NI Careers Guidance Applauded

News of a major UK award won by the Careers Service Northern Ireland and Include Youth has been welcomed at Stormont.

The Executive Employment and Learning Minister, Danny Kennedy, has congratulated the two bodies on winning the prestigious National Careers Award for their ground breaking work with young people facing social and economic disadvantage.

The Award, presented at the Institute of Career Guidance Annual Conference, recognised the joint working between the Department for Employment and Learning's Careers Service and Include Youth.

The Minister (pictured) said: "Winning this Award is a tribute to the service that is offered by the Careers Service.

"It offers a vital life-line to so many who are unsure of which path to take and can give them help, guidance and support at crucial times in their lives.

"Their work with Include Youth gets to young people right at the heart of our society and aims to bring about positive, long lasting change. This Award is very well deserved," he said.

The Award acknowledged the excellent partnership working between the two organisations, through the Give and Take Scheme.

This has resulted in improved and consistent careers guidance services delivered to young people in their local communities.

Frances O'Hara, Head of the Careers Service, said: "I am delighted to collect this Award on behalf of the Careers Service. This Award recognises and builds upon the excellent work undertaken by Careers Advisers across Northern Ireland.

"The joint working with Include Youth has ensured that young people have been able to benefit from a consistent and coordinated approach in the delivery of careers guidance in their local communities.

"Evidence demonstrated that the joint working between the Careers Service and Include Youth had a positive impact on individual participants with increased engagement on the Give and Take Scheme and an increase in qualifications gained.

"This has also enhanced participants' career decision making skills and prepared them for future career opportunities," she said.

Koulla Yiasouma, Director of Include Youth, added: "Include Youth is delighted to be involved in this partnership with Careers Service NI and we are already beginning to see tangible benefits for some of the most excluded young people across Northern Ireland."

(BMcC/KMcA)