NIYF Lobby for Youth Guarantee

A Delegation of Youth Forum representatives met Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry on the 5th November to lobby for jobs, education, training, apprenticeships or entrepreneur opportunities to be offered to all young people on leaving school. 

Rory Copeland (NIYF Exec); Conchuir MacSiacais (Big Lottery Funded, Champions 4 Change Apprentice); Caroline Slevin (UKYP, West Tyrone); Seamus Hogan (Co-Chair, North South Youth Forum); met with the DEL Minister to present ideas on how to combat mass youth unemployment and emigration at a scale higher than ever before.

The delegation discussed issues including Youth Guarantee Schemes in other countries; the need for improved careers advice and work experience; young entrepreneur schemes; as well as a range of Stormont initiatives including those included in the programme for government. 

Rory Copeland was very excited about the prospect of future engagements with DEL and added that: 

“Our meeting with the Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry was very encouraging. We presented young people’s ideas on how to deal with youth unemployment in Northern Ireland, and gave our assessment of the government’s plans to solve the problem. The meeting highlighted just how important it is for both the Minister and the NIYF that we tackle high level youth unemployment as soon as possible.”