For over a century, the Blackrock College Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul has quietly but consistently provided a helping hand where it’s most needed. In recent years, our focus has been on  the community of Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24, where many families face educational and financial challenges.

Behind every work placement, bursary, or Christmas hamper delivered through the Blackrock College Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) to the area of Killinarden, there’s a story — often untold — of real transformation.

Take Daniel Parkhill, a recent graduate of Killinarden Community School (KCS). Now 19, Daniel is studying Fine Art at TU Dublin. His painting Butter — crafted in egg tempera — was exhibited this summer at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the world’s longest-running open submission show. Just last year, his work was also selected for exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.

kcs-daniel-parkhill-profile.pdf 

Or consider Grace Clarke, a KCS alumna who completed a Bachelor of Laws and is now pursuing an MBA in Fashion Management at the International Fashion Academy in Paris. She’s shaping a future where creativity meets legal and business expertise.

Then there’s Carla Hedderman, who earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering and now works on capacity installation at Amazon’s Data Centres — a role at the core of Ireland’s digital infrastructure.

kcs-student-profiles-grace-clarke-carla-hedderman.pdf 

These stories remind us what’s possible when the right support meets raw talent and ambition.

Through our partnership with the local SVP conference, we continue to provide practical support to those who may not have access to the opportunities many of us take for granted. Now, we’re reaching out to past pupils, parents, and guardians within the Blackrock community with a new request.

To expand the TY Work Experience Programme for KCS students we are seeking additional work experience placements. If you work in, or have contacts in, any of the following sectors — ideally located in West Dublin or easily accessible by public transport from Killinarden — we would love to hear from you:

• IT / Tech / Cybersecurity
• Music Industry
• Film / Media Production
• Pharmaceuticals
• Hospitality and Retail

These experiences can be life-changing — a first step into a world these students might not otherwise access.

Thanks to bursaries, mentoring, and work placements — all powered by the Blackrock College community — students like Daniel, Grace, and Carla were given a chance to push boundaries and reach their potential. And it started with small, meaningful acts: a Christmas tree sale, a fundraising raffle, a work placement offered by a past pupil or a parent of a current student.

If you can offer a placement, make an introduction, or simply want to learn more, please get in touch by emailing SVDP@Rock.ie .

You won’t just be offering a week’s experience — you could be opening a door to a lifelong journey.