Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness with (front) Ciara Ferguson, manager, Greater Shantallow Area Partnership (GSAP) and Peter McDonald, chairman, GSAP. At back are (left) Noel McCartney, chairman, local Social Development Fund and Michael Gallagher, Ilex.
Derry community group, the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership (GSAP), is to deliver a new £3.3 million initiative aimed at getting the city’s unemployed back to work, Deputy First Minister has confirmed.
Speaking at the GASP offices at Northside, Mr McGuinness described the citywide Community Work Programme as an “challenging and exciting” initiative and congratulated the GSAP on securing the funding to deliver the programme.
The programme is being funded through the Social Development Fund by the Office of Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Mr McGuinness added: “”I am delighted that this excellent initiative is being funded by the Social Investment Fund through my Department.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness speaking at this morning’s announcement. Included are Noel McCartney, chairperson, local Social Development Fund (centre) and Peter McDonald, chairperson, Greater Shantallow Area Partnership.
“We have allocated £9.5 million to the Derry area and programmes such as this are what is needed to get our young people into meaningful employment as we continue to ensure that we regenerate this city and provide a future for the youth of these areas.”
Mr McGuinness added: “This is a very exciting programme that will make an enormous difference.”
The project is targeted particularly, but not exclusively. at recently unemployed young people in the 18-24 age group as part of the NEETS programme.
Other groups to benefit will be the long term unemployed, working poor, the economically inactive, and those with no or low qualifications as well as those living in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas.
Peter McDonald. GSAP chairperson, said “The programme will provide opportunities for a minimum of 100 individuals who will receive mentoring, educational support and related skills training and development programmes.
“These will be in a number of employment disciplines based on the individual’s needs and qualifications.
“The accredited training will be provided in identified community work programmes, for example, Certificate of Safety Register and Horticultural courses where there is a need for environmental improvement programmes.
“The project will also support improvement schemes in areas of dereliction, poor environmental appearance and anti-community hotspots.”
Mr McDonald concluded: “It will provide individuals and communities with the tools of individual and community empowerment to enable change required to move out of deprivation.”
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