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SLIG Pilots Youth Training
23rd August 2010
The Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG) in conjunction with the University of Ulster (UU) at Jordanstown, is establishing a unique youth worker training scheme for Suffolk and Lenadoon.
SLIG Youth Advocacy Worker (YAW) Cathal Tolan is spearheading the part-time Youth Work programme, which has places for twelve trainees. The pilot programme starts in September. Based in Suffolk and Lenadoon, the UU and Springvale Learning will deliver the training, which is targeted at 18-30 year olds.
According to Cathal Tolan, the scheme seeks “to remove any barriers people face” in terms of accessing worthwhile training. For instance, there will be no loss of benefits. Travel costs will be covered and it is hoped to provide childcare and other assistance. All necessary learning material and other resources are included. The SLIG YAW sees the training in terms of “building towards leadership,” within the community.
The course will entail one day a week at the UU’s Jordanstown campus and a period of weekly practical placements in local youth centres within Suffolk and Lenadoon.
The YAW envisages volunteer and, at some point, employed hours being offered on completion of training. The possibility of SLIG sourcing funding to enable the youth work trainees to eventually be employed was also briefly alluded to.
Cathal Tolan will liaise with community groups in Suffolk and Lenadoon to place the trainees and ensure ongoing mentoring and support. “My role is to supervise all of this,” he explained. The trainees will spend an initial period with SLIG before being placed in a community context. They will rotate around different centres on a three-monthly cycle. Lenadoon trainees will work in Suffolk and vice versa.
The Suffolk and Lenadoon Community Fora are actively engaged in promoting, what is being perceived as an exciting departure by SLIG in providing locally-based training. The fora newsletters announced the initiative, advertisements placed and 2 information sessions took place at which Pat Henry of the UU attended. Interviews took place in early August and candidates have been selected.
Funding has been sourced from Atlantic Philanthropists, while businesses, the David Irvine Trust and the Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project have also contributed.
Emphasis is put on the pilot aspect of the scheme and while something similar operates in the Shankill area, the SLIG initiative is unique because of its cross-and-inter-(Suffolk – Lenadoon) community nature.
A SLIG sub-group has been established to manage the organisation’s latest move to become a partner in training provision.
Further information can be obtained from SLIG Youth Advocacy Worker, Cathal Tolan:
Tel 028 9062 9146 Email: cathal@slig.co.uk