Young adults in Ireland take part in the first Now & Next Youth Quest programme.
Author: Suzanne Bradley
In July 2025, Petria Malone, parent and member of Offaly Down Syndrome Association, brought in Suzanne Bradley, Now & Next™ partner in Ireland, to offer a Now & Next™ Youth Quest programme – rooted in strength-based positive psychology.
Youth Quest was offered to young adult members of Offaly Down Syndrome Association and members of the surrounding county branches also.
Down Syndrome Ireland of which the Offaly Down Syndrome Association is a member was attracted to this model because it aligns with their philosophy of working “towards a society that enables all people with Down syndrome to participate to their fullest potential, as equal members with full entitlement as Irish citizens.”
The programme included 18 participants, including 9 participants with Down Syndrome and 9 advocate team members, including a mix over the two days of 2 siblings, 3 support assistants and 7 mothers. The advocate's role was to be present so that after the programme was completed they could play a supportive role in the young adult’s life, as required, as they actualised their vision as per their journey map.
Photo: Suzanne Bradley with participants at the first Youth Quest in Ireland
Participants achieved 100% of their first short term goal and 66% of their second short term goal. Through team work and problem solving in groups of 3, the young adults supported those whose second goals hadn’t been achieved to identify and proceed with small steps to achieve their goals.
As part of the programme, the young adults learnt about the Keys to Citizenship model representing the areas of a good life developed by Dr. Simon Duffy.
The 7 Keys to Citizenship are:
Participants analyse the goals they have achieved and stamp in their Goal Passport the good life areas that they have addressed with the goals they have started working on. This process guided the young adults to analyse their achieved goals and explicitly connect them to meaningful areas of a good life.
Through lively discussion and active engagement all participants shared what constitutes a good life for them. This approach encourages holistic goal setting for the young adult and promotes a shift from solely focusing on services to thinking about broader outcomes and enhancing long-term resilience.
Ultimately, by defining and linking their efforts to a meaningful good life, the young adults were able to take purposeful action towards their well-being and future.
Here is an example of how a participant mapped their goals onto the Goal Passport in regard to the Keys to a meaningful life.
Youth Quest is planned out as a travel journey where the young adult has an opportunity to identify and use their strengths to create small changes with big impact. Participants receive a reusable kit with a Travel Guide which steers their voyage, an example of which is below.
If you'd like to bring Now and Next™ Youth Quest to your community please email Annick or Suzanne, they'd love to hear from you.
The publisher is Citizen Network. Youth Quest in Ireland © Suzanne Bradley 2025.
children and families, Family Leadership, Ireland (Republic), Article
