The Ignite Programme is underway in Thomond Community College. All second year students will avail of the programme over the course of the first term.

The IGNITE Programme (‘the Programme’) was developed in 2009 by a team of 12 professionals from the formal education and youth/community sectors in Co. Kildare, with the support of an external facilitator. Funding for the work was sourced by County Kildare LEADER Partnership via the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs under the Cohesion Process.

IGNITE aims to help young people to see the benefits of remaining in the education system and to support them by giving them skills and knowledge to navigate their way through the system.

The Programme aims to:

• Enhance the participation, engagement and retention of young people in the formal education system.
• Strengthen relationships, primarily between the young people and the school, young
• people and their families, the peer group and between the schools and youth/community sector locally.
• Equip young people with the personal and life skills required to reach their potential within the school system and in the wider world.