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Community Employment Programme
Tiglin's Community Employment Scheme is recognised by the Department of Social Protection as one of the top three CE programmes in Ireland. 83 participants. Six locations. One clear goal: a route back to work.
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The Community Employment Scheme is a Department of Social Protection initiative that gives people who are long-term unemployed access to part-time work experience and training placements within community and voluntary organisations.
At Tiglin, CE participants work across the organisation's services (in Rise at the cove in Greystones, in the Lighthouse Homeless Café in Dublin, in residential centres in Wicklow, in community programmes across multiple sites). They are doing real work, alongside full-time staff, in environments that know exactly what they have been through.
A CE placement at Tiglin, for someone who has been through addiction, homelessness, or long-term unemployment, is a step back into a life they recognise as their own.
The Department of Social Protection assesses CE schemes nationally across a range of criteria: participant outcomes, programme quality, employer engagement, and progression to employment or further education. Tiglin's scheme ranks in the top three in the country for approved placements.That recognition is not a marketing line. It is an independent assessment of whether what Tiglin does with CE actually works. It does.The schemes that rank highest are the ones where participants don't just complete their placement. They leave with something they didn't have before. Confidence. A reference. A skill. A reason to apply for the next thing.
What Participants Gain
Provisions of the programme
Supervised Work Experience
Real roles across Tiglin's services: hospitality, care, administration, facilities, and community work. On-the-job learning with staff who take the supervision seriously.
Accredited training
Participants complete certified training modules relevant to their placement and career goals. Qualifications are nationally recognised.
Personal Development Planning
Each participant works with a supervisor to identify goals, track progress, and plan what comes after the placement ends.
Routine & Structure
For many participants, returning to a consistent weekly schedule is one of the most significant early gains. Showing up, being accountable, and finishing a shift are skills that erode during long periods of unemployment or crisis, and rebuild faster than most people expect.
CV & Job search support
Practical preparation for the labour market including application writing, interview skills, referrals to employers.
Ongoing Mentoring
Regular check-ins throughout the placement, with access to Tiglin's wider support network for anyone managing additional challenges alongside their work.
Your questions, answered with honesty
How can I donate to support Tiglin?
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Can I volunteer with Tiglin?
How do I ensure the programs are effective?
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