Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry, today announced £108,000 funding to continue the work of the NEET Strategy Forum (NSF).
In developing the Executive’s strategy, ‘Pathways to Success’, the Department for Employment and Learning helped to establish the NEET Strategy Forum and supported its activity under the Collaboration and Innovation Fund between December 2012 and March 2015.
As part of their work the NSF has developed a Mapping Tool which provides an interactive information database that maps current education, employment and training service provision throughout Northern Ireland. This uses a map to illustrate the services available in a given area and is self-populated by NSF member organisations. The young people involved have been instrumental in building and testing this tool.
The NSF currently consists of over 80 members and works collaboratively to inform and showcase proactive work that respects the voice of young people and focuses on their rights to access, maintain and progress to employment of their choice in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Minister Farry said: “In providing this funding I recognise the key role the community and voluntary sectors play in helping and supporting the most vulnerable in our society. This funding will support work which will develop the sector to help our young people reach their full potential in terms of education, training, and employment, which in turn helps grow our local economy.
“The sector will be a key partner in supporting the delivery of the European Social Fund programme across Northern Ireland and, in joining up this work and giving a voice to young people, is a crucial aspect of how we want to work going forward.”