Skills and training support, individually tailored for young people, has the greatest impact on the lives of the most vulnerable, according to Koulla Yiasouma, director at Include Youth.
Speaking at her organisation’s recent conference she said: “We know from our own experience of working with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, through good and bad economic times, that there are programmes out there which help achieve positive outcomes.
“We’re encouraged by the initiatives set out in the Department of Employment and Learning’s Pathways to Success Strategy – the training allowance for young people on European Social Fund programmes, the Collaboration and Innovation Fund and plans to engage employers in creating and supporting work opportunities – and look forward to seeing these in action.
“There is a growing realisation that an individual and tailored approach, centred around the young person is most effective.”
Ms Yiasouma said her organisation was looking forward to working in partnership with government to help shape the most effective way to support the most vulnerable young people, especially those categorised as NEET ie Not In Education, Employment of Training.
Addressing the conference DEL Minister Dr Stephen Farry outlined a series of measures for young people who are not in education, employment or training – his NEET Strategy.
He said: “To support the implementation of the NEET Strategy, I invited proposals from organisations, particularly from the community and voluntary sectors, for the new £3.8million Collaboration and Innovation Fund which will deliver projects focused on those young people most marginalised in our society.
“This fund will be used to help them to participate and succeed in education, employment or training, giving them the skills they need to secure a better future.”
The launch of these initiatives is part of a series of measures to address NEET and youth unemployment, including the Youth Employment Scheme and a community based access programme to engage and mentor young people using community and voluntary sector organisations.
The Minister concluded: “I want to ensure that young people who are currently unemployed are provided, at the earliest possible stage with the skills to gain jobs. These measures will seek to ensure that no-one is left behind and that we build opportunities for all our young people.”