Prince's Trust Projects To Help Young People Find Employment

Belfast City Council is to back two Prince's Trust projects designed to help young people find full-time employment.

Development Awards are small cash grants which aim to remove financial barriers that prevent young people entering education, employment or training, while the Get Started is a personal and social development programme designed to build confidence and motivation in young people.

The Development Awards are targeted at disadvantaged young people aged 16-30 who live in Belfast, and specifically in the most deprived electoral wards in the City Council area. 

The Council is funding 200 Development Awards, to a value of between £200 and £250 per award. These awards will help the recipients address barriers to employment at a structural and personal level through the provision of financial support; move into positive destinations – including employment, education and training; progress into employment; address educational inequalities through the removal of barriers to participation; enhance and increase their skill levels; and address deprivation and economic inactivity.

The Prince's Trust 'Get Started' programme is a personal and social development programme which uses inspiring themes, such as sport or the arts, to engage young people, aged 16-30 who face multiple barriers to employment and often lack the motivation and confidence needed to take their first step.

Over the next six months, four 'Get Started' programmes will be delivered in key areas of interest to young people.

The Council will be supporting a total of 50 young people over the course of the four programmes. This will help the young people involved to complete a one week course which includes practical, hands on sessions related to the programme theme; group activities focusing on personal and social skills; one to one support to help each young person identify their next steps; and relevant qualifications and accreditation.

(MH)