During your college years, it’s important to engage with the wider world outside the bubble of your campus. Ireland now has more homeless young people than ever – with young people leaving state care, as well as young LGBTQI+ people, often at a disproportionate risk of finding themselves with no safe space to live.

Tea with Merchants Quay is a new podcast which offers first-hand insights into the work being done on the frontlines of Ireland’s homelessness and addiction crises. The latest episode of the podcast deals directly with youth homelessness in Ireland, and explores what Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), the national homeless and addiction charity, are doing to help.

When a young person turns 18, they have to move on from services that supported them as children into mainstream adult homeless services, where their distinct support needs are often not met. MQI’s Young Person Support Programme specifically supports people between the ages of 18 and 25 – and as the numbers continue to grow, they urgently need to expand the service.

“I grew up in an abusive environment,” says one of MQI’s clients, 18-year-old Cian. “There were times I couldn’t go to school because my head was in bits, I’d got that many slaps and punches. I had to leave. One of the first times I slept rough, I got so scared I called the guards on myself. I went into care, then when I turned 18, I started using adult emergency accommodation. I felt so alone. Since joining MQI’s Young Person Support Programme, I’ve started getting back on track. I’d love to be a football coach one day.”

If you’re interested in supporting MQI in their work, why not organise a fundraiser? Contact their Community Fundraising team [email protected] for advice, support and t-shirts...

• For more information see mqi.ie – and listen to Episode 3 of Tea with Merchants Quay below:

Read the full Student Special in the new issue of Hot Press – in shops now, and available to order online below: