An up-skilling programme is to be rolled out to over 700 families in the autumn following the success of its pilot this year.
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry made the announcement as he paid tribute to achievements of families involved in the Community Family Support Programme (CFSP) pilot.
The CFSP pilot is a Pathways to Success initiative designed to help address the significant issue of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
It offered a range of support focusing on the targeted individual needs of 44 families in east and west Belfast, Strabane, Cookstown and Newtownabbey.
Speaking at an event in Parliament Buildings for the families taking part in the pilot, Dr Farry said: “The initial pilot has been delivered in the community by Local Employment Intermediary Service providers and aimed to support families to prevent younger family members falling into the NEET category while helping other family members to re-engage with education, training or employment.
“Through the delivery of targeted support, a number of participants have already undertaken training courses, work placements or moved into employment. “The importance of the work of local community providers supporting families cannot be underestimated and they have clearly demonstrated their commitment to participants by helping families find solutions to issues in their everyday life.” During the pilot the families completed short accredited training courses andwork placements.
They were also provided with one to one employment advice and mentoring to family members and with support for job search, CV writing and interview techniques.
The families also engaged in activities such as debt management, stress management, healthy eating and cooking programmes and confidence, motivational and life coaching classes. The Minister concluded: “It is the intention of my Department as part of the Delivering Social Change agenda to upscale and rollout the Community Family Support Programme to 720 families from October 2013.”
The DEL Community Family Support Programme pilot has been designated as a Delivering Social Change Signature Programme. Delivering Social Change is the Executive’s framework established to tackle poverty and social exclusion.