Over 100 adults with learning difficulties have been honoured at the NOW Graduation Event in Belfast’s City Hall.
NOW, a charitable organisation which delivers the Department for Employment and Learning’s Workable NI scheme, provides a range of quality training and supported employment services to adults with learning difficulties. Attending the event Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry said: “Employment and employability are important priorities for my Department. The provision we have in place with NOW is principally supported through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund (NIESF) and is designed to engage with people who are economically inactive or facing barriers to employment, giving them the opportunity to compete in the labour market and to secure sustainable employment.
“The awards today are a testimony to the effectiveness of these interventions, and a tangible measure of how individuals’ lives are improved through participation on these NIESF supported programmes. “I would like to congratulate all involved in the successful outcomes that are being celebrated here today, and wish all of the ‘achievers’ further success in the future.”
NOW’s Chair, Seamus O’Prey said: “We are delighted to have representation from all our funders at this graduation event as so often people with learning disabilities miss out on the graduation ceremonies experienced by siblings or friends.
“At NOW, we are very conscious of the hard work and dedication of our students and feel that this is an excellent platform on which to raise awareness about the educational milestones reached by local people with disabilities on their way to getting paid jobs in their local communities.”
Six special achievement awards were presented to individuals who made exceptional effort to achieve qualifications and one NOW Employer of the Year Award was presented to Tesco.
All NOW courses are person centred, accredited and recognised by local employers. NOW’s CEO Maeve Monaghan commented: “NOW are always keen to build links with local employers and it gives us great pleasure to acknowledge Tesco as a company truly committed to promoting equality within their business. We welcome the opportunity to engage which such a high profile employer and look forward to working with Tesco over the coming years.”