Youth unemployment in Coleraine rises by 325%: report

The research shows how the number of young people claiming Job Seekers Allowance for six months or more in Coleraine has risen by 325% in the last four years.

In response to this steep rise in long-term joblessness, Prince’s Trust Ambassadors Alesha Dixon, Mark Ronson, Brooke Kinsella and SBTV-founder Jamal Edwards, will take part in the charity’s first live-streamed Youth Forum - reaching out to unemployed young people and those struggling with other issues in the UK today.

Against The Odds will be streamed live on The Trust’s Facebook page this Wednesday (October 17), giving young people the chance to have their questions answered by the celebrity panel - all of whom have overcome barriers to get where they are today.

The charity’s ambassadors will be joined by young people who have lived through long-term unemployment themselves and a Twitter Q&A will take place with job experts from The Prince’s Trust.

The event, which is supported by HSBC, will be attended by young people being helped by The Trust to turn their lives around.

Ian Jeffers, Director with The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland, says: “Our message is that success is achievable - even in the face of rising long-term unemployment. This is a way for young people to hear from some famous faces who have achieved success against the odds themselves.”

Last year The Prince’s Trust supported over 3,000 disadvantaged young people throughout Northern Ireland and over 78% of those who completed programmes progressed into education, training and employment.

To watch Against The Odds at 2pm on Wednesday visit www.facebook.com/princestrust