Breaking down barriers between young people

Our Reaching Out: Empowering Young People programme invested in over 60 projects that are helping young people across Northern Ireland gain the skills they need to change their lives.

We have been having discussions with our stakeholders as we shape our plans for a new young people’s programme, which we plan to open for applications in early 2015.

Some young people’s projects we’ve funded in the past have made close connections through networking opportunities provided by a support contract for our grant holders.

These new relationships have led to groups working on new projects together. Colin Glen Trust has linked up with Monkstown Boxing Club for a sports project that is breaking down barriers between young people from different communities in Belfast.

Colm Fanning, programmes manager at Colin Glen Trust, said: “This past year has been fantastic for the young people to learn from each other. Young people from Monkstown have the best in fitness and training discipline through their involvement in boxing, whilst young people in Colin Glen have skills in a range of adventure learning sports.

“Using these experiences in sport has helped these young people, who are mainly unemployed, to build strong relationships. They have had an amazing journey this year, gaining friends and work experience from their newly found confidence.”

Paul Johnston, youth programmes manager at Monkstown Boxing Club said: “The partnership with Colin Glen Trust is an exciting opportunity for young people to share their experiences.

“Having seen firsthand the excellent youth programmes delivered by Colin Glen, they were an obvious choice for us to work with.”

Visit our website to have your say on our plans for a new young people’s programme.