A successful programme run by The Prince’s Trust is giving Northern Ireland young people an insight into jobs within the creative industries.
Almost three-quarters of the 40 participants on the Invest Northern Ireland-backed Get Started project are now working, in training or in education, according to the Prince’s Trust.
Get Started targets 16 to 25-year-olds to engage them with the creative industries, developing their skills through practical activities and giving them confidence and motivation to move forwards into volunteering, education, training or employment after the programme.
This project ran from November 2011 until March 2012, and included Get started with Film, Animation, Gaming and Digital Media workshops.
Highlights of the series included a visit to Belfast shipyard’s Paint Hall to see the Game of Thrones set, expert guest speakers including Professor Greg Maguire, and Conan Fitzpatrick, and opportunities to explore self-employment in the creative industry.
As part of the final celebrations and graduations, the young people showcased their own short films, platform games, animations and a tourism App prototype produced using the skills they had developed.
Natasha Clarke 22, from Newtownabbey who completed one of the programmes, said: “I really enjoyed the Get Started with digital media programme. It was a really positive and worthwhile experience which helped me to develop my confidence and regain my focus on securing employment.
“My team-working skills improved tremendously following the group based activities on the programme. This also helped me to develop my communication skills, which has helped me in my current role as a Supervisor.”
Bill Scott, Invest NI’s executive director of regional business, said: “The digital and creative industries are an increasingly important sector within the knowledge based economy of Northern Ireland.”
Ian Jeffers, Director of The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland explained: “The Prince’s Trust is committed to equipping disadvantaged young people to be able to turn their lives around. In order to secure positive outcomes through our work we are constantly striving to provide training and opportunities in growth industries.”
A successful programme run by The Prince’s Trust is giving Northern Ireland young people an insight into jobs within the creative industries.
Almost three-quarters of the 40 participants on the Invest Northern Ireland-backed Get Started project are now working, in training or in education, according to the Prince’s Trust.
Get Started targets 16 to 25-year-olds to engage them with the creative industries, developing their skills through practical activities and giving them confidence and motivation to move forwards into volunteering, education, training or employment.
This project ran from November 2011 until March 2012, and included Get started with Film, Animation, Gaming and Digital Media workshops. Highlights of the series included a visit to Belfast shipyard’s Paint Hall to see the Game of Thrones set, expert guest speakers including Professor Greg Maguire, and Conan Fitzpatrick, and opportunities to explore self-employment in the creative industry.
As part of the final celebrations and graduations, the young people showcased their own short films, platform games, animations and a tourism App prototype produced using the skills they had developed.
Natasha Clarke 22, from Newtownabbey who completed one of the programmes, said: “I really enjoyed the Get Started with digital media programme.
“It was a really positive and worthwhile experience which helped me to develop my confidence and regain my focus on securing employment. My team-working skills improved tremendously following the group based activities on the programme.”
“This also helped me to develop my communication skills, which has helped me in my current role as a Supervisor.”
Bill Scott, Invest NI’s executive director of regional business, said: “The digital and creative industries are an increasingly important sector within the knowledge based economy of Northern Ireland.”
Ian Jeffers, Director of The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland explained: “The Prince’s Trust is committed to equipping disadvantaged young people to be able to turn their lives around. In order to secure positive outcomes through our work we are constantly striving to provide training and opportunities in growth industries.”
