Breakthrough

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Overview: Breakthrough will engage up to 172 young people aged 14 – 24 years in Phase One and 516 in Phase Two of the programme from across North Belfast, Shankill and Newtownabbey engaging young people where they are, working on the ground in local schools and in partnership with local youth and community organisations. This outcomes-focused good relations, personal development and citizenship programme will target young people who are the most disadvantaged, excluded and marginalised, with deep social, emotional and good relations needs and from communities with deep rooted sectarian divisions. This holistic young person-centred approach aims to achieve sustainable, positive change enhancing young people’s capacity to form positive and effective relationships with others of a different background and make a positive contribution to building a cohesive society. Working within the wider context within which the young person lives their life the project will connect young people to support networks. The co-designed programme will bring young people together from across the areas to build their confidence, abilities, experiences and widens their outlook on life. The programme will have three distinct strands - engagement with young people aged 14 – 17 years within school, youth centre based engagement with young people aged 14 – 18 years in the evening and engagement with young people aged 16 – 24 years in the community. One-to-one mentoring will encourage personal reflection and build self-awareness as young people identify goals and develop an understanding of barriers that prevent them from moving forward. Co-designing a realistic personal action plan with self-identified milestones will give choice and ensure young people feel in control and able to effect change. They will develop creative problem-solving and planning skills and a capacity to re-frame adversities. They will be supported to access specialist services for mental wellbeing and to help build resilience. Activities will include one-to-one mentoring, good relations, personal development and life skills group work, team building activities, residential experiences, a mandatory menu of sports and arts training, citizenship training, support on progression and additional training needs. Policy Context: The aims of this project align strongly with local, national and European policies particularly the vision of the “Together: Building a united Community” strategy which foresees “a united community, based on equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation” and in particular Key Priority One Our Children and Young People. The aims also align with the Draft PfG Outcome 3: We have an equal society, Outcome 9: We have a shared society that respects diversity and Outcome 14: We give our children and young people the best start in life. It aligns with DE PfY responding to the needs of individual young people within the wider community and Point 3.2 proportionate targeting of services based on need. Need and Demand: The North Belfast United Youth Pilot Evaluation (2016) found that 65% of young people said they did not feel part of their community however following the Pilot 62% said they made a difference in their community and 43% said their community sees them in a positive way. Statistics show the areas the project will cover has the 2nd highest proportion of people living in the most deprived Super Output Areas in Northern Ireland, the 2nd highest rate crime rate and 2nd highest anti-social behaviour incidents per 100,000 people. Additionality and Displacement: This innovative programme is additional to and will complement what project partners currently deliver. Ashton Community Trust and project partners do not have the resources to implement the project without funding. While some small scale personal development work with young people in each of the communities may be possible, it is highly unlikely that the scale of outputs and results identified within the application will be achieved in any material way with an absence of funding to provide the necessary structure and organisation to the overall project. Horizontal Principles: Sustainability - Ashton is committed to protecting the environment to improve the quality of life for all. We are committed to working practices that will help to have a positive effect, assist in continued environmental improvement, prevent pollution and reduce any avoidable negative impacts caused by our activities. Equal Opportunities - Ashton will ensure equality of opportunity in all its operations, practices and workplaces. Everyone will be treated equally and be given the same set of opportunities regardless of their race, age, gender, sexuality, disability, culture or anything else that might be discriminated against. Equality between men and women - Ashton will promote equality between men and women and where appropriate, the integration of the gender perspective in all aspects of its operation, giving regard to the; Moving on: It is our aim, that at the end of the young person’s engagement with the programme, they will be ready to move on to employability focused training or employment. Outreach Mentor through one-to-one mentoring and group work to explore ongoing support required to maintain and increase their development. They will also develop a progression pathway and an exit strategy on to other training, volunteering or employment. Young people will to continue to sustain relationships within consortium partner organisations through other activities on offer. Where possible consortium partners will provide an “aftercare” service once young people have reached their chosen destination to ensure the highest possible chance continued development, training or employment is sustained.

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