OVER 90 percent of at-risk young adults who participated in an innovative education programme developed by education experts in Trinity College Dublin remain in full time employment or in formal education.
That’s according to the findings of a study launched by Michael D’Arcy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, at an event in the Central Bank, on North Wall Quay.
Career LEAP is a pioneering programme based in the north inner city to help at-risk young adults aged 18-24 to build the personal, social, emotional and cognitive skills necessary for developing career identity and work-readiness.
Developed by Trinity’s School of Education, the programme draws on cutting-edge educational and occupational psychology to help young people transfer the skills learned during the training to everyday life and the workplace.
The programme, delivered in conjunction with East Wall Youth, Swan Youth Services and over 20 businesses in the docklands and city centre area, includes a two-week training programme, followed by a three-week unpaid work placement offered by local businesses.
Training is provided to all participants — the young adults, the business partners, and the community and youth workers. To date almost 40 young people, who were not in education, training or employment, have participated in the programme.
The report illustrates how the training programme built confidence, was impactful and was challenging for participants.
Over 90 percent of graduates of the programme were found to be in education or full time employment two years on from participating in Career LEAP — almost double the international average for similar programmes.
Minister D’Arcy congratulated all the participants.
“The achievement is a tangible example of local businesses and community groups coming together to provide a future for the young people of Dublin city,” he said.
“As Minister for Financial Services, I meet regularly with companies in the Dublin docklands and I am delighted to see these companies set an example to the industry in supporting the community in which they operate.
“I would like to thank all those involved and acknowledge the success of Career LEAP in placing 90 percent of graduates from the programme in full time employment or further education.”
Chairperson of East Wall Youth, Marie O’Reilly, who initiated the partnership study, said: “The impact of Career LEAP on the youth services and the wider community has been very positive.
“It has helped the community understand the needs of young people and their commitment to a new and innovative way of learning.
“The need for joined up thinking and joined up practice when working with young people and the necessity of community led initiatives and projects which involve communities as equal partners is essential.
“Their knowledge on the ground of the realities of young people’s lives and the challenges that some of them face has to be incorporated into any future initiatives when targeting work readiness schemes for the people involved.”