“We worked with real purpose”: TY students present sustainability projects at Trinity

Posted on: 06 May 2026

Some 360 second-level school students from underrepresented communities attended Trinity College Dublin today to graduate from the Trinity Access Programmes’  Bridge to College initiative.  

Around 250 students from 24 schools presented projects at a showcase event on the day. Hunger, social media impact and life on the land were among the topics students looked at in their sustainability-themed projects, helped by a Trinity mentor who guided them through the process.  

The goal of the Bridge to College programme is to help students develop skills in project management, independent learning, teamwork and communication, and in using technology in practical ways.  

Judges of the winning projects included representatives from Trinity and a range of external companies, including Google, Squarespace, Deloitte, Workday and Bank of America. 

The students got the chance to take part in a quiz, have lunch in the Dining Hall and ended the day with a graduation ceremony, where they received a certificate for their participation, with three groups announced as winners of the projects. 

Rachel and Rebecca Costello, students at Balbriggan Community College, looked at the mental health impact of social media on teenagers. 

“The whole group felt that we made a real impact through engaging with the project and we worked with real purpose to improve people's mental health. The project was not at all what we expected - we got so much out of it and were surprised by how fulfilling, fun, and useful it would be. The whole team developed so many skills such as communication, teamwork, project management, and public speaking. We all feel much more confident and better prepared for our Leaving Certificate years and for going on to study at College." 

Jane Stout, Vice-President for Biodiversity and Climate Action at Trinity urged the students to continue to make a difference in their communities: “The Bridge to College Programme is a fantastic learning experience for TY students, and it’s wonderful to see their Leadership Projects, applying the skills they have learned through this programme to sustainability issues in their local communities." 

 Wendy Crampton, Director of Trinity Access Programmes (TAP), said of the students: “What stands out is not just their engagement with sustainability, but their confidence in tackling real-world issues and contributing to their communities. This programme is about opening pathways to higher education, and it is encouraging to see students already thinking and working at that level.” 

Georgia Spooner, Bridge to College Coordinator at TAP, said: "It is so inspiring to watch the students take such strong interest in being part of projects that can make a difference to their school and local communities. It was a joy to work with these students across the year and watch them develop their teamwork and communication skills. These students will go on to do great things!” 

Run by Trinity Access Programmes, Bridge to College aims to provide learning experiences for students to become confident learners using technology and teamwork. The programme helps students from communities underrepresented at university, such as those attending DEIS schools, to develop skills and experience to progress to third-level education. 

As part of the programme, students complete a Leadership Project based on one of the 17 SDGs set out by the UN. The projects allow the students to actively participate in social change, give back to their community, and learn how they can contribute to a sustainable world. 

ENDS 

• Tags:
• Community
• Environment
• Students