Our Impact

The Open Community's work spans from local welcome to global impact. Through EU-funded research and the development of European best practice, we develop community welcome initiatives and labour mobility pathways for refugees, then put that learning into action across Ireland. Community engagement drives everything we do: we train, support, and resource anyone who wants to help welcome newcomers, creating real impact for individuals, communities, and employers nationwide. Explore our work below to see that impact in action.

 

Overview

 

51%

More than 1 in 2 people in Ireland live in a county that welcomes

622

Individuals supported to become community welcomers in 2025

51

Newcomers welcomed in 2025

 

Our community

National reach

Over half of people in Ireland live in a county that welcomes 

People helped

We’ve directly helped 250+ people resettle in Ireland.

Peer Support

Our peer network includes 300+ experienced welcomers.

 

Our platform and tools

Online Training

Learning Resources

4 courses on welcoming refugees in Ireland.

Active Learners

Over 1,000 active users on our training platform.

Courses Completed

Over 2,500 courses completed.            

Resource Bank

People Reached

Over 800 unique users.

Time Invested

5.5k hours spent exploring resources.

SWIFT Integration App

Monthly Reach

2.8k+ average visits per month.

Total Reach

75k+ total visits since launch in 2021.

 

Our Programmes & Projects

Humanitarian Admissions 2025

People welcomed

51 people (19 children and 32 adults) were welcomed to safety in Ireland.

Welcome Groups Formed

125 community members in 13 welcome groups were selected to welcome.

Groups Supported

Over 160 community sponsorship groups were supported to form and submit applications.

Growth: Innovation to Scale Community Sponsorship Programmes 

Already Involved

1 in 5 have already taken part in community welcome.

Ready if asked

1 in 3 would take part in community welcome if invited to.

Willing to return

Over half of those who have taken part before are ready to do so again.

STEP: Skills, talent, and empowerment through pathways 

Employer Interest

Over 50 employers registered their interest in recruiting via STEP.

Candidates Referred

Over 200 candidates put forward for recruitment opportunities.

Chair of National Stakeholder Group

70+ members across 35 government departments, NGOs, and professional bodies.

Media Coverage