Youth clubs from across the Newry and Mourne Area celebrated the launch of an exciting new partnership with The Prince’s Trust and Police Service Northern Ireland that will help support more young people to move into education, training and employment. Opening the event at the Canal Court Hotel Chair of the Prince’s Trust Southern Area Board Dr Gerard O’Hare CBE said: “This is and exciting development for local young people who can now get the best of worlds. By going down to their local youth club and taking part in the Pointer Programme, they can benefit from learning new skills and gaining qualifications on The Prince’s Trust x1 programme.” Dr Gerard O’Hare was joined in his praise for the innovative partnership by Constable Ruairi Cousins who manages the pointer Programme on behalf of the Neighbourhood Policing team in Newry. “The police service has a long history of working with The Prince’s Trust to improve the life chances of young people who might otherwise be at risk of getting involved in anti social behaviour. This latest partnership is a brilliant example of how two very successful programmes can combine their strengths to help even more young people turn their lives around. The Prince’s Trust and PSNI were joined at the Canal Court Hotel by five youth clubs from across the region, including: Kingdom Youth Club, Glassdrumman, Ballyholland, St John Bosco, and Threeways Community Centre. During the day youth workers took part in training and work shops delivered by staff from The Prince’s Trust that will equip them with the know how and skills to deliver The Prince’s Trust x1 to young people age 13-19 in local youth clubs. Congratulating the newly qualified x1 Advisers Joanne Merron x1 programme manager with The Prince’s Trust said: “I am delighted with the level of enthusiasm shown by everyone here to day and I look forward to working with all the youth clubs. The Prince’s Trust x1 Programme gives young people a different way of learning. It gives them one-two-one attention and the space to develop new skills at a pace that suits them which is why it fits so well with the PSNI’s Pointer Programme. “The Price’s Trust works with 13-30 year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care are long term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. In Northern Ireland The Trust supports on average 3,000 young people each year with practical help including training mentoring and financial assistance.
Newry Reporter
12th October 2011
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