£2.7million investment helps people find jobs – Fearon and Ross

Junior Ministers Megan Fearon and Alastair Ross today helped celebrate the success of the Work It programme aimed at helping people back into employment.

Supported by £2.7million of Executive funding, the Work It programme has been running for one year in the three council areas of Newry, Mourne and Down District, Armagh City, and Craigavon Borough and Mid Ulster. The programme has already helped over half of those who took part find employment.

During the visit Junior Minister, Megan Fearon said: “Getting people into jobs is no easy task but the Work It project has proved to be a real success.  The project is delivering for local people and this investment is really making a difference. Already it has worked with over 550 people and delivered 160 full time placements.  As a result, 80 people are now employed.

 “It’s also more than just headline figures; families and the wider community are benefitting from the personal and professional development this initiative provides people with.”

 Junior Minister, Alastair Ross said: “The Work It project is a great example of how local people, working in tandem with the Executive, can make a real and tangible difference for the better. 

“Projects such as Work It deliver what the Northern Ireland Executive’s £80million Social Investment Fund is designed to do by improving the skills, talents and opportunities that people need to succeed. Together, we are improving people’s lives and making a better society for everyone in Northern Ireland.” 

The Social Investment Fund is an £80million fund aimed at addressing poverty, deprivation and unemployment across nine dedicated investment zones, including  the Southern. The project is managed by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council with Network Personnel appointed as the service delivery agent.

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