On 19th June 2026, Céim ar Chéim, Moyross Youth Academy, officially launched Project Edge Away – Smart Choices, Young Voices, an innovative, evidence-informed weapons awareness and community safety initiative designed to reduce youth offending, prevent knife-related violence, and support safer communities across Ireland.
The project was funded through the Department of Justice Community Safety Innovation Fund, supported by the Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) through the Healthy Ireland Fund, and the Probation Services.
Unlike many awareness programmes, Project Edge Away was developed through extensive research, stakeholder consultation, and direct engagement with young people. The programme was co-designed with the voices and lived experiences of young people at its core, ensuring that the content, messaging, and learning resources reflect the realities facing young people today.
Prior to development, research was undertaken to examine the factors contributing to weapon carrying, youth violence, and anti-social behaviour. The findings informed the design of the programme and ensured that all interventions were evidence-based and responsive to local needs.
The initiative has already been successfully piloted with young people engaged through Youth Diversion Projects and Probation-funded services across Limerick. As part of the pilot programme, participants completed pre- and post-programme attitudinal surveys, providing valuable insights into attitudes, beliefs, perceptions of risk, and understanding of the consequences associated with carrying weapons. The evaluation demonstrated positive changes in awareness, knowledge, decision-making, and attitudes towards weapon carrying and community safety.
Speaking at the launch, Elaine Slattery, Manager, said:
“Project Edge Away is built on a simple but powerful belief: young people are not merely recipients of services—they are experts in their own lives. This project represents a significant step forward in how we address youth violence and weapon-related harm. What makes this initiative unique is that it has been informed by research, shaped by the experiences of young people, tested in practice, and evaluated through measurable outcomes. We have listened to young people, learned from their experiences, and developed a programme that empowers them to make safer, smarter choices.”
The programme supports the Department of Justice’s commitment to tackling knife-related violence through prevention, diversion, early intervention, and community safety measures. It aligns with the objectives of Ireland’s Youth Justice Strategy, which recognises the importance of early intervention, collaborative working, and evidence-based approaches to reducing offending behaviour and improving outcomes for young people.
A key strength of Project Edge Away is its potential for national expansion. The project has produced a comprehensive suite of resources that can be implemented consistently across communities throughout Ireland. These include:
- A detailed Trainer’s Manual to support programme delivery.
- A Young People’s Resource designed to engage and educate participants.
- A Parent and Guardian Resource to strengthen family awareness and support.
- A Practitioner Resource for professionals working with young people.
- Evaluation tools and programme materials informed by research and pilot delivery.
- The newly launched Edge Away Website, providing a central hub for information, resources, learning materials, and future programme development.
These resources create a sustainable framework that enables organisations, Youth Diversion Projects, youth services, schools, community organisations, and practitioners nationwide to adopt and deliver the programme while maintaining fidelity to the evidence-based model.
The success of Edge Away – Smart Choices, Young Voices would not have been possible without the commitment, expertise, and support of so many people. We would like to sincerely thank the Edge Away team, particularly Sonya Reddan and Richard Hannafin, who facilitated the project with community organisations and helped bring the programme to life. Special thanks to Sue Redmond for her research, evaluation, and collaboration with Sonya and Richard in developing the programme resources. We are grateful to the Steering Committee for their guidance, input, and support throughout the project, and to the Youth Diversion Projects, Probation Projects, community organisations, and practitioners who participated in the training and pilot phase sharing their knowledge and experience. Most importantly, we thank the young people whose voices, ideas, and lived experiences shaped this initiative from the very beginning. This project would not exist without their honesty, insight, and willingness to contribute. Finally, we would like to acknowledge Passion for Creative for their outstanding work on the design, branding, and website development. Their professionalism, creativity, and dedication have helped create a project that everyone involved can be truly proud of.
Elaine Slattery continued:
“This initiative has demonstrated that when young people are genuinely involved in developing solutions, the outcomes are stronger and more meaningful. Through the creation of a comprehensive resource package and the launch of the Edge Away website, we now have the infrastructure to support the expansion of this programme nationally. Our vision is that young people across Ireland will benefit from consistent, high-quality weapons awareness education that promotes positive decision-making, reduces offending behaviour, and contributes to safer communities for everyone.”
Project Edge Away – Smart Choices, Young Voices demonstrates the power of collaboration between government, youth services, community organisations, researchers, practitioners, and, most importantly, young people themselves. By combining lived experience, evidence, education, and prevention, the initiative offers a practical and scalable model for addressing youth violence and promoting community safety throughout Ireland.
