Operating since the 70s, Extern functions on the ethos and belief that "another chance can change a life".
The charity supports people from all walks of life, who have been affected by issues such as homelessness, alcohol and drug addiction and employability obstacles, to name a few.
Extern was founded in Belfast in 1978 when a small group of people who were working with marginalised and disadvantaged adults felt that they could make a difference to their lives by offering more structured activities than had been available before. Since then, it has created a strong team of 650 staff and selfless volunteers across Ireland.
Read more: Extern work helping to transform lives for over 45 years
But to those who work with Extern, whether that be paid or voluntary, all have the same outlook - it's more than just a job.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Sharon Smith, who is the project manager of Extern's crisis intervention project and Reach Out project, opened up about the pride she has for her place of work.
"I started Extern 15 years ago as a project worker having come out of university," she said.
"I've always had a passion for communities, and working in communities and I started in a project in Newtownards called Strength to Strength. That was working with young people aged 8 to 13, supporting them before there was a breakdown within the family home, or there was issues within the education system.
"Through that project, I would have done one-to-one work with the young people but also with the family too. That is one thing that we recognise in Extern, we don't just work with the individual, we help with the ripple effect that presents within the family home too.
"From there, I progressed up up into East Belfast working on a project called Faces, which again, provided support for young people but also families too. Then I became assistant manager, and today, I am a project manager, and I have been doing that for eight years.
"Every day is different in Extern, and the thing about us is that we are responsive to the needs of our service users and the community. We know that throughout the year, there are various issues that present to these communities.
"It is also about ensuring that your staff are doing ok too, actually, so that they can provide the right service to our service users. It is dealing with people in crisis, managing risk and promoting the services to ensure that we can provide accessible services to everybody."
Dealing with mental health crises every day, the Extern team have the knowledge and training needed in situations which can often be life or death.
Reach Out by Extern operates a drop-in office from the Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road, to individuals whose lives have been impacted by substance or alcohol misuse, suicide, self-harm or mental health issues.
Funded by the Department for Communities, Reach Out offers targeted and personalised supports for those from the age of four, right through adulthood. The project also offers one-to-one support for young people who are at risk of self-harm or engaging in self-harming behaviours.
People come to Reach Out for help with a wide range of mental health and wellbeing issues – from anxiety, depression, stress and trauma, to relationship problems and lifestyle challenges.
Sharon added: "In the Reach Out and Crisis Project, we are specific around mental health, and we do have a team of professional counsellors, key workers, holistic therapists and systemic practise workers. We also have a worker that deals specifically with families bereaved by suicide.
"Reach Out has been going for seven years now and it is a responsive project. While we are based on the Shankill Road, we do cover the whole of the Greater Belfast area. The project itself offers a range of support, from counselling to one-to-one support, awareness days and drop-ins.
"It is basically a platform for people to drop in and access services at a community level. You can self refer into the Reach Out project at any time and have a whole array of platforms that you can do that on, our social media pages, our drop-in clinics and a telephone service too.
"We recently changed our offices so that they are much more comfortable for people to come into. We don't sit behind desks in this office, we have comfy sofa, a kettle and we are here to listen."
Louise Jones who works as a counsellor in Extern, has been with the charity for over a year. She says when they meet someone for the first time, often after one conversation, they can see the difference that it's had on someone in a difficult place.
"Our goal is to meet people where they are at," Louise said.
"And to assist them in improving their mental health and wellbeing. We see a full range of people presenting with different mental health problems and social problems. Our role in the team is to meet their needs and to come up with a plan that is individual to that person.
"It's definitely more than just counselling. That is a service that's offered to everybody. We have a whole range of therapeutic approaches that we can offer, but above and beyond that, we can offer more hands on support, perhaps for those who are not ready for counselling yet.
"Maybe they need support with harm reduction, or housing, those types of things. That is where our one-to-one workers would step in. Then we also offer complimentary therapies too, we try to be really holistic and offer massages, acupuncture, homeopathy and sometimes that little bit of self care is a priority for somebody going through a hard time.
"Even after one session, the relief that someone can feel. Over and over again I have heard people say that they felt so alone, then when they came to Extern, they had someone to talk to. Some have said that they thought they were going crazy, and we have helped them see that their feelings make sense, given trauma or difficulties they have been through.
"Where the real satisfaction is a few months down the line, when you really begin to see people's behaviours change and their perspective change too. They are in a much better place and that is special for us as a team to be a part of.
"It is not just a job for us - having worked in the voluntary sector for years, there are two things I have noticed about Extern - the team has great fun and craic, as a support network. Even though we are dealing with life or death at times, the team has a sense of support for one another.
"The Extern team will, and do go the extra mile. Nothing is too much trouble. There is a real sense of respect and compassion for the service users, which made me realise that I was in the right place when I started this job."
For further details on Extern’s work, visit www.extern.org.
You can donate to Extern for their Big Give campaign right here.
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