Poverty Aware Practice at Trinity College- with undergraduates after their placement
On Monday, ATD Ireland carried out the final out of three session with a group of Trinity College Social Work students. A continuation of a journey we’ve been sharing over the past year.
The morning began with a clip from ATD Ireland’s “Community Conversations – #Addthe10th” film, raising a critical question:
“Why aren’t people protected against socio-economic discrimination in Irish equality legislation?”
Some students later reflected that they had not fully understood what socio-economic discrimination meant until now.
Why the Poverty Aware Practice Project Matters
ATD Ireland Activists then stood up in front of the class and shared why the Poverty Awareness Project is important to them. As one activist put it:
“It helps stop the same mistakes from being repeated.”
Small Group Conversations
Students split into three groups facilitated by ATD Community Activists. They reflected on their placement experiences, in the context of socio-economic discrimination and discussed themes such as education, housing, food insecurity, and violence.
“People struggle every day just to afford a Leap card or money for transport.”
“Some kids are punished for being late, even though the school knows they come from far away.”
“Poverty affects so many people. There’s fear, isolation, and judgment.”
These reflections underscored that social issues are not abstract, they are deeply human.
Some other examples included:
· One student observed socio-economic discrimination during a youth work placement, where young people spoke about being mocked for living in the flats.
· Another student shared a positive story of community solidarity, where parents supported a young person whose guardian was struggling with mental health issues, helping them take up kickboxing.
· A youth work student noted how many young people said they “hated social workers” once they learned her field of study.
An ATD Community Activist responded warmly: “I’m delighted to hear this positive example.” One ATD Activist also reminded students that while community development often comes from within, support from outside is also necessary.
Returning to the Full Group
The session then returned to a full group discussion, asking: How can this awareness be translated into practice?
The group agreed that collaboration, trust, and respect are key.
Community Activist Andrew emphasised the need to:
“Show the good news of what social workers do and not the bad news.”
ATD Activists also spoke about the mixed feelings that come with social worker visits:
“It’s frightening. There’s shame, embarrassment… but also hope.”
“Sometimes that visit can change someone’s life.”
Community Activist Jimmy spoke about how it is important for social workers to be there for the long term, “a social worker should not give up on you after a week”.
“You should be able to walk down the street with your social worker”, Paul
The “Ideal” Social Worker
Students were then asked to draw or describe their vision of an ideal social worker. Words such as compassion, patience, good listener, intentional, kind, and open-minded were repeated.
“Think about what people need, not what you think they want.”
“Listen and understand before you act.”
Professor Erna and Sinead also brought up a point from Community Activist Paul’s at a previous session:
“For some people, you are the government at the door. You are not Kate or Joe the Social Worker.”
This highlighted how intimidating a home visit can feel, and why meeting in community centres or schools may sometimes be more supportive.
Professor Erna and Sinead concluded:
“People won’t always remember your words, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.”
Building Bridges
This project was not just about students learning. It was about building bridges, between people, between lived experiences and between systems that often feel distant from those they serve.
Reflections from Community Activists
Craig:
“A great indication on how the minds of social workers think and how they could make a positive impact on the young generation in society today. Thought it was an incredible inspire to see a different side to social workers and I seen how in the talks with the students how it all integrated into the work that youth and Community workers are doing to make positive impact in society.
What was important
Understanding the emotions that it takes to be a social worker. Understanding on how they approach different situations that gives understanding on how power dynamics play out in the room.
What struck me
How everyone’s placement interlinked. I could link back to Bluebell. I always perceived social workers in one way but now I opened my mind up. What also struck me was how power dynamics played out in the room and while on placement.
How up North youth workers are working directly in hospitals compared to ROI. But I see both courses have interlinks.
You don’t have to act in a certain way or perceive on a certain level. I was nervous due to Trinity levels of speaking – posh. When people are speak normally, they do well in school and all opt for university level at Trinity and don’t opt for PLC colleges.
Now after finished the work shop, it was exceptional, I have a different mindset. I was not intimidated.
Paul:
“There was a great energy yesterday. It felt really relaxed and informal. I didn’t notice any uncomfortable moments. Over the years, individually and as a whole group, we’ve improved and developed skill sets. We’ve honed our act, its polished, we’re near professionals. It is incredible to see the confidence built up among the group.
Trinity is accommodating us; they are giving us so much liberty and freedom to express ourselves. They are giving us that respect. They are treating us as an equal and wanting to know our opinion. It’s not easy to share your experience. It’s like an onion, the layers come off and it can leave you raw as we are reflecting on past experience. If I didn’t feel like it was a safe space, I also wouldn’t leave myself that vulnerable. Though sharing does also allow me to learn more about myself.
I feel like I now have the confidence and ability to check myself mid conversation, reevaluate and take on the opinion of another. I am now looking for the eye contact from the facilitator to rein myself in. That’s something I’ve learned over the years to make sure I don’t go off on a tangent and how to bring people along, so you don’t lose them, keep the focus and attention on the subject at hand.
I was really impressed with how open the young people were. Overall, it was just positive”
