Gaisce awards helping young people in Kilkenny connect with their communities

The President’s Award helps young people feel more connected to their communities (90%) while instilling them with a sense of purpose (89%) according to a new survey of over 1,000 Gaisce Awardees.

The findings, which come at a time when young people report growing rates of loneliness across the EU, and as Growing Up in Ireland research continues to highlight the importance of connection, belonging and community to young people’s wellbeing.

The results reinforce the positive role Gaisce can play in supporting young people’s personal development, confidence and sense of belonging.

The research was published alongside the organisation’s 2025 annual report, which shows that a record 29,299 young people registered for the Award during the year, with 17,641 young people completing their Gaisce Award - the highest number in the organisation’s 40-year history.

Participants contributed more than 423,000 hours of volunteering in communities across Ireland.

Respondents also reported that achieving their Award made them more confident (80%) and supported them in developing lifelong skills (90%), with half of respondents saying they expect to use skills developed through Gaisce to support their future careers, underlining the Award’s lasting impact beyond school and into further education and employment.

Nine in ten participants said the Award encouraged them to be more active, and 87% said it motivated them to stay involved in sport or physical activity.

Aoife McElroy, Gaisce Youth Ambassador, added: “Taking part in Gaisce pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best possible way. It gave me the confidence to try new things, meet new people and become more involved in my community.”

“Looking back now, I can see how much I grew throughout the experience. Being a Youth Ambassador has shown me just how many young people are capable of amazing things when they’re given the opportunity and encouragement to challenge themselves.”

“Gaisce isn’t just about achieving an Award, it’s about building confidence, developing new skills and realising your own potential,” she added.

Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce - The President’s Award, said: “Our annual report demonstrates the growth and diversity of engagement with Gaisce, with more young people than ever before choosing to take part.”

“This is hugely heartening for myself and the Gaisce team. Through the awardee survey, participants are telling us that the Gaisce framework is more relevant than ever, providing them with the self-belief, sense of purpose and autonomy to develop the human skills and experiences they need to be world ready.”

“These findings reinforce what we observe every day among our Award participants: young people value opportunities to contribute to society, connect with others and challenge themselves.”