'Youth Works' Works

A PROGRAMME supporting young people in north Belfast to progress their career goals and aspirations marked the achievements of the first group of participants at a celebration event yesterday in theBlack Box, Belfast.

Youth Works, funded by the International Fund for Ireland and managed byYouth Council NI on behalf of the Department of Education, is an education programme aimed at young people aged 16-17 years with no qualifications to help them re–engage with formal education and training.

Launched on a pilot basis in September 2011, the 26-week programme was delivered in partnership by Include Youth along with Challenge for Youth,Artillery Youth Centre and North Belfast Alternatives.

Dr Adrian Johnston, Chairman, International Fund for Ireland said:

“This innovative pilot programme is an excellent example of how we, together with the Department of Education and Youth Council for Northern Ireland, can provide an alternative opportunity for hard-to-reach young people to build a better, more positive future. There are young people who are not in education, employment and training (NEET) and who need help to achieve their full potential. Youth Works are already developing their skills and self esteem so that we can not only improve their employability but facilitate integration, promote understanding and improve cross-community relations.

“This pilot programme forms part of our Sharing in Education Programme which is integral to the International Fund for Ireland’s strategy to facilitate more sharing and to promote reconciliation and non-sectarianism in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Programmes like this are at the heart of the Fund’s efforts to build a more shared and peaceful future on the island of Ireland.”

Education Minister John O’Dowd said:

“The Youth Works programme is an excellent example of how youth work can help to re-engage young people who, for different reasons, were unable to fulfil their full potential in formal education. The programme has enabled them to achieve a range of qualifications and take their first steps towards a positive future in further training or employment. Following the success of the pilot programme, it is planned to roll the Youth Works programme out in other areas across the north of Ireland so that other young people in similar circumstances can engage in this youth work programme and reap the same benefits as those young people who have taken part to date.”

The programme is run on a youth work model and focuses on peace and reconciliation, mentoring and personal development to support and re-engage young people in training and education. This approach enables young people to experience success through learning.

David Guilfoyle, Chief Executive of the Youth Council and guest speaker at the celebration said:

“At a time of increasing youth unemployment, Youth Works offers young people not in education, training or employment, living in communities that suffer from economic and social deprivation, the opportunity and support needed to fulfil their potential.”

Claire Meenehan, Youth Works coordinator at Include Youth, added:

"Today’s celebration is not just about the achievements of the young people; it is also about organisations working together to introduce a model of effective practice that can achieve results for the most hard to reach in our society.”

For further information on how to get involved with the north Belfast Youth Works project please contact Claire Meenehan at Include Youth on 028 9031 1007 or [email protected].

To view photos and videos of Youth Works and the celebration event visit our Flickr or YouTube channels.

ENDS

Media enquiries: For more information contact Sharon Whittaker, Communications Worker at Include Youth, on 028 9031 1007 or [email protected]