£9m for bodies to get young into work

EIGHTEEN organisations have been chosen to help 5,500 disadvantaged young people from Londonderry and across 11 other areas, into work or education.

Jobs Minister Dr Stephen Farry said he has provided £9million to the Collaboration and Innovation Fund (CIF) over the period December 2012 to March 2015, to finance initiatives that will equip disadvantaged young people throughout Northern Ireland to find and sustain employment.

He said the CIF was a key element in his Department’s Pathways to Success strategy.

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“Following a competitive procurement process, 18 successful organisations drawn from the community, voluntary and educational sectors have been chosen to provide support to over 5,500 disadvantaged young people in the Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) category,” the Minister stated.

“These organisations will provide a service throughout Northern Ireland including specific rural areas around Bangor, Newtownards, Downpatrick, Newry, Lisburn, Banbridge, Omagh, Dungannon, Mourne, Derry City Council area and counties Armagh and Fermanagh,” he added.

Dr Farry said the various organisations would provide support tailored to meet individuals particular needs.

The main purpose of the exercises is to get young people working again or for the first time.

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“A key point will be to encourage progress in the development of key skills in order to bring the young people closer to the labour market,” he explained.

“I have established a NEET Advisory Group with membership drawn from across the Executive Departments, business, the voluntary and community sectors, local Government, and from the NEETs Strategy Forum,” he said.