It offers education & Training Courses and a wide range of Social Activities.

The Project has three distinct Programmes.

(1) Young men's Training and Education Programme.

It is based in Craigavon and offers diverse Training and Education opportunities.

The list includes:

ECDL & other IT Courses

Football Coaching

Music Lessons

Water Sports Activities & Coaching

A full-time Training Co-Ordinator can and will set up other courses and activities if in an established Group requests it.

(2) Cross Border Programme.

The Project is delivered in partnership with 1825 Project Craigavon and Youth Initiative Partnership Dundalk, known as Craigavon/Louth 1825 Youth Initiative Cross Border Partnership.

the Project will target in particular self-development and capacity building and will address low self-esteem amongst the Group. The Project is on a cross-community basis to experience cultural diversity. The Programme is designed for 18 to 25 Young people who are more likely to be unemployed, sporadically employed or in short-term employment. the Key development areas of the Project will include

increasing reliability and flexibility among young people

Health & Fitness (including positive mental health)

Literacy/numeracy

Positive attitude and willingness to work/or involve themselves positively in their own community

Develop personality, ability

Experience cultural diversity & cross community contact

Lifelong Learning

Provide counselling and referral to services where appropriate

The Project will take the form of a Group/one -one basis.

Three distinct modular stages will take the following form.

1. Consists of a 35-40 hour accredited Programme of training in interpersonal skills, motivation, confidence building and if needed counselling. this is an essential part of the programme and will pave a way to progression within it. it prepares individuals for cultural diversity and will be cemented by a residential delivered by the Mediation Network N> Ireland. this module will focus on Job search and Literacy/Numeracy development . the accreditation will be through Northern Ireland Open College Network Level 2, taking place in Dundalk with equal numbers of Catholics and protestants.

2. Each participant will complete an IT accredited course in the Craigavon Community Learning Centre within 60-80 hours over a fifteen week period with full use of the Learning Centre and two tutors for one day of each week. Accreditation will form part of the record of achievement provided by the Project. It will include ECDL, OCR and maybe WJEB for courses designed at lower ability.

3. Participants choose one formwork placement, pre-business start programme and further training/education, facilitated by the Project development Worker and managed by the Project Co-Ordinator. the Project Development Worker will arrange four week placements in the participant's area of choice together with Training & Employment Agency (NI) and FAS (ROI) along with CITB (NI). All linked services and those of Statutory/Voluntary/Community organisations will be availed of through Training and further and Higher Education. this Module will further develop skills that were previously discouraged due to sectarianism and lack of understanding of cultural diversity.

Aims

To provide a capacity building programme for socially excluded and marginalised people in the Craigavon and Louth Local areas

To raise self-esteem and personal development of participants

to enhance employment within participants

To provide Literacy/Numeracy skills development

To provide IT Skills development

To provide for and encourage cross community Contact

To provide for and encourage cultural diversity

To provide for and encourage lifelong learning and entrepaneaurship.

Session number
Session Content

1.Introduction, and the outline of the programme. This session will concentrate on assessing the confidence of the individuals volunteering (chosen) to embark on the Project and will outline in detail what is to be the content of the programme the commitment required and the challenges the participants will face. (Helen Mc Grath – Oracle Training) Scene setting: The participants will be introduced formally to each other and various ice breakers will be used to initiate group identity and confidence. (Helen Mc Grath – Oracle Training)

2. Perceptions 1st thoughts and challenging fixed thinking. A look at how the different sections in our community view the others and how the group can address these issues positively. (SELB trainers)

3. Identity (including political identity). How our belonging section of the community shapes our political identity. (Trademark – Belfast)

4. Anti sectarianism workshop (SELB Trainers). This will involve challenging perceptions and getting the participants to suggest ways they and their community can address the problem of sectarianism.

5. Anti sectarianism workshop (AMICUS/T&GWU personnel/trainers). A look at sectarianism in the workplace and how to combat it. What is acceptable in the workplace and how to create neutral safe working environments.

6. Skills Development (dealing with political identity positions alien to oneself. Looking at and accepting that people hold different viewpoints and that these are as valid as each other and should not be threatening. Getting across the idea that societies should develop and change by means of democratic politics. (CRC< SELB Trainers).

7.Political discussion forum. Representatives of the local political parties will be available for question/answer session and debate. All holders of political viewpoints will be encouraged to involve themselves in democratic debate.

8. Political discussion forums. Both sides will be given the opportunity to discuss and debate with all holders of political viewpoints will be encouraged to involve themselves in democratic debate the participant group the merits of their views and positions.

9. Political discussion forum. Representatives of the local political parties will be available for question/answer session and debate. All holders of political viewpoints will be encouraged to involve themselves in democratic debate.

10. Revision – where now and evaluation. The participants will be given the opportunity to display how they feel to date and how they assess the potential and delivery of the programme to date. (Project and SELB staff).

11. Preparation for Council visit. Council staff will brief the participants on the procedures for Council meeting prior to visit to Council to see local politicians deliver local democracy.

12. Visit to local Council for chamber session. The participants will observe local democracy in action and met with Councillors form a range of political parties after session.

13. Outline of government as applied to N.Ireland, ROI, Gt. Britain and Europe. SELB and Project staff will give an outline and brief history of governance that is applied to Ireland north and south. Use of Political Parties again.

14. Preparation for tour of political institutions in N. Ireland, ROI, Gt. Britain. The participants will receive itinery and an outline of the activities they will be embarking on as well as a list of the reps of the various political parties they will be meeting. Use of Political Parties and Representatives.

15. Final session – complete evaluation and preparation for presentation to interest groups. This session will occur after the political institutions visit and the presentation will be staged separately during an individual event.