Access Events
Welcome to an exciting year of access events! Join us for talks, activities, and tours at some of Ireland’s prestigious universities. To get a taste of the vibrant experiences we offer, check out our event highlight on YouTube.
Careers Talk
Inspiring the Future Ireland has been thoroughly developed to ensure the best opportunities are provided to young people within the South County Dublin area! Currently our project offers secondary school students career development workshops, unique work experiences with leading employers, university Access events and thematic interactive development events!
What Our Hapрy Students and Teachers have to Say
- Teachers
- Students
I think it was important that all pathways into the careers were represented e.g. university degrees / apprenticeships etc. It allowed the children to get an understanding that there are many different ways to achieve a career they dream of.
Teachers
Children enjoyed learning about careers they didn't know about and how to get there - especially nontraditional routes
Teachers
I feel that after this interview today that I am more confident in this now going forward.
5th Year Student
Confidence is something I struggle with. Learning how to write a CV and having a mock interview has helped me learn to prepare for these.
5th Year Student
I enjoyed hearing about peoples journeys & what they did before their current job because it shows you don't need to choose immediately.
4th Year Student
My favourite part was learning about electricians, plumbers, engineering etc.. & hearing the true life exp of people.
4th Year Student
University visit - I liked the tour because I got to see the campus and got to know about the history of TCD.
4th Year Student
University Visit - Before I attended this event I didn't want to go to college but now I have more information on what I could do in college and I found the workshops very interesting and I might want to do things like that in the future.
4th Year Student
college visit - I am more confident about the future because I have heard the good experiences of college life and the careers that it leads into.
4th Year Student
My favourite part of the placement was meeting people who work in the establishment and learn what it’s like to work there.