Safety Net: the essential role of youth organisations
Safety Net: the essential role of youth organisations in supporting young people who are NEET. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald put the issue starkly this week (3rd February). Speaking to Belfast Live on the second anniversary of the Executive’s return, she acknowledged that Northern Ireland’s youth unemployment figures are ‘going in the wrong direction’. The […]
The Fourth Strand: Youth Organisations Are an Economic Asset
The Fourth Strand: Youth Services Are An Economic Asset Remember your first wage packet? I had loads of jobs as a kid. I remember the milk route, the bag with fifty-five Belfast Telegraphs, and eventually a local factory all paying me for my time, sometimes in a wee tiny brown envelope. I loved it. I […]
Youth Work and Economic Inclusion: The YouthStart Formula for Success
In Northern Ireland, where youth unemployment rates remain stubbornly higher than those of other age groups and economic inactivity among young people continues to present challenges, the YouthStart partnership has developed an innovative approach that has demonstrated remarkable success in transforming the lives of those furthest from the labour market. Traditional employability programmes often struggle […]
Looking to the Future: Recommendations for UKSPF
As the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) develops itsstrategy for supporting economic inclusion in Northern Ireland, YouthStartadvocates for four key recommendations based on its evidence of impact: Broaddefinition of economic inactivity – UKSPF should adopt an inclusivedefinition that encompasses those not in education, training, oremployment, enabling more comprehensive support programmes. Recognitionof youth work as a […]
The Four-Strand Model: Youth Work’s Place in Northern Ireland’s Skills Ecosystem
Northern Ireland’s approach to skills development hastraditionally been built around three key strands: schools, further educationcolleges, and training organisations. However, this model leaves significantgaps, particularly for young people who have disengaged from mainstreameducation or face complex barriers to participation. This article argues forthe formal recognition of youth work as a vital fourth strand in NorthernIreland’s […]
Regional Equity Through Youth Work: YouthStart’s Model for Northern Ireland-Wide Impact
Regional Equity Through Youth Work: YouthStart’s Modelfor Northern Ireland-Wide Impact Northern Ireland faces significant regional disparities inyouth economic opportunity, with economic inactivity rates varying dramaticallyacross council areas—from 34.1% in Derry and Strabane to 19.9% in Antrim andNewtownabbey. Educational attainment gaps, rural-urban divides, and the ongoinglegacy of conflict compound these geographical inequalities. The YouthStartpartnership has developed […]
Reaching the Hardest to Reach: YouthStart’s Impact on Northern Ireland’s Most Vulnerable Young People
One of the most persistent challenges in the employment andskills programs across Northern Ireland has been effectively engaging andsupporting young people who face the most complex barriers to economicparticipation. Traditional mainstream provision often struggles to connect withthese individuals, let alone create sustainable pathways to employment oreducation. The YouthStart partnership, bringing together seven leadingyouth work organisations, […]
Lessons Learned: How ESF Success Should Inform UKSPF Youth Investment Strategy
As Northern Ireland transitions from European Social Fund(ESF) to the next phase of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), there is acritical opportunity to apply three decades of evidence to shape more effectiveyouth economic inclusion initiatives. The ESF has funded employment-relatedsupport for over 30 years, benefiting more than 77,000 individuals in NorthernIreland. This substantial experience […]
Funding Gap Analysis: The Impact of Reduced Investment in Youth Economic Inclusion
Funding Gap Analysis: The Impact of Reduced Investment in Youth Economic Inclusion As Northern Ireland navigates the transition from European Social Fund (ESF) support to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), serious concerns have emerged about potential funding gaps and the consequences of reduced investment in youth economic inclusion programmes. This analysis examines the scale […]
From ESF to UKSPF: Evolution of Youth Employability Support in Northern Ireland
The landscape of youth employability support in Northern Ireland stands at a critical juncture. For over three decades, the European Social Fund (ESF) has been a cornerstone of funding for interventions supporting economically inactive young people and those furthest from the labour market. As this chapter closes and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) emerges […]