YMCA Ireland is delighted to announce that they will be one of the first beneficiaries of the new PEACEPLUS funding, Area 3.2 Youth Programme. The Empower 2 Transform Project, which has been developed in partnership with Youth Link NI, Youth Initiatives and Mencap will be delivered across Northern Ireland and the border counties in Ireland.
Empower 2 Transform will provide an opportunity for over 1,300 young people aged 14-24 to complete a programme that will inspire them to believe in and transform their lives, empowering participants to take transformative steps in developing their confidence, skills and potential, form positive relationships with others of different backgrounds, and make a positive contribution to building a cohesive society.
Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body said: “We are delighted to be able to make this announcement, especially at this time of the year and given the significant challenges which the youth sector has faced in recent years. We are excited with these awards as we know what an enormous difference this investment will make to the lives of young people living across Northern Ireland and the border counties.”
The grant which totals €7,887,712 will support young people through 6-9 month cohorts focussing on Good Relations, Citizenship, Personal Development, Employability and Personal Progression.
John Peacock, National Secretary of YMCA Ireland said: ‘’We, in YMCA Ireland, are extremely pleased to have received this funding to enable us to work with our partners to impact the lives of over 1,300 young people over the next 4 years. As we are using a youth work methodology, we look forward to recruiting 34 youth workers/project workers from across NI & the border region (in L’derry, Dundalk, Carrick, Larne, Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan, Portadown, Donegal, Omagh, Banbridge, Newcastle & North Down). If you would be interested in joining the team to run this exciting project, please get in touch or look out for our recruitment campaign. We look forward to an exciting few years ahead.’’
PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and is funded in partnership by the European Union, the Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland administration.
